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CBT Therapy Sydney

Perhaps your GP has suggested cognitive behavioural therapy, or you have read about it and want to know what starting a course would actually involve. Thinkahead offers CBT therapy at our Frenchs Forest and Meadowbank clinics, delivered by registered psychologists who work with children, teenagers and adults.

If you would like the background on the approach itself — where it came from and how it works — our article What Is CBT Therapy? covers that in depth. This page is about the practical side: how sessions run at Thinkahead, who they suit, and how to book.

CBT at Thinkahead at a Glance

Sessions with a registered psychologist, typically 50 minutes long
A number of sessions agreed at the outset, so the cost of a course is easier to plan
Available for children, adolescents and adults, with the approach adapted by age
Weekday appointments between 9am and 6pm, with after-hours times on request
An initial consultation offered within 1–3 business days wherever possible
Psychologist fees set below the APS and AAPi recommended rates

How a Course of CBT Runs

Every course is tailored, but most follow a similar shape.

Before you arrive. Once your appointment is booked, you will be asked to complete intake paperwork, so please allow an extra 10 minutes before your first session.

Your first session. Your psychologist gets a clear picture of the difficulty you want to work on, how it shows up in your week and what you would like to change. Together you turn that into specific goals.

Agreeing the plan. You settle on how many sessions to book and how often to meet — usually spread over weeks or months — along with how you will both know whether it is working.

Skills and practice. The middle sessions are active. You might track thoughts and moods, run small behavioural experiments or take gradual steps towards something you have been avoiding, then bring what happened back to the next session.

Review and finishing. Progress is reviewed as you go. Towards the end, you and your psychologist plan for setbacks so the skills stay with you. If you were referred under a Mental Health Care Plan, we provide feedback to your GP with your consent.

Who CBT Can Help

CBT is recommended by clinical guidelines for a range of difficulties. Among the concerns our psychologists see, it is commonly used for:

Anxiety, including social anxiety, health anxiety and phobias
Depression, low mood and stress
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Sleep difficulties and chronic pain
Trauma, through trauma-focused CBT as part of trauma counselling
Executive functioning and emotional regulation after an adult ADHD diagnosis

For young people, CBT is adapted to their stage of development and often paired with hands-on activities that make ideas concrete. Our behaviour therapy may also draw on cognitive-behavioural techniques.

CBT will not suit everyone. If a different approach looks like a better fit, your psychologist will discuss it with you — our treatment approach explains how therapy is matched to the person.

Booking CBT and Paying for It

No referral is needed to start CBT at Thinkahead. However, a GP referral under a Mental Health Care Plan may make you eligible for Medicare rebates, and a proportion of the fee may be claimable through private health insurance. If you want to access sessions through an Employee Assistance Program, WorkCover, CTP insurance or an NDIS plan, a referral or approval may be needed, and our team can help you work out what applies.

Information for GPs is on making a referral, and session fees and rebates are on fees and rebates. If you need to reschedule, please give at least 2 business days' notice, as late cancellations attract the full fee.

If you are in crisis or need urgent support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 in an emergency.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if CBT is right for me?

CBT tends to suit people who want a practical, structured approach and are willing to try things between sessions. It is not the only option, and fit with your psychologist matters as much as the method. If you are unsure, book an initial consultation and talk it through — there is no obligation to have it all figured out first.

How many CBT sessions will I need?

It depends on what you are working on and how long it has been present. Your psychologist will suggest a number of sessions once they understand your goals, and you will review it together as you go. Outcomes can vary depending on the individual.

What if I don't get my between-session practice done?

That is common, and it is not a failure. Your psychologist will look at what got in the way and adjust the tasks to fit your life — practice works best when it is realistic.

Will CBT make me go back over my childhood?

CBT focuses mainly on the present: what is keeping a difficulty going now, and what you can do about it. Your psychologist will ask about background where it is relevant, but you will not be taken through your whole history. If long-standing patterns turn out to matter, other approaches can be discussed.

Can I ask for CBT when I book?

Yes — mention it when you call or in your enquiry. Our service support team matches each person with a clinician suited to their needs, and your psychologist will talk through whether CBT, another approach or a combination makes most sense for you.