Frequently Asked Questions
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General and Administrative
How Do i book a session with you?
If you are a new client, please submit a contact form providing some information about the issues you are looking to address. I will then get in touch with you to organise a free 15-minute intake call to make sure my practice is the right fit for your needs. You will be able to book in your first appointment during the call. Existing clients are able to book subsequent appointments online.
Do I Need a referral from a gp or psychiatrist?
You do not need a referral to see a psychologist, however if you would like to receive Medicare rebates you do require a referral and a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP or psychiatrist.
How are payments Accepted?
For in-person sessions full payment is required at the time of the appointment. You Medicare rebate, if applicable, will be processed by the psychologist on the day of the session. All major cards are accepted, including American Express. HICAPS facilities are available for on the spot claims if you are using private health insurance.
For online sessions, payment via direct deposit is available. how many sessions do i get under medicare?
You can currently access up to 10 Medicare rebates for psychology sessions during each calendar year. Typically your initial referral will cover the first 6 sessions, and you will need to see your GP or psychiatrist for another referral to cover the remaining 4 sessions. Following that you are welcome to utilise your private health insurance (if available), or continue as a private patient.
Do you accept Workers Compensation/DVA/Victims Services/NDIS?
At the moment I do not work with any of the abovementioned payment schemes and only accept Medicare or private referrals.
Do you offer telehealth appointments?
The majority of clients, especially those attending for trauma work, are seen face to face, as I find it more therapeutically beneficial. An occasional telehealth session may be organised if needed.
If you are only looking to engage via telehealth, this can be discussed on an individual basis depending on the nature of your concerns. I will generally not see clients with complex trauma/dissociative symptoms via telehealth exclusively. Do you offer after hours/weekend appointments?
At the moment appointments are only available between 10 am - 4 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. No after hours/weekend options are offered.
Do you offer MEDICO-LEGAL reports?
No medico-legal reports can be provided.
How often would i need to attend sessions?
Frequency of sessions will be discuss with you early in the assessment process. Typically, weekly sessions are recommended at least initially. Some people may benefit from fortnightly sessions if that is more practical. I find that, especially during the active phase of treatment, anything less frequent would not be as effective. Once the active treatment phase is complete, follow-up appointments may be spaced out between one to several months until the client is ready to conclude treatment.
What is your cancellation policy?
We require a 24-hour notice for any cancellations, otherwise the full appointment fee will be charged. The cancellation fee may be waived at clinician's discretion in emergency situations. No Medicare rebates apply for cancellation fees.
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Therapy and EMDR
is EMDR therapy right for me?
Like any therapy, EMDR may not work for everyone, especially in its standard form. For EMDR processing to be effective, clients need to have a reasonable ability to regulate their emotions to prevent becoming overwhelmed while staying grounded in the present moment. For individuals with more complex trauma histories, a period of stabilisation focused on building emotion regulation skills may be necessary before engaging in EMDR. Additionally, incorporating other therapeutic approaches, such as ego state therapy or parts work, and modifying the standard EMDR protocol can enhance treatment effectiveness.
EMDR is not recommended as a first-line treatment for individuals in active addiction or acute crisis. Similarly, if you are currently experiencing ongoing trauma, trauma-focused therapy may have limited effectiveness.
That said, EMDR is a highly effective, evidence-based approach for addressing a range of mental health concerns rooted in traumatic or adverse experiences. It has been widely used in the treatment of PTSD and complex trauma—whether from childhood or adulthood—as well as for issues such as anxiety, low self-worth, attachment difficulties, depression, anger, and emotional dysregulation linked to past experiences.
It is important to recognise that EMDR has been continuously developed for over 30 years and is now a comprehensive therapeutic approach. While eye movements are often a key feature, they represent just one component of the treatment process.
We will work with you to determine the most appropriate treatment plan based on your unique circumstances.
EMDR is not recommended as a first-line treatment for individuals in active addiction or acute crisis. Similarly, if you are currently experiencing ongoing trauma, trauma-focused therapy may have limited effectiveness.
That said, EMDR is a highly effective, evidence-based approach for addressing a range of mental health concerns rooted in traumatic or adverse experiences. It has been widely used in the treatment of PTSD and complex trauma—whether from childhood or adulthood—as well as for issues such as anxiety, low self-worth, attachment difficulties, depression, anger, and emotional dysregulation linked to past experiences.
