Our Clinical Psychologists, located in the Melbourne CBD, are part of a renowned Melbourne psychology clinic, dedicated to providing high quality and evidence-based therapy to enhance your mental health, well-being, and overall quality of life.
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Your psychologist will work with you on a personalised treatment plan, set goals and
schedule in further sessions as needed. You can be rest assured that
it will be tailored to your pace and specific needs.
07 October 2024 Cognitive distortions are irrational thought patterns that can cause negative emotions and behaviours. Understanding and challenging these distortions is key to improving
Family relationships are often seen as unbreakable bonds, with the parent-child relationship being one of the most significant. However, for some adults, these relationships can become so… strained, toxic, unhelpful, abusive? (it’s hard to put a word to it)… that estrangement becomes the only viable option.
EMDR therapy, a well-researched treatment for trauma, is often misunderstood. Contrary to myths, it’s not a “new age” therapy or hypnosis, but a structured, evidence-based approach. It doesn’t erase memories but helps reprocess them, reducing distress. Effective for various mental health issues beyond PTSD, EMDR integrates with other therapies and requires commitment, not a quick fix.
Our Melbourne psychologists have extensive experience in working with a broad range of mental health issues including mood disorders, trauma and PTSD, personality disorders, couples, and neurodivergence assessment and support. See the comprehensive list of mental health issues we treat, here.
Cova psychologists are passionate about providing assessment and treatments which are validated by sound psychological research. We are keen for the science of psychology to help you better manage your mental health, improve wellness and foster a better quality of life. All of our Melbourne psychologists are trained in trauma processing therapies, including EMDR.
From intake through to your first session, our terrific admin team go above and beyond to provide you with support that is sensitive to your needs. Cova’s processes are based on what clients have told us works best. We love client feedback and actively encourage it!
Although our psychologists recognise that managing symptoms is important, we are passionate about helping our clients get to the heart of psychological issues they are experiencing. This means recognising that trauma or adverse life events may be underlying our mood. Whether it’s unpacking that in therapy or engaging in more formal trauma processing, we can help!
To ensure that our practice and level of expertise is high quality, our team are dedicated to ongoing professional development. Cova provides supervision and training to ensure that the psychological interventions of our psychologists are always informed by innovative and best-practice guidelines.
Most people find their Melbourne psychologist either through online searches, word of mouth, or through referral from their doctor.
If you’d like help with being linked in with a Melbourne psychologist and/or trauma therapist who is well suited to your needs, the Psychologist Melbourne Services team at Cova Psychology can help! Our intake staff take into account your preferences, specific mental and physical health issues, as well as the type of psychological treatment you’re seeking, to match you to the best psychologist for you.
Upon your first contact with Cova Psychology, our warm and experienced reception team will explore the following questions with you:
This initial contact is intentionally structured to maximise the potential for strong therapeutic alliance with your psychologist.
Of course, we cannot guarantee that you will feel your psychologist is the right fit for you. If this is an issue, we encourage you to discuss this with your therapist or our admin team, and we can help you to resolve this.
The cost of a psychology session in Melbourne can vary based on several factors, such as the length of the session, the experience level of the psychologist, and the type of therapy provided. At Cova Psychology, we offer a range of services with varying fees to reflect these differences. For detailed information regarding our fees, please reach out to our office.
Psychological services can be partially covered by Medicare or private health insurance. New clients with a mental health care plan and referral from a GP or psychiatrist can receive a Medicare rebate for up to 10 sessions with a psychologist within a calendar year. This helps make psychological treatment for mental health issues more affordable.
Medicare rebates generally do not apply to sessions for couples counselling or ADHD assessment testing.
Private health insurance may also cover part of the cost for psychological treatment, depending on your policy. We recommend checking with your insurer to understand your coverage for mental health services.
You don’t need a referral to start seeing a psychologist in Victoria, or Australia-wide. Although, without a referral you will not be able to claim any Medicare rebates and therefore would not be reimbursed any of the session fee by Medicare.
In your first session, your psychologist will explore what has brought you to therapy, your current situation, as well as a history of the issues you are wanting to address. The initial stages of therapy are sometimes referred to as a “psychological assessment” and will generally carry over at least the first two sessions. This process ensures your therapist has a good understanding of your experiences, enabling you and your therapist to create a treatment plan which is tailored to you.
Sessions will typically last for 50 minutes.
You may also benefit from our comprehensive blog post covering tips on how to make therapy work.
We typically see people aged over 18. We have some limited availability for young people between the ages of 13-18 years. We provide support for individuals as well as couples counselling.
At Cova Psychology, we understand that seeking support for mental health is a significant step. Our experienced team, led by Principal Clinical Psychologists Sarah and Chris, offer a compassionate and professional approach to therapy, emphasising evidence based treatment plans tailored to each individual.
The Cova psychologists are a team who enjoy working with complexity and service a wide range of mental health issues. We are committed to staying abreast of the latest psychological research to ensure that our practices are effective and informed.
Client feedback and satisfaction is deeply important to us, and we regularly seek this out. The input of our clients helps us to shape our practice so that we can best meet the needs of the people we treat.
The Melbourne CBD can be quite busy during peak travel times and throughout business hours. Understandably, many people feel some trepidation (or stress and anxiety!) about travelling or parking in this area.
Fortunately, Cova’s rooms are located at the “Paris End” of Collins Street, very close to Parliament train station. As such, many of our clients opt not to travel or drive directly into the Melbourne CBD, and instead hop off public transport or park in East Melbourne. This area is much less congested and is only a short walk to our rooms. If you need any support with finding us as you navigate the streets of the Melbourne CBD, don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly reception team who will be happy to help!
Let’s discuss your needs and match you with the right Melbourne psychologist.
Don't let your struggles hold you back. Call us.
Let’s discuss your needs and match you with the right Melbourne psychologist.
Let’s discuss your needs and match you with the right Melbourne psychologist
Acknowledgement of Country
Cova Psychology respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which the practice sits in the Melbourne CBD, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and the Aboriginal Elders of other communities who may be here today.
We Welcome all People
We Work With
We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which the practice is located. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and the Aboriginal Elders of other communities who may be here today.
