Supportive & Effective:
While psychological services cannot come with a guarantee,
the services provided by Access Psychology focus on those based on sound
clinical research. The general aim is to provide supportive and effective
psychological treatments. This is why some problems (such as addictions)
are dealt with in conjunction with other treatment services.
Cures?:
It is difficult to define a "cure" when discussing psychological
problems, but still, it is common for clients feel that their symptoms
are permanently relieved. People with fears, insomnia, anxiety, depression,
posttraumatic stress, smoking behaviour, adjustment problems (e.g. as with chronic pain),
and so on, can all have this experience of relief. Of those who do not
consider they are "completely cured", many would report a significant reduction
in symptoms so as to allow them to continue on in relative comfort.
An investment in your future:
Treatment through Access Psychology represent a good value
long-term investment in your mental health. The benefits also generally
have a positive influence on those close to you - for example, children
learn a lot from their parents about how to deal with life and (despite
what parents say to their children) children will do what the parents do,
not what the parents say. The skills learnt, in the process of resolving
your problem(s), improve with practice and are thus available for use as
needed when dealing with other such matters throughout your future.
What people say:
I first came to Access Psychology through a recommendation from a friend. I was
on medication at the time and I wanted to go down a different path for treatment.
My problems were affecting my life and my work very much.
Going to Access Psychology was very comfortable and refreshing for me and comforting,
even from the very first session. I benefited from the sessions almost immediately.
One of the best things was that you didn’t beat around the bush so there was no time
wasted and I could put into action almost immediately what I learnt.
By the time I stopped going to Access Psychology I felt I’d had my eyes opened
and I felt quite exhilarated. I was quite overwhelmed about how the penny had
dropped about so many things. Some of it was also a reminder of bits and pieces
that I’d heard in the past and the useful bits were put together for me. It does
appear expensive but it’s not too expensive. We are talking about life here. You
can spend that much going out with someone for a good meal and all you have left
is a memory of a meal. It’s money well-spent and the benefits have spread through
my work relationships and socially as well.
I have recommended you to others. Even as recently as yesterday, a friend had
taken their child elsewhere and they seem to have had a lot of appointments.
I told them that you get to the point very quickly and that I think they would
benefit from going to Access Psychology.
Anne (aged 49), of Greenwith, South Australia.
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I was not coping at work, my health was suffering and I was seriously
considering resigning even though that’s not what I wanted to do.
I found you very easy to deal with, Ed. You seemed to understand. You
gave me very good information. The sessions had a nice and friendly
atmosphere. You helped me understand the condition that I was struggling
with and gave me strategies to help me recognise the warning signs and
to know what to do with them. You took me from being a victim to being
someone who was in control and your plan for my return to work was most
beneficial, developing renewed confidence.
Thank you.
Don (aged 56) of Kersbrook, South Australia
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Last month I completed the 4-session Access Psychology Hypnotherapy course
for smokers. Previously I’d smoked a packet of 50 cigarettes a day, quite
consistently for 40 years. I had 2 reasons for doing this course. First,
I wanted to give up smoking because I was having trouble breathing (I had COPD*).
Second, I wanted to have a reasonably good quality of life without my lungs
getting worse. My doctor told me that I had gotten to a stage that I needed
to give up smoking, that it wasn’t an option, and that, if I didn’t, the
consequences were extremely serious.
I was hoping that the hypnosis would work for me but I wasn’t sure if it
would or not. I’d already tried all of the other options like pills and
patches and they only helped for a very short period of time. After I had
hypnosis I felt like I had a great weight lifted from my shoulders. The
very first thing I noticed was the fact that I did not have the urge to
smoke any more. I still had to fight the hand actions of lifting my hand
to my mouth and blowing smoke out of my mouth, but I didn’t have the
addiction to nicotine any more. It was an overwhelming relief. I felt different.
As for the results ... they are excellent. I still find it difficult at
times but I’m not smoking, and even though I get really close to having
a cigarette I realise that with the techniques that you’ve taught me I can
just push the thoughts away.
The biggest benefit for me is that I think there’s a possibility of having
a life now. There are things in my life that I want to do, like watching
the grand children grow up, doing things with my wife, doing things around
our new home and looking forward to things in the future ... like I was talking
to my wife this morning about taking up golf together so we can exercise
and lose a bit of weight. And besides that I’ve noticed that since I’ve
stopped smoking, there is a little less difficulty breathing so I’m able
to contemplate maybe playing 9 holes of golf ... something that I wouldn’t
even have bothered thinking about in the past.
For someone who is thinking of doing the course I would say that if there
is any possible way of doing it then they should do it. Hypnotherapy is a
really good choice for people to make I reckon. It’s changed my life a lot.
Roger (aged 53) of Blakeview, South Australia.
*COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease):
This can result in a miserable slow death but it can also go away quickly
if you stop smoking.
