FAQ

What is the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a social worker, counsellor, a Life Coach and an NLP Practitioner?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have specialised training in psychiatry and mental health. As medical doctors they are able to prescribe medication.

Psychologists are experts in human behaviour. Most psychologists help mentally healthy people to find ways of functioning better. For example, they train people to handle stress and family problems. Psychological therapies are also widely used by groups and organisations. Psychologists help mentally healthy people find ways of functioning better. Some psychologists specialise in treating people with a mental illness. Psychologists study human behaviour in their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees before undertaking supervised experience and gaining registration. They do not have a medical degree, however many study for a similar number of years to specialise in various aspects of psychology. For example, clinical psychologists study for at least six years to attain their qualifications. Psychologists do not prescribe medication. Psychologists and Clinical Psychologists are registered providers under the Medicare, Better Access to Mental Health Scheme, which means that eligible clients can claim a Medicare rebate for up to 12 sessions (18 in exceptional circumstances) with a referral from a GP, psychiatrist or pediatrician. Information adapted from the Australian Psychological Society. www.psychology.org.au

Social Workers hold a 4 year university degree and have almost 800 hours of practical experience prior to graduating. Social Work is a diverse field with some social workers choosing to work in community development, social policy development, individual casework and case management, in mental health and counselling and therapy. Social workers have sound training in the applications of counselling and therapy. Social workers locate individual experiences within the wider social and political contexts and work to promote change at the individual and community level. Social workers are bound by a code of ethics which promotes a commitment to social justice as its primary imperative. Mental Health Social Workers have specialised training and experience in working with mental illness. Mental Health Social Workers are registered providers under the Medicare Better Access to Mental Health Scheme which means that eligible clients can claim a Medicare rebate for up to 12 sessions (18 in exceptional circumstances) with a referral from a GP, psychiatrist or pediatrician.

Counsellors. There are many different views as to what counselling is and there is much diversity within the counselling profession.

In life, events or situations can occur after which the need for counselling may arise. People may find themselves in situations where they need an objective and trained person with whom they can discuss a difficult or traumatic event, relationship or emotion.

Counsellors listen, provide feedback and assist a client to gather resources and formulate options to move forward from such circumstances. Contrary to popular belief, counselling is not giving advice to, pathologising or labelling a person. Good counsellors seek to help clients clarify issues, form perspectives and move forward.

As professionals, counsellors are expected to have suitable tertiary qualifications in counselling or the behavioural sciences and membership of a peak body such as the Australian Counselling Association, www.theaca.net.au. Psychologists and Mental Health Social Workers study counselling as part of their university training and some undertake post graduate training in this discipline.

The term NLP Practitioner is not indicative of a qualification or profession per se. NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) is a system of studying and replicating excellence and technically not even a therapy itself. For the sake of this explanation it’s easiest to think of NLP as having applications in the fields of counseling, therapy and coaching (a ‘modality’). Therefore, like any modality of form of therapy it needs to be practiced by those professionals who already have sound, recognised training in either psychology, counselling, social work or coaching. Unfortunately there are no uniformly recognised guidelines (either nationally or internationally) for the training or practice of NLP. The Australian Board of NLP (www.abnlp.org.au) has set some guidelines for the clinical practice of NLP, however it is wise to thoroughly check the qualifications and experience of any NLP Practitioner prior to seeing them.

Life Coaching is a process that is i) directed, ii) task and future focussed and iii) about developing a mentoring relationship between client and coach that assists a client to move from their current to desired situation.

Coaching is about identifying client goals and aspirations and working with a client to ensure that these are achieved within a framework that empowers and inspires the client. Coaching identifies client resources, builds upon these and empowers a client to seek development and guidance in areas that need to be built upon. Once again you are best to check the training and experience of a Life Coach prior to seeing them.

