It can be daunting attempting to find, access and pay for psychotherapy. This is particularly the case in Australia, which unlike many other countries does not regulate the practice of psychotherapy or counselling. Given the massive investment the Australian Government has made in funding the medicare scheme 'Better Access' and the extent to which many health professionals charge people on top of these subsidies, it is unsurprising that many people confuse psychotherapy with focused psychological strategies offered under this scheme. Qualified psychotherapists and counsellors spend years training in their craft, obtain regular supervision and often have Masters level post-graduate qualifications additional to those obtained in their medical or allied health training. Whereas access to 'Better Access' entails a very low bar indeed (sometimes as little as a weekend or two of training). An informed consumer needs to ask specifically about provider's qualification in psychotherapy or counselling, whether or not they have supervision (and from whom) and whether or not they have full clinical membership of a voluntary regulatory body such as the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) or other professional College. A psychotherapist ought to have a similar profile as Dr Richard Lakeman, although most psychotherapists keep a low profile and are not as politically engaged in promoting the recognition of psychotherapy.
Richard Lakeman is presently available to provide psychotherapy via zoom at a rate of $150 per one-hour of consultation.
Prospective psychotherapy clients are invoiced for three sessions in advance (at $400 for the first three sessions). Three sessions is generally sufficient to establish the beginnings of a therapeutic alliance, collaboratively develop a working formulation and to decide on the best approach to address the problem.
If a client wishes they may retain a transcript of the zoom session. Additional online resources may be recommended for the client to access and utilise between sessions.
Richard is skilled in a range of psychotherapeutic approaches and has specific and in-depth training in:
Cognitive Behavoural Therapy / Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Psychodynamic Approaches
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Family Therapy
Open Dialogue in Psychosis
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
Each State in Australia has a different workcover scheme.
WorkCover QLD is a government-funded compensation scheme designed to support individuals who have sustained a work-related injury. This includes both physical and psychological injuries.
To be eligible for psychological support under WorkCover QLD, you must:
Have sustained a work-related injury or illness
Obtain a referral for psychological support from your GP
Submit a claim to WorkCover QLD
Dr Richard Lakeman is a registered WorkCover provider in Queensland.
Once you lodge your work cover claim and / or you are provided with a claim number contact Dr Richard Lakeman if you would like a consultation (generally via zoom) to discuss next steps.
Some private health funds offer subsidies for counselling or psychotherapy. Every fund is different. Your policy and provider should provide clear details regarding what is subsidised. Many funds do support psychotherapy and recognise PACFA registered practitioners. If not already registered with the insurance fund it may take some time for Richard to become registered. Please contact Dr Lakeman to discuss your cover and interim measures to support you.
Often many problems may best be considered as arising in the context of relationships or as a manifestation of a disturbance or pattern within a system or network of relationships. Sometimes people may spend years suffering under the impression that they are broken or need fixing. It can be extremely efficient and rewarding to explore issues as a couple or family group. Sometimes such services may be available through agencies such as relationships Australia. However, do consider and discuss whether engaging with a private therapist may be the best way forward. Family therapy is a specialty field of practice. Dr Richard Lakeman is available to see couples and groups and often brings a systemic family therapy lens to work with individual clients.
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