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ONLINE BOOKING PORTAL: Oracle Psychology is pleased to announce the launch of our Online Booking Portal for existing clients. The Online Booking Portal can be accessed here. There is also a pop-up link at the bottom of our website pages. This portal allows for clients to view their scheduled sessions and make therapy/treatment bookings. It also allows therapy/treatment cancellations and reschedules of more than 48 hours before the scheduled appointment. If you need to cancel or reschedule less than 48 hours before the scheduled appointment please call 02 4929 2223 (inside of business hours) and select option 2. Please also call for any assessment and behaviour support bookings, cancellations or reschedules as these cannot occur via the Online Booking Portal. Our regular cancellation policy still applies. Please take some time to familiarise yourself with the Online Booking Portal and ask our friendly staff if you need any help. We will be using this Online Booking Portal to offer appointments to existing client for 2023, when we open the schedule later this year. Further announcements will take place explaining this in more detail. FEE INCREASE: Fees for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are set by the NDIS. These fees are effective from 1 July 2022 for new and existing NDIS clients:
*Please note, all times include at least 10 mins of note taking factored into the specified session length Please note that, due to national inflation, as of 1 October 2022 our Medicare and Private fees will increase as follows for existing clients. This is already in effect for new clients attending from 1 July 2022:
*Please note, all times include at least 10 mins of note taking factored into the specified session length
Our fees remain below the Australian Psychological Society’s (APS) recommended fee schedule of $280.00 per treatment session. We thank you for continuing to choose Oracle Psychology to assist you and your family.  Oracle Psychology will be opening clinician schedules for 2022 on the below dates in October this year. We invite clients to call on the dates below to arrange bookings for next year. Unfortunately, we cannot accept bulk bookings via email or prior to business hours on the days stated below. This is to offer an equal opportunity to all clients based on availability at the time of calling.
We encourage booking ahead for at least 6 months (preferably 12 months) to ensure continuity of service. It is generally easier to book ahead and if your circumstances change we can remove appointments without any cancellation fee, as long as 24 hours notice is provided. Please remember that once appointments have been booked in with one of our Psychologists or Clinical Psychologists, it may be difficult to reschedule as the appointment time approaches. However, we will do our best to accommodate your needs. It is always helpful to discuss yours and your family's needs with the treating clinician and to seek feedback from the Consulting Psychologist assisting you to gain insight into how often it will be helpful for you to attend. The clinician providing treatment is the best person to provide this advice and to explain their treatment plan in more detail. This can be discussed during your appointments with the clinician however, all appointments need to be scheduled via reception. Please note that the Principal Clinical Psychologist, Mr Daniel Wendt, will not be seeing treatment clients in 2022. This is due to his increased professional commitments, both internally and external to the practice. For instance, he provides regular supervision to all of the Child and Adolescent Psychologists at Oracle Psychology. Further, Daniel is an Authorised Clinician with the NSW Children's Court and an Expert Witness in Court proceedings. Due to these commitments he is not able to provide the continuity required for treatment clients. Daniel Wendt - Principal Clinical Psychologist As above No longer seeing treatment clients Claire Mortimer - Clinical Psychologist Schedule opens 5 October 2021 Seeing clients Tues-Fri Dan McAlpine - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 5 October 2021 Seeing clients Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri Doug Angus- Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 5 October 2021 Seeing clients Mon-Wed Eliza Skelton- Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 11 October 2021 Seeing clients Mon-Fri Kerri Corkill - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 11 October 2021 Seeing clients Mon-Thurs Madeline Cordingley- Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 11 October 2021 Seeing clients Mon-Wed Merel Van Emmerik - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 18 October 2021 Seeing clients Tues-Wed Mhairi Gray - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 18 October 2021 Seeing clients Tues-Fri Tanya Hopwood - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 18 October 2021 Seeing clients Tues, Wed & Fri Travis Boehm - Provisional Psychologist Schedule opens 25 October 2021 Seeing clients Mon-Fri Zoe Guider - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 25 October 2021 Seeing clients Mon-Fri Please call our office on 02 4929 2223 to make arrangements for 2022 at your convenience starting during business hours on the dates above. For more information regarding our full range of services please click here. Also free to read some of our informative articles while you are visiting our webpage.  Oracle Psychology will be opening clinician schedules for 2021 on the below dates. We invite clients to call at their convenience to arrange bookings for next year. Unfortunately, we cannot accept bulk bookings via email or prior to business hours on the days stated below. This is to offer an equal opportunity to all clients based on availability at the time of calling.
