OUR SERVICES
Our psychologists can work with you to address your mental health and explore options for treatment.
Many people experience ups and downs in their mental health affecting their mood and coping. Stress from work, relationships, and general day to day living can take a toll on emotional wellbeing. These experiences will be only temporary for most people. For others, these pressures can become overwhelming leading to sadness and impacting on your ability to perform usual tasks. People can feel stuck, unhappy and unsure of how to get out of their current situation.
This is where the assistance of a psychologist may be of value to you. With the help of one of our psychologists at Ivory Health you will work to develop knowledge and learn skills to address the problem that has brought you to treatment.
Ivory Health psychologists work with people experiencing low prevalence disorders and chronic presentations. They have experience in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a number of disorders. We work with adults and adolescents from 15 years and up.
Ebony has an interest in working with people experiencing:
- Personality Disorders
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Bi Polar Disorder
Tom has an interest in working with people experiencing:
- Men’s mental health
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Stress management in educational or professional settings
- Relationship & Intimacy Issues
- Diverse Sexualities
- Grief and Loss
Suzanne has an interest in working with people experiencing:
Problem Behaviours
Personality Disorders
Psychosis
Stress & Adjustment Issues
Stage of Life Difficulties
Anna has an interest in working with people experiencing:
Attention Deficit
Parenting Difficulties
Mood Dysregulation
Stage of Life Issues
Perfectionism
James has an interest in working with people experiencing:
Men’s Mental Health
Relationship Issues
Single Parenting
Addictive Behaviours (gaming, social media, online dating)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
Work Stress
In addition to these areas they also work with people experiencing:
- Depression and Mood disorders
- Anxiety and Panic disorders
- Mental health issues arising from school or university struggles
- Adjustment difficulties
- Gender Issues
- General wellbeing
Ebony and Suzanne are able to provide clinical supervision
- Inquires about the treatment of other concerns are welcome
OUR THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES INCLUDE:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Mindfulness
Person Centred Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Solution Focused Therapy
Cognitive Analytic Therapy
Cool Kids Anxiety Program
Animal Assisted Therapy.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Recognised by Medicare as one of the recommended treatments for mental health, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been extensively shown to be effective in the treatment of various mental health disorders. CBT encompasses a range of skills for challenging beliefs and addressing behavioural difficulties. Providing skills and strategies CBT assists in challenging the beliefs that are obstacles to recovery and addressing behaviours that perpetuate an individuals difficulties.
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a treatment for people experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. As a cognitive behaviour treatment CPT is designed to assist in identifying and addressing avoided cognitions which have prevented recovery from a traumatic experience or experiences. CPT has been shown to reduce the symptoms experienced in PTSD.
Through an average of 12 sessions CPT works to reduce cognitions which have become ‘stuck’ and prevent a healthy recovery. Various worksheets and homework tasks are utilised in this manualised treatment protocol.
As a registered CPT provider Ebony Collins has completed a series of training requirements. She is registered at CPT –Australia as a CPT provider http://www.cognitiveprocessingtherapy.org.au/find-a-cpt-therapist/
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Designed for the treatment of chronically suicidal individuals, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) has become recognised as a standard treatment for people experiencing Borderline Personality Disorder. In it’s pure form DBT incorporates both individual and group treatment over a series of modules designed to develop skills and strategies for improving the person’s experience of life.
At Ivory Health we are able to provide individual sessions of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Generally, an individual will identify a specific area of need linked to one of the modules which becomes the focus of skills building.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Referred to as ACT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a relatively new form of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy which works on building awareness and acceptance of both emotions and thoughts. ACT works on developing skills for accepting difficulties and identifying values within an individuals life.
Mindfulness based interventions are designed to improve focus, awareness, and curiosity. Building a present focus is a core mindfulness skill. Whilst mediation can be utilised within mindfulness it is only one of many skills.
Person Centred Therapy
Person Centred Therapy, also known as Rogerian therapy, incorporates a non-authoritative approach allowing clients to discover their own understanding and solutions. Through the use of a nondirective style, person centred therapy, identifies each individual as having a capacity for growth and change. Utilising the three key conditions of unconditional positive regard, empathetic understanding, and congruence the therapist facilitates the client through the therapeutic process.
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) incorporates elements of experiential therapy, systemic therapy, and attachment theory. This typically short-term treatment, focuses on exploring patterns in relationships, building secure attachments, and developing an understanding of emotions affecting relationships. Within three stages of treatment EFT works to de-escalate negative interactions, restructure interactions, and finally, consolidation.
Solution Focused Therapy
Solution Focused Therapy is a goal directed treatment that aims to identify solutions rather than exploring the problems affecting an individual. Treatment is aimed toward building and achieving an understanding of the resolution. This strengths based approach utilises existing resources an individual possesses.
Cognitive Analytic Therapy
Cognitive Analytic Therapy, referred to as CAT, is a collaborative approach to building a shared understanding of an individuals thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Designed to help understand the situation an individual is facing and address ways to change for the better, this treatment is a structured therapy with treatment goals.
Cool Kids Anxiety Program
The Cool Kids program is designed to help young people experiencing anxiety by teaching the individual and their carer practical skills that can be used to manage anxiety. The program helps young people to build confidence and improve their relationships. Based in CBT the sessions follow a structured content that is designed to achieve an improvement in symptoms over the 10 sessions.
Animal Assisted Therapy
At Ivory Health we have a therapy dog, Kobe, who works with our clinical psychologist, Ebony Collins.
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) involves the inclusion of animals in a range of activities overseen by the trained professional. Generally Animal Assisted Therapy encompasses interventions that are facilitated by the presence of a therapy dog (animal).
At Ivory Health, Kobe is involved in the session to assist clients to open up and feel more relaxed in the therapeutic setting, by patting and cuddling with him. Having a therapy dog present can help with easing the stress of the session.
There is emerging research that suggests Animal Assisted Therapy may be helpful in assisting with the treatment of psychological illness. Studies into mood and anxiety with Animal Assisted Therapy have found some promising results with improving low mood and anxiety. One of the most documented roles of Animal Assisted Therapy is in how the therapy dog can aid with the social component.
The level of involvement of the therapy dog in your session is your choice. Kobe can be an active part of the session or can simply be present within the room.