It is important to recognise that EMDR has been continuously developed for over 30 years and is now a comprehensive therapeutic approach. While eye movements are often a key feature, they represent just one component of the treatment process.
We will work with you to determine the most appropriate treatment plan based on your unique circumstances.
How would I know if you are the “right” therapist for me?
It’s important that you feel comfortable with your therapist, that they create a safe space for you, and that you feel understood. This is especially true in trauma work, where the therapeutic relationship plays a crucial role in healing.
Sometimes, you may know right away if a therapist is the right fit, while other times, it might take a few sessions—particularly if this is your first experience with therapy. If you’re unsure or have concerns about your therapist’s style or approach, I encourage you to bring it up in session. Openly discussing these feelings can help clarify whether the fit isn’t right or if something else might be at play. Your therapist can address your concerns, adjust their approach if needed, or help you find an alternative provider if necessary.
That said, it’s also helpful to reflect on whether discomfort is due to the therapist’s approach or if something deeper is being triggered. Are you projecting feelings from another important relationship onto your therapist? Is a part of you looking for reasons to disengage from difficult work? If you’ve struggled to find a suitable practitioner after multiple attempts, it might be worth exploring whether underlying beliefs—such as feeling that no one can truly understand or care for you—are affecting the therapeutic process.
However, if you have a strong gut feeling that a therapist isn’t right for you, trust that instinct. Therapy should be a space where you feel safe and supported, and finding the right fit is essential for meaningful progress.
Sometimes, you may know right away if a therapist is the right fit, while other times, it might take a few sessions—particularly if this is your first experience with therapy. If you’re unsure or have concerns about your therapist’s style or approach, I encourage you to bring it up in session. Openly discussing these feelings can help clarify whether the fit isn’t right or if something else might be at play. Your therapist can address your concerns, adjust their approach if needed, or help you find an alternative provider if necessary.
That said, it’s also helpful to reflect on whether discomfort is due to the therapist’s approach or if something deeper is being triggered. Are you projecting feelings from another important relationship onto your therapist? Is a part of you looking for reasons to disengage from difficult work? If you’ve struggled to find a suitable practitioner after multiple attempts, it might be worth exploring whether underlying beliefs—such as feeling that no one can truly understand or care for you—are affecting the therapeutic process.
However, if you have a strong gut feeling that a therapist isn’t right for you, trust that instinct. Therapy should be a space where you feel safe and supported, and finding the right fit is essential for meaningful progress.
How long would therapy take?
The length of therapy is difficult to predict and largely depends on your goals, personal history, and circumstances. For some, therapy may be short-term (a few months), particularly if you are generally doing well, have a solid support system, and are navigating situational difficulties such as adult trauma, work-related stress, complicated grief, or a relationship breakdown.
For others, longer-term therapy or multiple courses of treatment may be needed to make meaningful progress—especially if you have experienced extensive childhood trauma and face challenges across multiple areas of life, such as emotion regulation, pervasive anxiety, relationship difficulties, work-related struggles, or a deep sense of isolation. These kinds of difficulties cannot be fully addressed in a short period of time, as healing is a layered process.
If financial constraints or Medicare limits impact your ability to attend ongoing therapy, it can be helpful to structure treatment into focused stages. For example, one course of therapy might concentrate on emotion regulation skills, followed by another focused on attachment and relationships, then work and perfectionism, and so on. Similarly, trauma processing can be approached in phases—starting with earlier traumas, then addressing later experiences or present triggers as needed.
While this may sound overwhelming, your therapist will guide you through the process and work with you to develop a treatment plan that is both realistic and effective. The goal is always to provide the most efficient path to healing without unnecessarily prolonging treatment. It’s also important to remain flexible, as new insights or life changes may shift the direction of therapy over time.
For others, longer-term therapy or multiple courses of treatment may be needed to make meaningful progress—especially if you have experienced extensive childhood trauma and face challenges across multiple areas of life, such as emotion regulation, pervasive anxiety, relationship difficulties, work-related struggles, or a deep sense of isolation. These kinds of difficulties cannot be fully addressed in a short period of time, as healing is a layered process.
If financial constraints or Medicare limits impact your ability to attend ongoing therapy, it can be helpful to structure treatment into focused stages. For example, one course of therapy might concentrate on emotion regulation skills, followed by another focused on attachment and relationships, then work and perfectionism, and so on. Similarly, trauma processing can be approached in phases—starting with earlier traumas, then addressing later experiences or present triggers as needed.