We encourage booking ahead for at least 6 months to ensure continuity of service. It is generally easier to book ahead and if your circumstances change we can remove appointments without any cancellation fee, as long as 24 hours notice is provided. Please remember that once appointments have been booked in with one of our Psychologists or Clinical Psychologists, it may be difficult to reschedule as the appointment time approaches. However, we will do our best to accommodate your needs. It is always helpful to discuss yours and your family's needs with the treating clinician and to seek feedback from the Consulting Psychologist assisting you to gain insight into how often it will be helpful for you to attend. The clinician providing treatment is the best person to provide this advice and to explain their treatment plan in more detail. This can be discussed during your appointments with the clinician however, all appointments need to be scheduled via reception. Please note that the Principal Clinical Psychologist, Mr Daniel Wendt, will not be seeing treatment clients in 2021. This is due to his increased professional commitments, both internally and external to the practice. For instance, he provides regular supervision to all of the Child and Adolescent Psychologists at Oracle Psychology. Further, Daniel is an Authorised Clinician with the NSW Children's Court and an Expert Witness in Court proceedings. Due to these commitments he is not able to provide the continuity required for treatment clients. We apologise for any inconvenience and encourage all of his current clients to discuss with Daniel so he can recommend alternate clinicians to meet client needs. We can arrange for another Psychologist at Oracle Psychology to take over treatment to meet your needs. We work very collaboratively as a team and Daniel actively consults on cases. Daniel Wendt - Principal Clinical Psychologist As above No longer seeing treatment clients Claire Mortimer - Clinical Psychologist Schedule opens 6 October 2020 Seeing clients Mon-Fri Dan McAlpine - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 8 October 2020 Seeing clients Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri Kathryn Russell - Clinical Psychologist Schedule opens 13 October 2020 Seeing clients Mon & Thurs Kerri Corkill - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 15 October 2020 Seeing clients Mon-Thurs Merel Van Emmerik - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 20 October 2020 Seeing clients Tues-Fri Monica Hattendorff - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 22 October 2020 Seeing clients Mon, Wed, Thurs & Fri Mhairi Gray - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 27 October 2020 Seeing clients Tues-Fri Madeline Cordingley- Provisional Psychologist Schedule opens 27 October 2020 Seeing clients Mon-Wed Terra Harrison - Provisional Psychologist Schedule opens 29 October 2020 Seeing clients Tues & Wed Tanya Hopwood - Provisional Psychologist Schedule opens 29 October 2020 Seeing clients Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri Please call our office on 02 4929 2223 to make arrangements for 2021 at your convenience starting during business hours on the dates above. For more information regarding our full range of services please click here. Also free to read some of our informative articles while you are visiting our webpage.  A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: I wanted to take some time to reach out to all of our clients and the community in general. It is a difficult time for everyone at the moment and there have been many changes in Australia, as well as across the world, in a short period. The arrival of COVID-19 on our shores has presented many challenges for individuals and businesses alike. I wanted to assure everyone of the measures we, at Oracle Psychology, are taking to ensure the upmost safety of our clients and staff. Due to the current confusion and anxiety in the community at large, I am also hoping to provide some education and resources to people in order to provide some additional support. In this announcement I will discuss health and mental health resources, hygiene and safety, social distancing policy, the importance of our clinicians providing ongoing support to clients as well as families, and child psychology telehealth options at Oracle Psychology. HEALTH & MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES: There have been instances of misinformation online and in social media regarding the current pandemic which have caused people undue distress. As such, I would like to encourage everyone to choose their sources of information carefully when informing themselves, their friends and their family. Even some of the mainstream media outlets are adding to community anxiety, so I would like recommend that people gain their information directly from Government websites and announcements. This will ensure you are provided with the most reliable and evidence based information, which can help to reduce anxiety and panic. The Australian Government Department of Health website has the most up to date information regarding symptoms, recommendations and the current status of the pandemic. The Australian Government Head to Health website also has a wealth of useful information and resources. This includes specific mental health information to assist individuals with maintaining good mental health during the pandemic. The below links provide additional information which can help with reducing anxiety, avoiding panic, minimising excessive worrying and maintaining a balanced outlook:
