Psychology

The therapies we offer at Pawsitive Psychology

As each client is an individual and presents with individual issues our therapeutic approach is tailored to a client’s individual needs. Hence, our treatment plan is often based on a combination of the different therapies as outlined below.  All therapies are evidence based. 

We treat the following:

    • Mood Disorders: Major Depression (MDD), Postnatal Depressive Disorder (PND)
    • Anxiety Disorders: Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), Health Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attack Disorder
    • Trauma and Stress Related Disorders: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Reactive Attachment Disorder, Adjustment Disorders
    • Dissociative Disorders: Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
    • Grief and Loss, 
    • Gender Dysphoria
    • Suicidal Ideation and self-harm
    • Emotional regulation and self-acceptance

Pawsitive Psychology accepts clients from 16 years of age to late adulthood. 
Sessions: All sessions are 50 minutes.

Our evidence based therapies of choice:

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

IFS therapy is a non-pathologizing approach to psychotherapy. It focuses on a client’s internal “parts” and the “SELF.” IFS is based on the first assumption that the mind is naturally made up of multiple sub-personalities or parts within the individual’s mental system. These sub-personalities take on different roles, such as an inner critic or inner child, and consist of wounded parts and painful feelings like anger and shame. The second assumption is that everyone has a SELF, which is the healing entity. 

The goal of IFS is to help clients access SELF so that they can heal wounded parts and bring their minds into balance and harmony. 

IFS trained therapist, L1, L2

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT is a behavioural therapy. It is about accepting reality as it is, staying present and behaving in a manner that will lead us towards our goals, based on our values. ACT provides good strategies for treating depression, anxiety and trauma related issues.

The aim of ACT is helping clients achieve a rich and meaningful life, while accepting the pain, frustration and setbacks that inevitably go with it. The principle of ACT is to help clients to achieve psychological flexibility so that they can cope with all of life’s challenges. 

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-focused CBT

CBT is a combination of two highly effective therapies, cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. The cognitive part is learning to think differently. It teaches us to recognize how certain think patterns can give us a distorted picture of our life, resulting in misconstruing situations and subsequently feeling anxious, depressed or angry unnecessarily. This will influence our behaivour. CBT encourages us to assess our surroundings from other angles. This gives us a more balanced picture.

Trauma-focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (TfCBT) is applying CBT with a special focus on trauma experiences.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (ITP)

ITP is a short-term, attachment based psychotherapy, that aims to alleviate suffering and improve interpersonal relationships. ITP is based on two primary theories: Attachment theory forms the basis of understanding relationship difficulties. The Interpersonal theory helps Client’s understand how maladaptive communication patterns lead to difficulties in present interpersonal relationships.  Improvement occurs when clients are helped to either modify their communication in interpersonal relationships or change their expectations about them, or both.

Solution-focused Therapy (SFT)

SFT is based on exploring strengths and building on these strengths for finding solutions to problematic issues. The therapy is defined as achieving positive aims, not as treating deficit conditions.  

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

MI is about helping clients recognize that the potential for change lies within their personal experiences. The aim of MI is to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the client’s own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion.  

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is an important part of my therapeutic approach and I use it in combination with all the above therapies. Mindfulness is about focusing on the present moment, becoming aware and accepting our feelings, our thoughts and bodily sensations. Mindfulness is about accepting the client’s reality as it is and then working towards their goals.

Psycho-education

Psycho-education is in our view an important part of therapy. If a client understands why they struggle with certain emotional issues as well as the theory behind a therapeutic approach and how it can help them, they are much more engaged. This promotes their healing and gives them tools and strategies to deal with future challenges. 

The different type of therapy sessions available at Pawsitive Psychology

You can choose from the following options:

Face to Face sessions

Face to face sessions are the most effective. In face to face sessions the clients can enjoy the interaction with the therapy dogs. 

We still ask for some basic hygienic rules to avoid any recurrence of Covid 19. 

We ask that clients to sanitise their hands on arrival and and when leaving.

The room is sanitised between every client. 

Face to face sessions are only offered on Mondays and Wednesday at the below address. 

Telehealth (video)

Telehealth (video) sessions are the best solution if a client cannot attend face to face sessions for various reasons, geographical distance, physical disability or having no possibility to get to my rooms. Many clients in remote areas connect via Telehealth (video).

Telehealth (video) are nearly as effective as the face-to-face sessions. The only disadvantage is that the therapy dogs cannot interact. Toffee and Kandi have not worked what the the camera on the computer is for. I often ask my clients to get their own pet to support them. 

The video sessions are conducted via Zoom. You may need to download the Zoom app. I will send you an invitation to a Zoom meeting with the link. All you need to do is click on the link and wait until the session starts. 

 

Telehealth (phone)

If you do not have a smartphone/ipad or computer, or do not feel comfortable with a video link, we can conduct the session via phone. 

  •  At the time of the appointment I will call you.
  •  Please make sure that your phone is fully   charged and that you have privacy and there  are no interruptions from other family members.

The disadvantage of phone sessions is that we cannot see each other. Also the phone connections are not always very reliable. But we do our best to establish a positive therapeutic atmosphere. 

Home Visits for NDIS clients only

We only offer home visits to NDIS clients and who live within 30 minute driving time from our office in Pialba. The travelling time is charged according the NDIS scheduled fee for provider travel. 

We normally only take one therapy dog to home visits. We choose the dog that connects the best with the client. 
We kindly ask that any resident pets are put in a separate room when we arrive. The therapy dog is there to work and not play with the resident pets. 

Home visits are usually booked for Friday.