Frequently Asked Questions

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy is an evidence-based psychological intervention to support individuals in healing from distressing or traumatic experiences (Shapiro, 2018). It works by helping the brain process and integrate upsetting memories, so they no longer feel as intense or overwhelming. 

    With the therapist's support, clients identify current difficulties they wish to change and look at memories that may contribute to their current distress. They are asked to bring up distressing memories while focusing on alternative tasks, typically by following the therapist's fingers. This process supports the brain's natural healing process and helps the memory feel less distressing and more distant.

  • Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) is a therapeutic technique initially developed for the treatment of trauma and various psychological disorders, particularly those involving distressing or intrusive memories (Arntz, 2012; van der Wijngaart, 2021). The goal of ImRs is to modify and transform negative or distressing mental images associated with traumatic events, thereby reducing their emotional charge and altering their impact on the individual's current functioning (Arntz, 2012).

    In ImRs, the therapist supports the client to:

    • Validate past stressful experiences and link them to current symptoms

    • Alter the meaning attributed to past traumas

    • Allow the client to express emotions that may have been suppressed in the past

    • Give the client the experience of having their emotional needs met physiologically

    • Experience healing without necessarily having to retell the story

  • The Wattle Centre provides a range of psychological services, including:

    • Individual clinical psychology services, focused on trauma-informed care* 

    • Clinical consultation and supervision for mental health professionals.

    • EMDR therapy training and accreditation for therapists.  

    *Please note Sarah is currently at capacity and is not taking on new clients

  • Our general operating hours are Monday to Friday. Please note that our administrative assistant, Bella, is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. Sarah's availability may vary due to training commitments. Please contact us for specific scheduling inquiries.

Therapy Approaches and Services

  • The frequency of appointments is often based on personal preference, with weekly appointments recommended. We typically offer 50-minute appointments but can do 80 minutes by request. The number of sessions will depend greatly on your intervention goals and current symptoms. Sarah can discuss this with you in your initial session.

  • Every intervention is tailored to each individual, and Sarah typically adopts a trauma-informed approach to psychological intervention, linking current difficulties to past distress. While therapy can be ongoing at The Wattle Centre, we usually work in treatment blocks of 8-12 weekly sessions, followed by a two-month break. During our first session, we will explore your primary concerns and collaboratively develop a treatment plan. You may be asked to complete questionnaires to aid in your treatment. These can be completed either in session or independently, according to your preference.

  • Our 50-minute sessions are $311, in line with the Australian Psychological Society fee schedule. Medicare rebates of $141.85 per session are available for clients with a Mental Health Care Plan from their doctor, up to 10 sessions per year (40 for diagnosed eating disorders). Private health insurance may also provide rebates.

    For more information, please see our Fees and Rebates page.

  • We understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise. To respect both your time and the time of other clients, we prefer 48 hours' notice for cancellations. Cancellations made within 24 hours of the appointment will result in the full session fee being charged.

Clients

  • EMDR accreditation involves three stages: Basic Training, Accredited Practitioner, and Accredited Consultant.

    Basic Training requires 50 hours of training, comprising Level 1 and Level 2 training, plus 10 hours of accredited consultation.

    To become an EMDRAA Accredited Practitioner, you will need at least one year of experience since completing basic training, 10 more consultation sessions, and demonstrate EMDR usage with 25 clients in 50 sessions, among other criteria.  Your consultant will also need to review a sample of your work to assess your capacity to adhere to the fidelity of the EMDR standard protocol.

    Becoming an Accredited Consultant requires further clinical experience, extensive EMDR usage, CPD, and video reviews.

    For detailed and current requirements, please refer to the EMDRAA website.

  • To confirm your eligibility for EMDR Therapy Basic Training, please see the EMDRAA website here. If unsure, you can fill out the Exceptional Circumstances to Train form found on the EMDRAA website and send it to accred@emdraa.org

    Please note that The Wattle Centre is unable to approve exceptional circumstances. If you do not meet the eligibility criteria as outlined on the EMDRAA website, you must apply directly via EMDRAA.

  • We know life can be unpredictable, and we really appreciate you letting us know as early as possible if you need to cancel. For individual sessions, cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance will be charged at the full fee. For group sessions, we kindly ask for at least 7 days’ notice. For comprehensive information on our cancellation policy for trainings or workshops, please refer to the Terms and Conditions here.

  • To view our schedule of upcoming training workshops and group consultations, please visit the following pages:

Therapists