HYGIENE & SAFETY Oracle Psychology has utilised the latest advice from the Australian Government Department of Health in order to develop a COVID-19 Management Plan. This is aimed at maximising safety and hygiene for clients as well as staff. Current expert advice is to actively maintain good hygiene to protect against the spread of infection in day to day life. Good hygiene is a requirement for all of our staff and includes:
We have multiple hand sanitisers available in every consulting room and waiting room, for the convenience of clients and staff. We also clean and disinfect surfaces every day. We have weekly staff meetings where COVID-19 updates are provided, in line with best evidence and expert advice. Email advice is also provided to staff as the situation develops, in order to ensure we are practicing the recommended health and safety measures. All staff members are required to notify me immediately if they or one of their family members are unwell. No staff member will be at our clinic if they are unwell and they will be required to obtain clearance from a medical practitioner before returning to work. Any staff member returning from overseas will also be complying with all Government requirements in relation to self-isolation. SOCIAL DISTANCING We are complying with all of the Government's social distancing requirements, including no hand shaking. We are also looking into further safeguards and we appreciate our clients' understanding and cooperation. As an added protection we are asking clients, wherever possible, to only attend the clinic with one support person or caregiver. We are making this request in an attempt to minimise the number of people attending the clinic at one time. Of course, we understand that in some instances this may not be possible, as other family members may be required to attend also. We also ask that you do not attend the clinic if you are unwell. We hope to keep everyone as safe as possible and to reduce the risk of infection. Please advise us as soon as possible if you are unable to attend due to illness. Our company policy on cancellations of less than 24 hours still remains, even throughout the current COVID-19 pandemic. The reason for this is that we are still required to cover our business overheads in order to maintain continuity of service for our clients. The Government is hoping to minimize the social and economic impact on individuals and businesses by offering telehealth as an alternative. CONTINUING TREATMENT & CHILD PSYCHOLOGY TELEHEALTH In these uncertain times it is important for Oracle Psychology to continue to provide supports to our clients. There will be added pressure on all families in the coming weeks as we adapt to the changing world. We have a treatment continuity plan to ensure that we are able to continue to assist children, teenagers, young adults and families in these times of additional need. I would like to encourage all clients to continue treatment with their clinicians in order to promote their overall well-being and functioning. The current challenges facing our communities will mean that it will be essential to maintain good mental health and connection with important support networks. We aim to continue to be available for face to face consultation unless directed otherwise. This is in line with current expert advice and the aims of the Government. However, we are offering all clients the option to access their ongoing treatment via telehealth services. Our Child and Adolescent Psychologists are experienced in the provisions of our professional consultations via digital modalities. Utilising telehealth means using phone calls as well as audio and video conferencing options. These technologies offer significant opportunities for families, in these times of social distancing. We have many strategies and tools at our finger tips to help children and adolescents engage in accessing professional support from the comfort of their homes. Our telehealth consultations are informative, creative, interactive and helpful. Many young people are already very comfortable with social interactions via the Internet and this can build on their previous experiences. Using telehealth is a simple process that we would be happy to help you understand and set up. Please call 02 4929 2223 if you would like reception to help and explain these options. Unfortunately, due to the nature of assessments, we cannot offer telehealth for these services at this time. Only treatment sessions can be accessed via telehealth. The Australian Government understands the need for individuals to continue their treatment with Psychologists and other health practitioners. They have already announced changes in support of telehealth options given the current pandemic. In the event that the Government no longer allows clinic visits, I can assure all of our clients that we are well placed to continue to provide supports via telehealth.   Please note that Oracle Psychology will be opening clinician schedules for 2020 on the below dates. We invite clients to call at their convenience to arrange bookings for next year. Unfortunately, we cannot accept bulk bookings via email or prior to business hours on the days stated below. This is to offer an equal opportunity to all clients based on availability at the time of calling.
