To book an appointment with a psychologist at My Appletree in St Leonards, you can: Call us directly – Call us on 0413 952 195 and a member of our friendly team can answer all your questions. We will also provide a free 15-minute consultation with one of our qualified psychologists so that you can find out more about the journey ahead and ensure you find the right psychologist for you. From here, we will book in an appointment that works best for you and provide any necessary information. Enquire online – Fill out the enquire form here and a member of our team will be in touch to schedule an appointment for you. Book directly – Some of our psychologists allow you to book directly, including Adrian Cuerva. You can book in here. No referral is needed for your first session, but you may be eligible for Medicare rebates with a valid GP referral and Mental Health Care Plan. Please be sure to consult your GP and our staff to enquire if this is applicable to you and your appointment.

At My Appletree, located in St Leonards, we offer a range of therapies which are tailored to support individuals, couples, children and adolescents. Our aim is to improve their mental health and relationships. Our team of experienced psychologists provides personalised, evidence-based care in a safe, judgement-free environment. The therapy services we offer include: Couple Counselling and Relationship Therapy Assisting with communication issues, conflict resolution and emotional intimacy problems Guidance through major life transitions and relationship challenges, at any stage Pre-marriage counselling Support for long-term relationships, addressing a number of concerns or issues Individual Therapy Addressing issues such as anxiety, depression and stress Trauma therapy Guidance through life transitions or struggles, help with self-esteem and support through personal growth Sexual Health and Intimacy Counselling Addressing sexual concerns, dysfunction or intimacy issues Helping couples and individuals navigate their sexuality and desires Support for couples sexual health and how it can impact their relationship well-being Meditation and Breathwork My Appletree go beyond therapy and counselling, focusing on other methods which can improve mental health This includes meditation classes and breathwork courses Teaching techniques which assist with midnfulness , mental clarity, anxiety and stress Our dedicated team are committed to providing the best care possible. Enquire with us today to start your mental health journey! Located in St Leonards, Sydney – Conveniently accessible for those in the North Shore and surrounding areas.

To avoid cancellation fees, please ensure you provide a minimum of 48 hours notice prior to the appointment you are cancelling. Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice will incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the appointment fee. Cancellations within 24 hours of the appointment and non-attended appointments incur the full session fee (100% fee). Please note that Medicare rebates are not applicable for cancellation fees/non-attended appointments.

Fees for a standard appointment vary depending on the psychologist seen and which service. These range from $220 - $250. Please contact us for further information about fees.

Based on the Medicare Benefits Scheme, up to 10 individual therapy sessions may be eligible for rebates if they are referred by a General Practitioner. Please be sure to consult your GP and our staff to enquire if this is applicable to you and your appointment. Clients can also use their private health fund if it covers psychology services. Remedial massage services can only be claimed by a private health fund if the services are included in your cover.

Standard appointments run for 50 minutes. We are open Monday to Saturday, with each of our qualified psychologists offering a range of days and hours. After hours appointments can also be accommodated where possible, and virtual appointments are also available.

Psychologists have extensive training in the clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders and employ an evidence-based scientific therapeutic methods. These methods are well-regarded for their ability to treat specific mental health issues, and clinical psychology as a discipline is known for its focus on research, data, and measurable outcomes. As such, it has a strong reputation in the healthcare system, especially for its role in addressing serious mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, and trauma. Depending on the individual, therapy tends to be medium term in length anywhere from 8 to 20 sessions but can go longer if necessary. Psychologists are a part of the allied health network alongside doctors, nurses, and other medical staff working to improve the quality of life, recovery, and well-being of individuals, particularly in areas that may not require direct medical or surgical intervention. Counsellors tend to help people facing shorter-term challenges. Often providing general support and guidance for people facing stress, difficult life circumstances/transitions, or who need personal development. While counsellors are a great support, they typically do not assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders but rather use a more conversational and client-centered approach to help clients explore their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors in a supportive environment. Psychotherapists often see clients across multiple years and sometimes large portions of their lives, focusing on the deeper, often long-term emotional and psychological growth of an individual. Psychotherapists may use a range of techniques that delve into unconscious processes, past trauma, and relationship dynamics, drawing from traditions like psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy, and gestalt therapy. While psychotherapy may not always be as closely tied to the same empirical research as some clinical psychology methods, it is highly valued for its capacity to foster personal insight, growth, and self-awareness.

