River City Therapy

If this is sounding a little bit like your situation, you might be wondering what is next. 

Get in touch with Nathan today, to begin to explore therapeutic options and supports available to you. Scroll down to look at the FAQs, or use the links to look around our website. 

How does confidentiality work? 

Confidentiality is an agreement between you and your therapist. Generally, this will be the agreement that prevents your therapist from sharing your information without your consent. The only time your therapist can share your confidential information without your consent is when they believe you are at risk of imminent harm, or someone else is at risk of imminent harm. 

How long are the sessions?

Therapy sessions are for up to 50 minutes unless you have a prior agreement with your therapist. 

Is therapy different than talking to my friend about my problems?

Friends are amazing and can be very supportive people to talk to about the presenting concerns in your life. Whether or not you engage in therapy, it is important to maintain these relationships. However, therapy is very different from talking to your friend. Some important differences are that: 

• A therapist has professional training.

• A therapist has objectivity and confidentiality - meaning they are able to support you to focus on the facts and on your goals. And you don't have to worry about them gossiping about you, or anything you share with them affecting your relationship. 

• A therapist has firm professional boundaries - the purpose of therapy remains to address your presenting concerns.

• A therapist can prioritize you and your feelings - you are the key person they are focused on, there are no other relationships affecting the support you get from your therapist. 

• You don't have to feel guilty about talking to your therapist - they are paid to talk to you, experienced in offering support, and skilled at ensuring what you share remains in the room, and doesn't affect their personal lives. 

Can I do therapy online?

Definitely. Zoom and phone-based appointments are available. All we ask is that you ensure you are in a space where it is quiet and confidential for these sessions, as it would have been, if you were in your therapist's office. 

How often should I come to therapy?

This question depends on a range of factors, such as what you are in therapy to talk about, how much emotional capacity you have at the moment, how busy your life is, and what you can afford. The most common options are for people to have weekly or fortnightly sessions. However, three-weekly and monthly are also available. Some people prefer sporadic sessions. 

How do I know if I need to talk to a therapist?

There is no fool-proof way to know if you need therapy, but things to consider are:

• Something has happened that you just cannot get past, whether this was a past traumatic event, or a situational stressor.

• You cannot explain your emotions, and feel that they are taking over. 

• You are arguing with others a lot, without resolution. 

• You need substances to cope, this might be alcohol, drugs, food, or cigarettes. 

• It is a struggle to talk to your loved ones. 

• You are catastrophising often, and often preparing for the worst-case scenario. 

• Your normal coping strategies are failing. 

• You are blaming yourself for everything. 

• You just need to talk to someone.

What is the difference between counselling and therapy?

Generally, these terms are used interchangeably. But simply put, counselling will usually be done by a registered counsellor, while therapy is usually done by a different registered professional, such as a Social Worker (like Nathan), a Psychologist, a Psychotherapist, or a Nurse.

Therapy is expensive, are there any free options?

There are a range of different options for free therapy, but they will depend on a range of factors, such as your age, where you live, what you are looking for support for, and how many sessions you are after. There are often strict criteria for funded-therapy. It usually is best to talk to the Health Improvement Practitioner at your GP clinic to explore these options.