We encourage booking ahead for at least 6 months to ensure continuity of service. It is generally easier to book ahead and if your circumstances change we can remove appointments without any cancellation fee, as long as 24 hours notice is provided. Please remember that once appointments have been booked in with one of our Child and Adolescent Psychologists, it may be difficult to reschedule as the appointment time approaches. However, we will do our best to accommodate your needs. It is always helpful to discuss yours and your family's needs with the treating clinician and to seek feedback from the Consulting Psychologist assisting you to gain insight into how often it will be helpful for you to attend. The clinician providing treatment is the best person to provide this advice and to explain their treatment plan in more detail. This can be discussed during your appointments with the Psychologist however, all appointments need to be scheduled via reception. Please note that the Principal Psychologist, Daniel Wendt, will only be able to offer appointments to his existing clients. He will not be taking on any new treatment clients in 2020, in order to maintain continuity of service provision. Daniel will also be reducing his face to face clinic days in 2020 to accommodate his other professional commitments. This will mean he will only be seeing clients on Wednesdays and Thursdays. We apologise for any inconvenience. Should you require additional sessions or different days, we can arrange for another Psychologist at Oracle Psychology to take over treatment to meet your needs. We work very collaboratively as a team and Daniel actively consults on cases. Daniel Wendt - Principal Clinical Psychologist Schedule opens 1 October 2019 Seeing clients Wednesday & Thursdays Dan McAlpine - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 8 October 2019 Seeing clients Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays Kathryn Russell - Clinical Psychologist Schedule opens 8 October 2019 Seeing clients Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays Kerri Corkill - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 22 October 2019 Seeing clients Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays Merel Van Emmerik - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 22 October 2019 Seeing clients Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays Mhairi Gray - Consulting Psychologist Schedule opens 29 October 2019 Seeing clients Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays Terra Harrison - Provisional Psychologist Schedule opens 29 October 2019 Seeing clients on a variable schedule Please call our office on 02 4929 2223 to make arrangements for 2020 at your convenience starting during business hours on the dates above. For more information regarding our full range of services please click here. Also free to read some of our informative articles while you are visiting our webpage.  It is important to recognize that anxiety disorders are the most common type of psychological problems found in children and adolescents. Approximately one in ten children meet the criteria for what is technically called an anxiety disorder.
Even though anxiety disorders are so common, children are usually referred initially for other reasons. They tend to access treatment when they are displaying aggressive behaviours, attention difficulties, eating disorders or suicidal tendencies. Sometimes the anxiety can go unnoticed due to these other difficulties. It can also be difficult for parents to recognise anxiety as a disorder, due to associating anxiety as part of a child’s personality. Children who experience anxiety can be affected in three different ways:
The amount of anxiety a child experiences will vary from a single fear, such as being scared of going to sleep with the light out, to extremes where a child worries about many aspects of their life. Whether your child is experiencing anxiety relating to a single fear or to an extreme, early intervention is the key through seeking professional help with a Psychologist. Written by: Ms Kerri Corkill, MAPS BSci (Psych), BPsych (Hons) Consulting Psychologist PSY0001722310  Having a child can be the most positive experience in an individual's life. The moment you first see your newborn's face cannot possibly be put into words. The birth of your child is marked by euphoria, mindfulness and an immense sense of responsibility.
