If you are on here it's likely you have decided it's time to seek some support for yourself or your loved one. That something is not quite right. It can be daunting reaching out so I celebrate you taking the time out to do this. Life can get so hectic it’s easy to keep pushing on hoping that the empty sadness/ the low mood/ the ongoing worrying/ the awful memories/the disconnect will ease up or to busy ourselves with the multitude of distractions to numb ourselves for a while.

Evidence shows us that, to gain effective skills on navigating our mental health challenges and making lasting change, working with a Clinical Psychologist, that has undergone years of specialised training, is worth the effort.

We are delighted that we are now able to offer diagnostic assessments with a minimal wait time with a fully qualified psychologist with experience in assessment . We cater our assessment services for paediatrics, adolescents and adults seeking this and work in conjunction with your referrer. Please contact our friendly admin team to chat further about this option.

Perinatal Mental Health is an area of speciality we are deeply passionate about. Navigating the physical, hormonal and emotional changes in pregnancy can be incredibly lonely and overwhelming. It can be so hard to reach out and let someone know this when there is such pressure for this period of time to be only joyful. We offer assessment and tailored support to assist in the pre and post natal period as well as addressing former trauma that may be impacting on your current journey. We also work closely with your birth team and have great colleagues to assist with all the other aspects involved in pregnancy to ensure you can unfold into and embrace Mummahood. 

Depression, fear, and anxiety are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we can experience at some point in our lives. Through accurate assessment and treatment, we are able to help you recover motivation, perspective, and joy that you once had in your life.

Many individuals can experience symptoms associated with painful and traumatic circumstances. Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness are a few emotions that can linger post traumatic events. We can help you overcome these symptoms and guide you through the process of grief and healing. After a thorough assessment and formulation we have a range of treatment therapies that we discuss with you (EMDR, CBT, Family Therapy, Schema Therapy, ACT) to ensure an effective, individual therapy meets your needs.

WHY WE ARE EXPANDING OUR SERVICES TO DELIVER EVIDENCE-BASED THERAPY TO MEN?
Supporting men to address their mental health challenges is something we are passionate about at Inner Calm for several reasons.

Firstly, no-one is an island. Promoting an awareness of Mental Health in the community is exactly that, Mental Health needs to involve everyone.

While the stigma of being perceived as 'weak' or 'incapable' is slowly lessening for men regarding reaching out for help with their mental health challenges, sadly it is still THE MAIN BARRIER that stop males accessing professional assessment and treatment. This is a really important aspect to digest. Men do not seek support for their mental health not because they don't think they need it, not because they have no time and not because they can't financially, they are staying silent and suffering to avoid judgement.

Here at Inner Calm we focus on a solid assessment of history and what is happening currently to get a really clear picture of what is causing the clinical issues. A treatment plan is then devised and worked on and reviewed.

The presenting issues that our clinically trained psychologists work with men can vary greatly and are not just limited to the following:

- anxiety
- low mood
- anger
- trauma/PTSD/complex trauma
- OCD
- sleep issues
- stress (work-related, family)
- adjusting to fatherhood; birth trauma
- phobias
- identity

If you are a male or know one that might be struggling with their mental health know that this is something that does not have to managed alone. When an issue is not resolving by itself chances are support from a Clinical Psychologist can help you.

Feel free to reach out to our friendly admin team to chat further about treatment options.

Congratulations on taking the time to reach out for more information about our Couples Therapy Treatment approach at Inner Calm Clinical Psychology. We understand that often it can be really hard to make that first point of contact so well done. We want to ensure your journey with us is as smooth and as supportive as possible.

WHY THE GOTTMAN APPROACH?
The Gottman Method is the only treatment approach for couples therapy that is evidence-based. This means that the assessments and treatment interventions used have been assessed for efficacy and work. The Gottman Method has tracked thousands of couples and can predict (with a 98% accuracy rate) couples that will likely end up separating due to certain communication styles, as well as the strategies and techniques that will encourage a relationship that is built to withstand the challenges life can bring.

HERE ARE SOME FAQ BY COUPLES WITH REGARD TO THE HOW AND WHAT NEXT.
HOW CAN WE FIT IT IN? LIFE IS SO BUSY, IT’S REALLY HARD FOR US TO COMMIT TO REGULAR WEEKLY SESSIONS
We are aware how hard it can be to carve out time for this when life already feels too full. We have a variety of options and session times in order to support you both to attend these sessions with commitment. We encourage couples to view their relationship difficulties as they would if needing to attend a specialist appointment for their child, making it a matter of priority.

WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT IN OUR SESSIONS?
Each session is a face to face with a Clinical Psychologist that is skilled in both the assessment and treatment of mental health disorders as well as couples dynamics and communication. For each session your clinician works on your case file notes both pre and post session to ensure each session is intensive and focused on delivering what you both need as a couple.

HOW OFTEN DO WE NEED TO ATTEND SESSIONS?
The most effective approach is for sessions to commence weekly to identify the issues and establish a flow for effective therapy to take place. This is done with the aim of reducing the frequency back to fortnightly after the assessment phase and then monthly and then every 2-3 or 6 months. That said, we will work with you and your availability.

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP TO GET THE BALL ROLLING?
Great! please email admin at info@innercalm.com.au and they will guide you through the next steps.