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If you’re considering starting therapy, you may notice the option to see a provisional psychologist and feel unsure about what that entails. Many people aren’t familiar with the role or training that provisional psychologists have, which can raise questions or uncertainty when choosing the right therapist. This blog aims to walk you through what a provisional psychologist is, the process of seeing a provisional psychologist and why seeing one can be a supportive and great option for your care.
What is a provisional psychologist?
A provisional psychologist is a trained psychology graduate who is completing advanced supervised training, often as part of a Master’s program. They are Registered Psychologists holding provisional registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), have completed at least 5-6 years of university study in psychology and have completed prior psychological placements working across a variety of public and private settings.
Provisional psychologists work closely under the supervision of an experienced, fully registered psychologist and are governed by the same professional, ethical and confidentiality standards as all psychologists.
Why see a provisional psychologist?
There are several benefits to working with a provisional psychologist, including:
- Often being a more affordable option for mental health support
- Shorter wait times, meaning you may be able to access valuable support sooner
- They receive high levels of support and supervision, meaning your care and treatment planning is informed by multiple professional perspectives.
- You can book directly with a provisional psychologist as there is no need to visit your GP to obtain a Mental Health Care Plan
What does their supervision involve?
Supervision is a core part of practice for all psychologists and forms part of their registration requirements. However, as a provisional psychologist, they will meet more regularly with a senior psychologist to reflect on your concerns, treatment planning and progress. The purpose of supervision is to enhance the quality of care that you receive.
This ongoing supervision helps ensure therapy remains safe, ethical and aligned with best evidence-based practice. Your privacy is always respected – any information shared in supervision by your provisional psychologist is de-identified and only discussed when relevant to your treatment goals and progress.
What is the therapy process like?
Your journey will begin much the same as it would with a generally registered psychologist. You will contact the friendly administration team to discuss your current concerns and find a suitable fit. Prior to your appointment, you will complete various intake and consent forms and complete questionnaires that provide valuable information regarding your current functioning and mood. You will then attend an initial or pre-assessment session with your provisional psychologist where they will spend the time getting to know you, your concerns and what you’re hoping to gain from therapy. Together, you’ll set collaborative goals to ensure therapy is meaningful and client centred.
A treatment plan is then developed collaboratively between you and your provisional psychologist with ongoing sessions tailored to your needs. If at any point either yourself or your provisional psychologist feels your goals are outside of their scope, this will be communicated openly and a referral to another psychologist within the team will be supported.
Key Takeaways
Provisional psychologists are in the final stages of becoming generally registered psychologists and are well-trained professionals. They receive frequent supervision to support best outcomes for clients and are held to the same ethical, professional and regulatory standards as all psychologists.
Most importantly, your wellbeing, safety, and care remains the top priority, always. Many clients have positive and meaningful therapy experiences with provisional psychologists.
If you have any further questions or are interested in booking an initial appointment or pre-assessment with a provisional psychologist in our team, please contact our admin team at (07) 55207705 or book online www.dropoflife.com.au