As the days and months pass by parents quickly realise that unfortunately children and teenagers do not come with a manual. Parenting is not always straight forward or clear and sometimes the rules change. This can make parenting for the first time a daunting and scary experience. There are so many unknowns and questions when raising children: "When should we start toilet training?" "How can I promote my child's self-esteem?" "Should my children sleep in their own bed?" "What are the best ways to handle misbehaviour?" "How much iPad time it too much?" "Why does my teenage child want to spend less time with us now? Are we doing something wrong?" "My child doesn't look me in the eyes, should I be worried?" This is just a brief example of some of the questions racing though most parent's minds. There is an infinite amount of other concerns which parents are faced with day to day. Many parents have the same concerns about their children and it can be difficult to know what a regular part of a child's development is, as opposed to something you should be concerned about. For instance, many children can go through periods of being scared to sleep at night or separating from their parents. To some extent this can be an expected part of child development. However, in other instances where a child is excessively anxious or afraid for extended periods, or following trauma, it can be essential that families seek professional help. True also is the complexity of understanding the teenage years. Parents can be overwhelmed with the dramatic physical and emotional changes in their adolescent child over a relatively short amount of time. Teenagers can become moody, withdrawn and they can isolate themselves from family. In some circumstances this can be an expected part of development. It may be the natural path your child is taking as they transition from a a dependent child to an independent young adult. However, such social and emotional changes in extremes can also be a hallmark feature of mental health decline, such as depression and anxiety. Since there is no parenting manual to assist in raising your child, professional help and guidance can be beneficial to some families. Child and Adolescent Psychologists can provide an objective perspective and professional advice. While Psychologists often work with individuals, in the paediatric and adolescent arena it can be important to involve other family members such as parents and even siblings. Of course, this would depend on the individual circumstances of the client and it would need to be clinically appropriate as well as with consent. For instance, children with emotional regulation difficulties and anger outburst can benefit greatly from individual psychological support from qualified clinicians. However, the younger the child the more likely that a parent will be involved more actively in the sessions with a Psychologist. This allows parents to learn the strategies taught to the child also and assist their children to implement them day to day. Parent involvement also allows for Mum and Dad to draw on the extensive knowledge of Child Psychologists to broaden their own knowledge. Parent involvement in adolescent sessions would depend on the teenager providing consent. In many instances clinicians can encourage teenage clients to involve their parents or consent to Psychologists providing feedback to Mum and Dad. In several ways this can promote positive outcomes for the individual, as it allows parents to gain a greater understanding of their child's needs and perspective. It can also further develop communication skills and independence. It is also important to note that, while children do not come with a manual, parents can use Child and Adolescent Psychologists as an interactive manual for childhood development. They can request individual sessions with clinicians for psychological consultation and advice about parenting even if their child is not seeing a professional. This can be helpful for mothers and fathers as it can guide them in best practice with parenting or how to respond to emotional and social changes. It can also be helpful for parents to seek advice with assisting their children during life changes such as how to best parent after separation. There are many ways Child Psychologists can help families. Clinicians can work with individuals or groups. The can assist one family member or many. They can give parenting and developmental advice to put things in perspective. While there is no parenting manual we can guide you on your parenting journey. Contact us today on 02 4929 2223 or email us for further information. |
AuthorChild Psychologist Daniel Wendt is the Principal Clinical Psychologist of Oracle Psychology in Newcastle, NSW. Archives
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Oracle Psychology Pty Ltd
19 Bolton Street, Suite 6, Level 1, Newcastle, NSW, 2300 P: 02 4929 2223 F: 02 4929 3637 E: [email protected] ABN: 4716 427 5709 ACN: 164 275 709 |
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