FAQ - John Bacash

 
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My aim as a psychologist is to encourage people to believe in themselves, to be free and responsible.

Downloadable Article Mindfulness Explained
 

Mindfulness practise helps us to disengage from being consumed and compelled by the question: What am I supposed to do now? Mindfulness practise involves simply identifying our body / felt response in the very moment of feeling confronted by a perceived threat. A perceived threat moment can be the blank-bored eyes of a seemingly disinterested child if you are a teacher or parent. It can be the rejecting stare of a lover or employer in flight. Mindfulness practise involves awareness of one’s body felt response in that perceived-threat moment without recourse to usefulness. It is just awareness for its own sake. Therefore, there is no judgement about relevance of the awareness consciously linking the awareness back to the question: what do I do now? Mindfulness creates a space for your unconscious sense of safety and common sense to inform action in that nothingness or no-agenda space.

FAQ's

If you still have a question which hasn't been covered here please fill out our online form or contact John direct either by email or phone 0411 615 202.

What is Psychotherapy?
Is an indirect way of problem solving as opposed to counselling which deals directly with the presenting problem and the stated goals.  It uses techniques that come at the problem creatively and laterally.

What are the available times and days of counselling?
I am mostly available in Preston9 am till 9 pm Monday till Thursday and Saturdays till about 2 pm. For other locations I negotiate availability.

How many sessions do I need?
Normally people attend for an average of six sessions. However everyone is different and some will be OK with one session and others may be in therapy for years

What is the style of therapy/counselling used?
I try to help people develop skills to over come their issues independently.  My approach is eclectic. I borrow from a range of approaches depending on the needs of the client. I believe in stimulating discussion to enhance practical strategic problem solving and I believe in helping people get in touch with their feelings so they have a better sense of what they want.

I use meditation and psychotherapy like emotion focused therapy in an integrated approach to dealing with anxiety and depression. I also use psychoanalytically oriented techniques for deeper understanding of deep seated issues.

What can I expect in a relationship counselling session?
John Bacash's approach is that no matter what the feeling or thought, no matter what we see or imagine, we need to exercise trust and openness as opposed to jumping to conclusions about the value of the other for us. It is out of this mode of being that love and intimacy grow.

Do you work with couples?
Yes I work with couples. I try to reach common ground on what the issues are and then suggest strategies for going forward. I can see couples separately but I usually do this in a block of two hours approximately. It is better to keep things contained in the one extended session so to speak.

My husband refuses to come to therapy, can you help us?
Please call me 0411 615 202 to discuss this as each case is different.

How do I prepare for the first session?
Just turn up. It is better not to have prepared statements. However if it helps you to organise your thoughts and manage your anxiety feel free to prepare notes.

What is your area of expertise?
I am very good at crisis intervention for acute anxiety and depression.  I have excellent clinical insight and don’t get side tracked  by the drama of a crisis. I have a wide experience in a range of area and client groups and I am able to draw on this.

I strongly suggest you read my website especially the areas that address your issues. The website should give you a strong feeling about my style and assumptions. Feel free to ring me on mobile 0411 615 202 for clarification or leave a message on the pager and I will call you back.  I am happy to take enquiries.

Do you have experience and expertise regarding my issues?
Please check out the website and if you are still in doubt feel free to call me

What if I cancel?
24 hours is required for cancellation. I only charge a fee it you don’t ring in advance at all.

Payments & Fees?
All fees are paid on the day of service immediately after the session. Hicaps and Eftpos is available at the Preston and Seymour Offices so payments and rebates happen before you leave the office. No need to go to a medicare office to claim your rebate.

The Hicaps machine processes private health insurance claim and medicare claims on the spot. Your rebate goes directly back into your account. You need to bring your medicare card or your private health insurance card and a debit card. Medicare will not pay a rebate into a credit card. However you can use a credit card to pay the bill before the rebate is allocated to a debit card.

How does the medicare rebate work?
You need to visit your GP to gain a GP’s Mental Health Care Plan. In some cases a psychiatrist can refer under a similar plan. In general, you need to at least be suffering from mixed anxiety and depression to qualify. There are a range of other classifications for qualifying. The plan excludes marital therapy for couples, especially when seeing the couple specifically for couples issues and if they are both attending simultaneously. The GP’s appointment goes for about twenty minutes so you need to tell reception at your GP’s clinic the intention of your visit.

Once you have received a plan with a referral to me from the GP you are entitled to at least six sessions with a rebate of $86 approximately. So your out of pocket is only $64 approximately per session. My fee is $150 per session. I do negotiate a lower fee if you are under financial stress and I bulk bill Health Care Card holders if they attend during the day at the Preston Office. Please bring your medicare card to your sessions. 
After every six sessions I am required by medicare to write a brief progress report to the GP. The GP uses this to review (item 2712) your eligibility for another four sessions. In special circumstances you may be allocated a third lot a sessions by your GP with Medicare’s approval.

In general as I understand it you are entitled to 10 sessions per year and each referral (items 2710 and 2712) last for 6 to 12 months. I suggest you ring Medicare if this explanation is not clear or ask your GP for clarification.