What to Expect
How to Arrange a Visit
You don’t require a referral to come to see one of Hopscotch & Harmony's psychologists or dietitians, as anyone can attend as a private client. However, your GP, paediatrician, school, or another therapist may send a referral letter.
Should you wish to see us for an appointment please provide your details through our Appointment Request Form. In this form you are prompted to give a brief outline of your current concerns to ensure that you/your child is matched with a clinician appropriate to your presentation. There is also information relating to our fees and essential policy documents so you can make an informed decision about whether we are the best practice for you.
Our Principal Psychologist will review your information and match you with the most appropriate clinician with the least amount of waiting time.
Payment for your first session is taken when you confirm this time and to give you one less thing to think about on the day of your appointment. All future appointments are paid for on the day your SMS reminder is sent.
We will then schedule further appointments to reserve these times in the diary. If the frequency of these appointments needs to be altered once you have spoken to your clinician then that can be arranged but we do this to ensure that we can offer ongoing support in a timely fashion. We are very heavily booked and diaries fill very quickly so we don't want you to miss out on getting follow-up appointments after your first session. These appointments would be paid for on the day your SMS reminder is sent.
After you confirm and pay for your first appointment we send you a link to our New Client Form. This should be completed and returned within 48 hours so that we can prepare your file before your first appointment. Any funding, referrals, court orders or other relevant documents can be uploaded to this New Client Form so that we have everything we need to make your first visit to Hopscotch and Harmony as smooth as possible.
We look forward to working with you towards your therapy goals.
Should you wish to see us for an appointment please provide your details through our Appointment Request Form. In this form you are prompted to give a brief outline of your current concerns to ensure that you/your child is matched with a clinician appropriate to your presentation. There is also information relating to our fees and essential policy documents so you can make an informed decision about whether we are the best practice for you.
Our Principal Psychologist will review your information and match you with the most appropriate clinician with the least amount of waiting time.
Payment for your first session is taken when you confirm this time and to give you one less thing to think about on the day of your appointment. All future appointments are paid for on the day your SMS reminder is sent.
We will then schedule further appointments to reserve these times in the diary. If the frequency of these appointments needs to be altered once you have spoken to your clinician then that can be arranged but we do this to ensure that we can offer ongoing support in a timely fashion. We are very heavily booked and diaries fill very quickly so we don't want you to miss out on getting follow-up appointments after your first session. These appointments would be paid for on the day your SMS reminder is sent.
After you confirm and pay for your first appointment we send you a link to our New Client Form. This should be completed and returned within 48 hours so that we can prepare your file before your first appointment. Any funding, referrals, court orders or other relevant documents can be uploaded to this New Client Form so that we have everything we need to make your first visit to Hopscotch and Harmony as smooth as possible.
We look forward to working with you towards your therapy goals.
Initial Consultation
For child psychology clients it is recommended that the first 50-minute appointment be a session between the clinician and parents/guardians. This initial consultation will simply be a conversation regarding your or your child's developmental history, current issues, concerns, and needs. Attending this session without your child enables you to be candid in discussing your concerns and hopes, and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you have about the therapeutic or assessment process.
It is vital to the therapeutic process that a positive connection is established between the clinician and the family, and your clinician will discuss a treatment or assessment plan that you are comfortable with. If you decide that the clinician's approach and style suits your current needs we can move forward and commence the treatment plan.
It is vital to the therapeutic process that a positive connection is established between the clinician and the family, and your clinician will discuss a treatment or assessment plan that you are comfortable with. If you decide that the clinician's approach and style suits your current needs we can move forward and commence the treatment plan.
Therapy
A treatment schedule typically involves weekly or fortnightly 50-minute appointments. The goals of the consultations are arrived at by mutual collaboration between the clinician and the client. These goals will be reviewed during the course of our work in order to assess and/or modify the focus of the sessions according to your needs.
It is common for people to feel the benefits of therapy after a few sessions, however the number of sessions required depend on a number of factors. Typically, individuals require between 5 and 15 sessions. For longer term problems more sessions may be recommended.
It is common for people to feel the benefits of therapy after a few sessions, however the number of sessions required depend on a number of factors. Typically, individuals require between 5 and 15 sessions. For longer term problems more sessions may be recommended.
Assessments
Assessments for Autism, ADHD or Cognitive (IQ) and Educational concerns involve between one and three assessment sessions (1.5-2 hours each) with the child. It may also involve a discussion with the child's teacher and a classroom observation.
A comprehensive report including recommendations for both home and kinder/school will be written. A feedback session to discuss the assessment results and recommendations will then follow.
We also assess adult clients for Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD. Please book your assessment through our Assessment Request Form. This form contains information that is necessary for you to consider. You can read more about various assessments here.
A comprehensive report including recommendations for both home and kinder/school will be written. A feedback session to discuss the assessment results and recommendations will then follow.
We also assess adult clients for Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD. Please book your assessment through our Assessment Request Form. This form contains information that is necessary for you to consider. You can read more about various assessments here.
Confidentiality
Hopscotch & Harmony's psychologists are bound by the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics regarding Confidentiality (Section A.5.2), as adopted by the Psychology Board of Australia.
This states that client confidentiality must be maintained with the specific exceptions related to duty of care and legal obligation. Our psychologists also abide by the Australian Psychological Society’s “Guidelines for working with young people”. This means that psychological therapy remains confidential unless permission is granted by the client to discuss information disclosed during therapy sessions.
Confidentiality between a young person and their psychologist is essential in order for treatment to be successful. The psychologist will always encourage the young person to talk with their parent but confidentiality will only be breached when safety is a risk.
Parental consent is required for assessments, therapy and other information to be provided to a paediatrician, speech or occupational therapist, teacher or school psychologist. Information pertaining to diagnosis and treatment suggestions will be provided to the referring GP/Paediatrician.
This states that client confidentiality must be maintained with the specific exceptions related to duty of care and legal obligation. Our psychologists also abide by the Australian Psychological Society’s “Guidelines for working with young people”. This means that psychological therapy remains confidential unless permission is granted by the client to discuss information disclosed during therapy sessions.
Confidentiality between a young person and their psychologist is essential in order for treatment to be successful. The psychologist will always encourage the young person to talk with their parent but confidentiality will only be breached when safety is a risk.
Parental consent is required for assessments, therapy and other information to be provided to a paediatrician, speech or occupational therapist, teacher or school psychologist. Information pertaining to diagnosis and treatment suggestions will be provided to the referring GP/Paediatrician.
