Frequently Asked Questions
What is a counselling psychologist?
A counselling psychologist, by definition, aims to promote the personal, social, educational and career functioning and well-being of those with whom they work.
This is achieved through the provision of therapeutic interventions and assessment to prevent and alleviate some of life’s major challenges. This means that counselling psychologists work with people who find themselves in an array of life circumstances which include, but are not limited to, people going through adjustments and transitions that may be distressing, such as:
Going through a divorce or breakup (adult or child)
Attending a new school/ university
Leaving home for the first time
Becoming part of a blended family
Empty-nest syndrome
Moving to a new city
Making critical life decisions
Life after loss
Becoming a mother/father
These are but a few life events that are often challenging, anxiety provoking, or overwhelming. In order to become a registered counselling psychologist, one needs to obtain a masters degree in psychology and pass the Health Professions Council of South Africa’s (HPCSA) board examination. One is then eligible for registration with the HPCSA’s board of psychology as a counselling psychologist.
How long are sessions?
Sessions are 50 minutes long, except for a first session in which 80 minutes are allocated (they may not all be used and only the used time is billed). These usually take place weekly at a set time although this depends on the client’s needs, availability and access to funds. The duration of therapy is heavily dependent on the reason for the referral and it is impossible to say how many sessions one might need. EMDR is generally a short, time based therapeutic intervention and clients are unlikely to attend EMDR for an extended period of time.
I work with clients looking for short or long term intervention, although my preference is long term therapy.
How does confidentiality work?
As a registered psychologist, I am bound to the Ethical Code of Conduct as prescribed by the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA). In terms of confidentiality, in summary, clients have the right to expect information shared to be safeguarded in all circumstances, except when:
Clients give consent for the disclosure
When mandated by law
It is necessary so as to obtain appropriate professional consultations
It is necessary to protect a client or others from harm
Aileen Milne (2010, p. 4) wrote a book called Understand Counselling and I think she answers the "why" of counselling so well by looking at how counselling can benefit someone.
She says, counselling can help people:
to clarify what’s important in their lives;
to get in touch with their inner resources;
in the exploration of feelings, thoughts and meanings particular to them;
by offering support at times of crisis;
by offering support during developmental and transitional periods;
to work through ‘stuck ’ issues – this might involve integrating childhood experiences; and
to reach a resolution of problems.
Of course this is not an exhaustive list but it sums up the reasons pretty well.
Why do people ATTEND counselling?
Where do sessions take place?
I practise Library Square in Wilderness Road, Claremont which is opposite Kingsbury Hospital. Please follow the Perspectives Psychology Group signage to Room 306.
EMDR (eye movement and desensitisation and reprocessing) is a structured form of psychotherapy that was developed in the 1980's initially for application in the treatment of trauma. While briefly focusing on the trauma memory and engaging dual attention and bilateral stimulation (in the form of eye movements, tapping or other techniques), the distressing memory is reprocessed. The successful reprocessing of the memory reduces its distressing nature and associated symptoms. EMDR is widely researched and recognised internationally and is able to be applied to a myriad of presenting problems. For more on EMDR, please click here.
What is EMDR?
No, you don’t as the pandemic has changed the world in countless ways and one of which is that I now offer all services via Zoom or face to face (or a combination of these). If you are based in Cape Town, I recommend the first session to be in person (although not compulsory) if possible.
Do I have to attend in person?
What is a PMB and can Sam apply for one to cover my sessions?
Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) are a set of defined benefits to ensure that all medical scheme members have access to certain minimum health services, regardless of the benefit option they have selected. The list below, from Discovery Health’s website, indicates which psychological conditions one is able to apply for, and in which way treatment coverage can be provided:
It is important to understand the following:
Health professionals can only apply for a PMB for a client if they meet the diagnostic criteria for one of the conditions specified on the list. One cannot diagnose a condition that is not present nor can an application be made without an initial consultation and assessment.
If a successful PMB application has been made, PMB sessions are shared between one’s treating psychiatrist and psychologist.
If a client has used their out of hospital PMB and needs a hospital admission for the diagnosed condition, the medical aid will not cover the in-patient treatment. For example, for a mood disorder, the benefit is EITHER 15 out of hospital appointments (with a psychologist/ psychiatrist) OR a three week hospital admission (not both).
It is the client’s responsibility to keep track of the number of sessions used and those still available. Once these sessions have been used up, medical aid savings can be used to cover the cost of sessions. Once a client has exhausted both PMB and savings benefits, a cash rate will be applied for future sessions.
PMB applications require this disclosure of the diagnosed condition. Clients need to be cognizant that there may be implications for having a diagnosis on record. These may include exclusion criteria being applied to life insurance policies, loaded policy premiums, challenges with emigration, career limitations, etc.
Before commencing with the application for a PMB, it is important that one carefully considers any possible consequences of such an application mentioned above.
Should one wish to apply for a PMB, there are a number of ways in which these sessions can be used so as to maximise the use of the benefit. If a successful PMB application is made, this will be discussed in detail.
What is the best way to get hold of Sam?
I can be contacted via email or telephonically during standard business hours.
Due to the nature of my work, I am often unavailable to speak telephonically. Email is therefore my preferred method of communication.
When clients would like to speak telephonically, they are asked to leave a message and I will get back to them as soon as I am able.
I limit my WhatsApp communication to the scheduling arrangements of sessions (logistics) and ask that any and all other communication takes place in session, or via telephone/email.
The online contact form is also generally a useful first port of call.