While this may sound overwhelming, your therapist will guide you through the process and work with you to develop a treatment plan that is both realistic and effective. The goal is always to provide the most efficient path to healing without unnecessarily prolonging treatment. It’s also important to remain flexible, as new insights or life changes may shift the direction of therapy over time.
What is an emdr intensive?
An EMDR intensive is a condensed, focused form of EMDR therapy designed to accelerate the healing process. Instead of weekly sessions, an intensive involves extended sessions over a shorter period—ranging from a half-day to multiple days—allowing for deeper processing of traumatic memories in a structured and supportive environment. This approach can be beneficial for those wanting to make rapid progress, have limited availability for weekly therapy, or prefer an immersive experience for trauma healing. Please read more here: https://www.petrovapsychology.com.au/intensives.html
What if I don’t remember much of my childhood, would EMDR still work?
While this is a complex question that depends on individual circumstances, the short answer is yes—EMDR can still be effective even if you don’t have clear memories of your childhood or trauma.
Sometimes, EMDR may help you recall details of an event that were previously dissociated, but this is not the goal or expectation of therapy. For very early trauma, we often use a specialized EMDR protocol that targets implicit, pre-verbal memories stored in the body, without needing to focus on a specific memory.
For childhood attachment wounds—where there were repeated experiences of feeling rejected, invalidated, or unwanted by a caregiver—specific memories aren’t necessary. Instead, we can work with the felt sense of those experiences, exploring how they affect your thoughts and emotions now. This can be done using a constructed situation to represent those early patterns.
In cases where trauma is inaccessible—such as events that occurred while incapacitated by drugs or dissociation—there is often an awareness that something happened, even if the details are unclear. Trauma is stored in the nervous system, and EMDR can help process the emotional impact, meaning, and lingering effects of the experience, as well as any present or future fears associated with it.
Sometimes, EMDR may help you recall details of an event that were previously dissociated, but this is not the goal or expectation of therapy. For very early trauma, we often use a specialized EMDR protocol that targets implicit, pre-verbal memories stored in the body, without needing to focus on a specific memory.
For childhood attachment wounds—where there were repeated experiences of feeling rejected, invalidated, or unwanted by a caregiver—specific memories aren’t necessary. Instead, we can work with the felt sense of those experiences, exploring how they affect your thoughts and emotions now. This can be done using a constructed situation to represent those early patterns.
In cases where trauma is inaccessible—such as events that occurred while incapacitated by drugs or dissociation—there is often an awareness that something happened, even if the details are unclear. Trauma is stored in the nervous system, and EMDR can help process the emotional impact, meaning, and lingering effects of the experience, as well as any present or future fears associated with it.
I have a regular therapist but would like to see you for EMDR only, is that possible?
Generally, EMDR therapy is most effective as a standalone treatment, as engaging in multiple therapeutic approaches simultaneously can sometimes be counterproductive. However, it is entirely possible for your regular therapist to refer you for focused trauma processing with EMDR, after which you can return to ongoing work with them.
If this is something you’re considering, we can discuss a structured plan based on your individual needs to ensure a smooth and supportive process.
If this is something you’re considering, we can discuss a structured plan based on your individual needs to ensure a smooth and supportive process.
Will you be able to see me if I am having suicidal thoughts
It is very common for complex trauma survivors to experience recurrent suicidal thoughts, and this alone is not an exclusion criterion for therapy. If you have suicidal thoughts at times of distress but generally feel safe and have not had a recent hospitalization, we can work together to manage your symptoms through safety planning and regular check-ins.
However, since my primary focus is on trauma processing, if you are currently in an acute suicidal phase, a different form of treatment may be more appropriate—one that prioritizes stabilisation and distress tolerance before engaging in trauma work.
If you are currently feeling suicidal or in immediate distress, please seek urgent support by calling Lifeline (13 11 14) or the NSW Mental Health Line (1800 011 511). These services offer 24/7 crisis support and can help ensure your safety.
However, since my primary focus is on trauma processing, if you are currently in an acute suicidal phase, a different form of treatment may be more appropriate—one that prioritizes stabilisation and distress tolerance before engaging in trauma work.
If you are currently feeling suicidal or in immediate distress, please seek urgent support by calling Lifeline (13 11 14) or the NSW Mental Health Line (1800 011 511). These services offer 24/7 crisis support and can help ensure your safety.