A useful checklist prior to seeing a counsellor/therapist

• Check the credentials and professional memberships of the person. Are the qualifications or training recognised in Australia, and if so, by whom? Therapists have a professional responsibility and ethical imperative to answer all questions honestly.
• Ask whether the therapist has experience in treating your particular concern, particularly if you are presenting with a long standing or complex issue.
• Ask about fees prior to your first appointment. Are they reasonably priced? The Australian Psychological Society and Australian Association of Social Workers set recommended fees for practice. Medicare and health rebates are payable for some professions (psychology, social work). There are no recommended fees for counsellors as such or NLP Practitioners and disproportionate fees (especially in the field of NLP) are quite common.
• Consider the way in which the therapist relates to you. Are they courteous, punctual and genuinely empathic towards your individual situation? If not, then trust your instinct and make further queries elsewhere if necessary.
• Be wary of therapists who claim to have magical cures or the ability to ‘fix your problems’. Therapy and counselling are a joint process whereby a therapist facilitates their client’s own accessing of internal resources and strategies.
• Consider the setting in which the therapist runs their practice, if they work from home do they offer privacy and a professional consulting environment? Do you feel comfortable in the environment?
• If you believe your therapist has behaved unethically you may make a complaint to the relevant professional association of which they are a member.
• All therapy has a beginning, a middle and an end (the closure process). You are however, free to conclude counselling at any point in time and whilst it is advisable to speak with your therapist prior to making this decision (so they can help in planning this process), they cannot force you to attend counselling if you feel it no longer helps you to do so.

How many sessions of counselling will I need?

This all depends on the presenting concerns and the particular goals that are sought. It is important that a thorough assessment of your situation occurs and this will help your therapist to customise a session plan for you.

What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)?

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is the study and replication of excellence in a given area.

• Neuro – Our nervous system
• Linguistic – Language (words we use to communicate) and non-verbal communication
• Programming – Discovering and utilising the programs that we run to achieve our outcomes

NLP encompasses the three most influential components involved in producing human experience: neurology, language and programming. The neurological system regulates how our bodies function, language determines how we interface and communicate with other people and our programming determines the kinds of models of the world we create.

NLPers are fundamentally curious people. We want to know how a certain behaviour, skill or attribute (positive or negative) is maintained. From this point we can deconstruct the behaviour, skill or attribute so that it can be i) replicated or in the case of a negative behaviour ii) disconnected.

How is NLP used in a therapeutic setting? (eg counselling)

In the early days of NLP, the founders of NLP, Dr John Grinder and Dr Richard Bandler were interested in psychotherapy. They took the methodology of NLP (behavioural modelling) to model and observe some of the finest therapists of the time, including Fritz Perls, Virginia Satir and Milton Erickson. They were fascinated by what made these therapists and counsellors so capable and skilled in their fields.

Using the accelerated technology of NLP, the founders were able to develop a series of techniques that are utilised to create rapid, profound and lasting change within an individual.

How else can NLP be applied?

The applications of NLP are enormous. People utilise the principles and techniques of NLP in business, in relationships, to enhance communication, in health, in counselling and therapy and sales training to name but a few.

How are standards set for the practice of NLP in Australia?

There are varying models for the practice of NLP.

The Australian Board of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (ABNLP Inc) is an incorporated, not for profit group that seeks to set standards for the clinical practice of NLP in Australia. The ABNLP also offers professional development, supervision, networking and resources to their members.

Clinical members of the ABNLP are approved to provide one on one coaching and interventions. To check whether someone is a clinical member of the ABNLP contact the Board directly via www.abnlp.org

You are advised to carefully check the qualifications and training of any NLP Practitioner prior to seeing them.

Who is TalkingMinds Communication Coaching suitable for?

TalkingMinds Communication Coaching is suitable for:

• Students
• Business people
• Managers and Human Resources Personnel
• Counsellors, psychologists and coaches
• Teachers
• Mum and Dads and anyone who wishes to achieve excellence in their communication.

Why do people seek out the services of TalkingMinds?

People seek out the services of TalkingMinds to:

• Develop excellence and enhance communication skills
• Learn superior negotiation and positive influencing skills
• Resolve behavioural and emotional patterns to feel better about themselves
• Learn strategies for success
• Discover their untapped potential and create a compelling future