First and foremost, you can expect to have a physically and emotionally safe, supportive and non-judgmental space to share your difficulties. This alone can help alleviate the psychological difficulties you experience since you don’t have to suffer alone and have the support of a private and supportive person to work with. Additionally, you can expect to gain insight and understanding into the nature and causes of what contributes and maintains the difficulties you are experiencing. Insight and clarity into your difficulties can help make it much easier to understand how to improve. You can also expect to gain tangible and practical resources, skills, and strategies that you learn both in session and practice at home or in your everyday life that over time helps alleviate your symptoms and retrains your mind and body towards greater mental well-being.

Psychologists can with a broad range of mental health issues including but not limited to: - Depression - Anxiety - Trauma - Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) - Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - Relationship difficulties - Sexual functioning issues - Anger management, sleep issues - Body-image and eating concerns - Addictions - Unhelpful habits - Lifestyle concerns If a psychologist determines that there are more suitable treatments apart from psychological therapy, they will assist in appropriate referrals to ensure you get the appropriate care you need.

Initially, your therapist will most likely want to understand what your current concerns are, how they impact your life and explore the various thoughts, feelings, and actions involved in your inner experience of yourself. You will also likely explore your personal mental health history to understand how you arrived at your current state. Your therapist will understand that this process isn’t always easy and will respect your pace and freedom in how you choose to discuss and share your experiences. You will also discuss what you are hoping to achieve by attending therapy (i.e. your therapeutic goals) and help you build a clear definition of what is important and meaningful for your overall sense of wellbeing. As sessions progress, you will likely talk about the direction your therapist has given you and what success or difficulties you experienced applying their direction between sessions as you move toward your goals.

At My Appletree Psychology, our psychologists in St Leonards, near Crows Nest and North Sydney, use evidence-based therapy methods, meaning rigorous scientific research has been conducted to ensure that they are effective in helping reduce symptoms of various psychological disorders. ‘Talk therapy’ is typically used to describe the process therapists engage in, and indeed therapy is a place to have supportive and non-judgmental conversations about mental health. However, evidence-based therapy often goes beyond this and aims to engage clients in various processes, skills, and strategies, and plans that directly address the factors that contribute to mental health concerns. At our St Leonards psychology clinic, we draw from a range of evidence-based approaches, including: - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) - Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT). Clients do not necessarily need to be familiar with the nuances of each method, since psychologists are trained in a broad variety of them and are highly skilled in delivering them to clients in a manner that is tailored to the client’s individual needs and circumstances. Whether you're based in St Leonards, Crows Nest, North Sydney, or anywhere on Sydney's North Shore, our goal is to provide compassionate, effective therapy tailored to you.

Don't wait until things get worse! If your relationship is experiencing difficulties and you are having trouble navigating it with the resources available to you, it is better to address it with the help of a therapist than risking the relationship deteriorating further over time. Research tells us that couples therapy can take anywhere between 8-20 sessions to experience meaningful improvement in the relationship. So, keep in mind that it's a journey and that a commitment to the therapy process is key in healing and establishing a new dynamic in the relationship. Couples therapy is not about figuring out who is in the wrong, ‘teaming/ganging up’ or taking sides against anyone. The therapist is on the side of the relationship and works to improve the way the people in the relationship respond and relate to one another.

Typically, difficult topics or situations will be discussed or emerge in the session, this is naturaland provides the therapist opportunity to assist. The therapist will help the couple identify the repeating negative patterns that often unfold, and how each person may be contributing to getting stuck in the pattern of wounding and separation. The therapist will then direct and instruct the couple to experiment with new ways of communicating and interacting with each other that fosters emotional safety, understanding, and brings them into a closer and stronger relationship, even during difficult times. As they say, ‘it takes two to tango’ and good dance partners will go to classes together to learn how to move with each other harmoniously, so that they can dance together confidently, rather than constantly stepping on each other's toes!

Couples counselling can have many benefits. Primarily, couples counselling can serve to help people in relationships learn how to navigate disagreement, conflict, and difficult interactions in a way that enhances rather than hurting the relationship. Couples can learn how to communicate with each other in a way that creates a secure bond of emotional safety, honesty, and trust in the face of difficult moments that emerge from both within the relationship and outside of it.Couples that can respond to challenges effectively, often form deeper, more intimate, and more meaningful bonds that lead to long-term relationship satisfaction. For those with children, relationship counselling can also benefit the family home, providing a safe and loving environment that provides children with a mental model of a secure relationship that they will use to navigate and thrive in their own relationships throughout their lives.

The Gottman Method and Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) are two widely recognizedevidence-based relationship therapy methods.