Below are answers to some common questions about appointments, therapy approaches and what you can expect from the therapeutic process with Melissa Howie Consulting.
You can contact the practice directly by email to enquire about availability and arrange an appointment. If you’re unsure whether therapy is right for you, you’re welcome to make an initial enquiry.
Monday–Thursday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Standard appointments are generally 50–60 minutes, depending on the type of appointment and your individual needs.
This varies from person to person. Some people benefit from weekly appointments initially, while others may attend fortnightly or at another frequency. Your treatment plan will be discussed collaboratively with you.
Yes. Information discussed during therapy is treated confidentially in accordance with professional, ethical and legal requirements. There are some circumstances where confidentiality may be limited, which will be explained to you as part of the therapeutic process.
The first session is an opportunity to understand what brings you to therapy, your history, current concerns and what you would like to change. We’ll discuss treatment options and develop an approach that feels appropriate for you. You’re not expected to disclose everything straight away.
Yes. You’re welcome to contact the practice directly to enquire about appointments. You don’t need a referral to make an initial enquiry or book a private appointment.
Not necessarily. If you’re accessing therapy privately, you can generally self-refer. If you’re seeking a Medicare rebate, you should discuss your options with your GP before commencing treatment.
A Mental Health Care Plan is prepared by a GP for people who meet the relevant Medicare criteria. It can provide access to Medicare rebates for eligible psychological services.
No. You can self-refer and make an appointment directly with the practice. You don’t need a Mental Health Care Plan to access psychological therapy.
A Mental Health Care Plan may allow you to access a Medicare rebate if you meet the relevant eligibility requirements. If you would like to use Medicare, speak with your GP about whether a Mental Health Care Plan or another referral pathway is appropriate for you.
No. You don’t need a formal mental health diagnosis to seek therapy. Treatment can focus on the difficulties you’re experiencing, your individual circumstances and the changes you would like to make.
Therapy can be helpful for a range of concerns, life experiences, relationship difficulties and patterns that you would like to better understand or change.
The practice provides evidence-based psychological and therapeutic approaches tailored to the individual, including EMDR and Schema Therapy, where clinically appropriate.
You don’t need to work this out before your first appointment. We can discuss your circumstances, goals and history and determine together which approach, or combination of approaches, is most appropriate for you.
This varies from person to person. Some people notice changes relatively early, while longstanding difficulties may require more time. Therapy is individualised, and progress is regularly reviewed together.
My approach integrates EMDR, Schema Therapy and attachment-informed psychotherapy. This allows us to look at both what is happening for you now and the experiences and patterns that may have contributed to it. Treatment is tailored to your individual needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.
Our early relationships can influence how we understand ourselves, trust others, manage emotions and experience closeness. Attachment-informed therapy considers these patterns while maintaining a strong focus on your individual experiences and needs.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy that can help the brain process distressing or traumatic experiences that continue to affect you in the present. It can be helpful for trauma, anxiety, phobias, grief and other experiences that feel ‘stuck’.
Not necessarily. EMDR does not require you to repeatedly describe every detail of a traumatic experience. Treatment is carefully paced, and we work within your window of tolerance.
EMDR is designed to be undertaken in a safe and structured way. Preparation and emotional regulation strategies are important parts of treatment, particularly when someone has experienced complex or longstanding trauma.
Schema Therapy explores longstanding patterns of thinking, feeling and responding that may have developed from earlier life experiences. These patterns, or schemas, can influence relationships, self-esteem, emotional regulation and the way we respond to situations today.
Schema-focused therapy can be particularly useful when difficulties are longstanding or keep repeating despite understanding what is happening. Therapy focuses not only on current symptoms, but also on the underlying emotional patterns that may be maintaining them.
Yes. These approaches can complement each other. Schema Therapy can help identify longstanding patterns and emotional needs, while EMDR may assist with processing experiences that continue to contribute to those patterns.
These approaches may be helpful for people experiencing trauma-related difficulties, anxiety, relationship difficulties, low self-worth, emotional regulation difficulties, recurring patterns in relationships, perfectionism and other longstanding psychological difficulties.
First responders can carry the impact of repeated exposure to trauma. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) can help process distressing memories so they become less emotionally overwhelming, which may help reduce symptoms such as flashbacks, hypervigilance and triggers.
Schema Therapy can address deeper patterns that may develop over time, such as self-sacrifice, guilt or feeling ‘always on guard’.
Together, these approaches can support first responders to process traumatic experiences, manage symptoms of PTSD and burnout, and develop healthier coping strategies for long-term wellbeing and resilience.