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Before I went along to Access Psychology I was having problems with
depression and negative thinking that I could not control with medication
alone. I felt very depressed. Not suicidal or anything, but wishing
my life was over so I wouldn’t have to struggle any more.
I had seen psychiatrists in the past and I was negative about that
but I was willing to be open to seeing a psychologist. I was worried
that psychology would go down the same path as psychiatry but it
was nowhere near it! It was absolutely excellent going to Access
Psychology and I have recommended you to other people. I just wish
you could travel around in my head all day. I call you ‘my Dr Phil’.
Medication is cheaper but I was already on medication and I think
the main thing with Access Psychology is to weigh up how you feel
now with how you are going to feel. My depression is gone and I
do think that the sessions there are the main reason for my recovery.
The best part was learning how to challenge my thoughts and to see
how I make my own thoughts happen. Now that the depression has
lifted, a lot of what I learnt has gone onto the back-burner,
but I use it again when I feel stressed-out and it really helps.
If anyone is thinking of going to Access Psychology I’d say
definitely try it out. I think it’s better than psychiatry.
I’ve been to three psychiatrists. They don’t care. None of
them listened and helped me the way you did, they just want to
put you on medication and shove you out the door. I really
recommend Access Psychology totally.
Heather (aged 32), of One Tree Hill, South Australia.
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I’d been struggling with my problems for about 25 years. I was
always nervous and panicky. I stayed away from places and avoided
social things and I felt uncomfortable if I did go out.
When I went to Access Psychology it was the first time that I
had ever been to a psychologist. I didn’t really know what to
expect. I was a bit nervy to start with, but once I started to
get the hang of what it was all about I realized that it was
definitely the right thing to do. It was really good all round.
It gave me some direction. Without being pointed in the right
direction I was nowhere. When you were explaining how thoughts
and feelings are connected I really started feeling some benefit.
I started using that information and started going somewhere.
I’m surprised at how much difference it made. I’m heaps more
relaxed. I don’t get so many wacky ideas in my head, and if I
do get them I can pull them up straight away. The panicky
feeling I used to get in my stomach ... I still get that now and
again but I can stop it straight away. Learning to relax was
really useful too.
I feel like a different person. I don’t think the way I did
for the last 25 years any more. I’ve also met a woman not long
ago, just before I finished at Access Psychology. We’re just
friends but we are getting on well. It was really worth it going
to Access Psychology and if anyone asks about going I just say "
definitely go for it ".
John (aged 42), of Golden Grove, South Australia.
What people say about the book:
I went along to Access Psychology for a
consultation because I was having problems with my eldest boy. He was having
major emotional outbursts and he wasn’t able to control his anger. He’d get
emotional about something and instead of dealing with it he’d lash out, out of
control. We bought the book [Parenting - Easy & Effective]
after one consultation and that’s all we needed.
The hardest thing was for us to change our
mindset and our immediate reaction to his behaviour, but because the book was
so easy to read and understand, and it made so much sense, I was able to think
"well, if I do this then that will probably happen", and it did. I say that was
the hardest thing, but it wasn’t actually that hard - it was just different to
what we used to do. My partner and I had to keep reminding each other, at
first, about what to say or do or what to think in different situations rather
than doing what we did in the past - and it made a dramatic difference. My
eldest boy took to it really well and we had some quick changes there. He
lapped up the good attention he was getting with the new approach. Over the
next two or three weeks it was a help with the other two kids as well.
The most useful thing I learnt was not to
ignore the kids when they were being good and the best part is that we now
spend a lot more time with the kids. We realised that when the kids were good
we used to leave them alone. I always thought that with children you should
always pull them up on what they are doing wrong but I never really got the
whole other side of things. I’d think "oh great, they’re in their room playing.
I’ll go and lie down for a while or something". I didn’t realise that I was
actually making the situation worse.
My eldest boy has also been better at
school this year. So far we haven’t had any more of the emotional issues of the
past, so that seems to be going really well, and his teacher this year has
mentioned that he’s being very sociable - helping other kids and so on.
I actually like coming home from work now.
I’m not thinking "oh God, I have to deal with all this again". That’s just not
happening any more. I’m really happy with the book and if others are thinking
about it they should just buy it, it’s really good.
Tina (aged 33), of Fairview Park, South Australia.
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My husband and I had some difficult issues
to sort out a year ago with our, then, 4½ year old daughter. I tried different
tactics (like yelling or reverse psychology) to make life a bit more pleasant,
but to no avail. I’d try reward types of things as well like saying "if you’re
a good girl in the shops I’ll buy you something". Then I went along for a
couple of consultations at Access Psychology, and bought the book, and realised
that I was not at all doing things right.
I hoped the book [Parenting - Easy & Effective]
would be useful, and it was. It was really easy to use and
understand. I still refer to it as a refresher if I feel things are getting out
of hand (and it’s usually what I’m doing that’s the problem). When I read
through it again I feel very empowered. I then have a plan and, since I’m
confident that the plan will work, I don’t worry any more. It’s been great.
I absolutely feel so much more confident as
a parent. When I read the book, everything makes so much sense. I like the
examples about awkward subjects like privileges and responsibility, but the
best thing that I got out of it was an understanding about consequences. My daughter
responded to that very quickly.
Things got worse when I started to use the
book and then improved within about a week. Then we had another bad patch (I
don’t know if it is because we became complacent or if she decided to have
another go at it) but it’s been good from then on. It’s so rewarding when you
can see that she’s learnt and accepted new rules. It’s a lot calmer at home now
and I make an effort to be a calmer person myself. It’s a much happier
household. I think it’s amazing.
It has affected my whole life because I
feel more in control ... not that it’s a boot-camp at home, but you need to be in
control as a parent to a certain degree. I think she’s happier too and she’s a
lot better to take out. She knows the boundaries and she has responded well to
them. I think it’s great. I have highly recommended your book to others and
given them your website address. I have friends who have the same problems that
I had and it’s so frustrating when you can see they are making things worse but
you can’t say anything ... but if they ask I tell them "well, look at this book.
You can get it off the Internet, it’s not expensive, you can read it in one
night and you’ll feel so empowered!"
Tina (aged 35), of Greenwith, South Australia.
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Before I bought your book [Parenting - Easy & Effective]
parenting was a bit
hit-and-miss at times. My girls are good kids but I wanted to do my best in
raising them, so I went looking for information. When I started reading it,
every page made sense and I knew it would be useful. At the time (about 2
years ago) it gave us confidence to know if we were on the right track or
not, rewarding good behaviour and things like that. Those things have gone
into my autopilot now.
The best thing about it was getting some insight into what made the kids
tick, understanding what turned things on or switched things off. When we
started applying what was in the book the changes were almost instantaneous.
The most valuable things I got from the book were a lot more confidence
in dealing with them and having a basis for making decisions. It reaffirmed
some of the things that I already knew and cleared up the hit-and-miss
stuff. It gave me plausible reasons for doing certain things rather than
just saying "well we’ll try that and see how it goes ". That isn’t always
very useful because, as you explain in the book, some of the things you
try can make things go worse before they get better.
I think I’m generally a lot more mellow now. If I’m getting wound up now
I can say to myself " hang about, ranting and raving isn’t going to change
anything, let’s try working on the positive side "... and it works. I think
the book is definitely worth buying, and if you’ve got issues to resolve
it’s also worth going in and talking to you about it too.
John, of Houghton, South Australia.
What referrers say:
Since being introduced to this service by another psychologist six years ago,
I have been referring patients (to Access Psychology) with problems such
as major depressive and / or anxiety disorders; relationship difficulties;
work-related stress; and adjustment disorders.
My experience of Access Psychology is that it gets results. It is a
reliable service and I have very positive feedback from patients.
They report that they are treated well; they don’t feel threatened;
and they make progress.
I appreciate having someone, to whom I can refer my patients, to
do the specialised counselling, and am grateful for the assessment
and progress notes that I receive. It is helpful for me to have
this second facet to patient management - it helps my patients
to understand their problems and to develop strategies and
mechanisms to deal with these problems.
Overall, I find it quite easy to deal with this service and my
patients also find it easy to access - particularly with the
flexible consulting times available. Whilst we all have our own
trial-and-error systems for selecting medical and para-medical
specialists, I think that it is definitely worth giving Access
Psychology a go in that process.
Dr Geoffrey W Symons
MBBS Dip RACOG
GUMERACHA MEDICAL PRACTICE
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Dear Mr Zahra
Re: Mr XX
I am writing to confirm that I have closed our records and have
attached a copy of the final report for your information.
Thank you so much for all the support that you have provided to
XX and myself. It has been invaluable in achieving this successful outcome.
Yours sincerely
Vicki Braidwood
Rehabilitation Consultant
CRS AUSTRALIA
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For more than eleven years, I have been referring patients to
Access Psychology. The reasons for referral have included anxiety
disorders, childhood behaviour problems, interpersonal difficulties
and work-related problems. The service is convenient for me and
I am happy with the quality of the work. I have not had any
complaints about the service and those whom I refer generally
feel quite happy with the consultations and feel it has been
worthwhile attending. Some are particularly happy to have a
useful option that does not involve the use of medication.
I have found that most of my patients have been helped by
attending Access Psychology. They do seem to improve and receive
lifestyle benefits as a result of that improvement. As for me,
I prefer to have someone else (who is more expert in these
matters than I am) to do the counselling.
I find the service to be very efficient, friendly and worthwhile
and well worth the referral letter.
Dr John LePoidevin
M.B., B.S., D.R.C.O.G.
ST AGNES SURGERY
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Dear Ed
I will definitely encourage the Case Managers to use you again in our stress management cases.
:)
Regards
Linda Rayner
Rehabilitation Consultant
INJURED WORKERS REHABILITATION SERVICES
