Annie Curtis

Dr. Annie Curtis
Consultant Counselling Psychologist &
proprietor of the Toorak Psychology Practice  

Specialising in:

• Comorbidity
  • Anxiety/Depression
  • Depression /Substance abuse
  • Depression /Medical illness (e.g. diabetes, Parkinson, chronic pain, MS)
• Psychotic depression
  • Unipolar and bipolar depression
• Adolescent depression
  • Self esteem, self identity, academic performance
• Reactive depression
  • Grief & loss (work, pet, family, partner, spouse, health)
  • Personality disorder
  • Relationship conflict/separation  

What you can expect from the process of counselling delivered by Dr. Annie Curtis:

Evidenced-based Treatment Interventions

a)   Psycho-education (including motivational interviewing)

b)  Cognitive behaviour therapy, including: 

•    Behavioural interventions - behaviour modification;
•    Exposure techniques; activity scheduling
•    Cognitive interventions - cognitive therapy

c)  Relaxation strategies - progressive muscle relaxation; controlled breathing

d)  Skills training - problem solving skills and training; anger management; social skills training; communication training; stress management; parent management training

e)  Interpersonal therapy (especially for depression), narrative, psychodynamic therapy

The first appointment is arranged over the phone, with subsequent appointments decided on at the end of each session.

• The first few sessions focus mainly on assessment when time is spent exploring what brings you to counselling, what your goals are, and how I can best work with you to meet these goals.  This will include decisions about the frequency with which we meet and the possible number of sessions required to reach these goals.  Goals can include feeling less depressed or anxious, feeling more comfortable in social situations, changing specific behaviours, drinking less alcohol, improving self-identity, or increasing self-esteem. 
• Subsequent sessions then focus on working towards achieving these goals using strategies drawn from a range of therapeutic approaches including psychoeducation, cognitive behavioural therapy, solution focused strategies/problem solving, psychodynamic-based counselling, and relationship counselling. 
• At regular intervals, we then review things to ensure that we are working effectively together to reach your goals and to achieve the best possible outcome for you. 

Dr. Curtis does not give advice but helps you to explore alternatives so that you can make the best possible decisions for yourself.  Important things to remember about psychological treatments are that it can be hard work to change feelings, thoughts and behaviour - you have to be ready to commit yourself to attend sessions regularly and follow through on recommendations.  One thing that cannot be changed is the past but you can change how it affects you.  Therapy is aimed at you becoming your own therapist!!

Dr. Curtis's professional practice adheres to the APS Code of Ethics & Private Practice Management Standards.  She is actively involved in the APS Professional Development program aimed to promote the maintenance & improvement of her quality psychological services and has completed a Certificate IV Business Management (2007) ensuring quality business practice.

Dr. Curtis teaches Abnormal Psychology & Personality subjects to APS-psychology undergraduates at university, and holds a number of important research & clinical interests including the phenomenology of psychotic depression, anxiety/depression comorbidity, medical psychology, psychological recovery and resilience.  She also publishes in the areas of psychoanalysis, and personality assessment in peer-reviewed academic journals & has been an invited reviewer and keynote speaker

• Hours and Days of Availability
  Monday-Friday Extended hours
• Fees per Session - Dr. Curtis charges between $160 - $186.00 for a 50 – 60 minute psychological consultation, which is below the recommended APS fee of $192.00 for 2007-2008.  Generally, Dr Curtis can see you within the week following initial contact.  Sliding scale for medium to long-term evidenced-based therapies.  EFTPOS facilities available. Cancellation fee policy applies and payment must be made in full.
• Medicare Rebates:  If eligible, you may receive up to 12 individual services in a calendar year.  Your referring doctor (GP/Psych/Paed) will assess your progress after the first six sessions.  You need to pay the full amount of the consultation and use your detailed receipt to claim a Medicare rebate of $75.00.  You cannot use your private health insurance ancillary cover to top up the Medicare rebates for these services.  You need to decide if you will use Medicare or your private health insurance ancillary cover to pay for the psychological services you receive. You can neither access rebates from Medicare by following the claiming process or claim where available on your insurer’s ancillary benefits.
• Registered Generalist Medicare Provider, TAC, Workcover, Comcare, and all major Private Medical Insurance Companies

Therapy Methods

• Brief-Solution Focused
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Interpersonal Therapy
• Object Relations Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Qualifications

• Doctor of Psychology (Counselling Psychology)
• Master of Social Science (Family St)
• Bachelor of Social Science (Family St)
• Bachelor of Applied Science (Gen/Psych Nurse)

Registration

• Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria
• Nurses Board of Victoria – Division 1 / Psychiatric

Memberships 

• Member Australian Psychological Society (APS) Ltd
• Member APS College of Counselling Psychologists
• International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy
• International Society for Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Contact Details
Practice Name: Toorak Psychology Practice
Practising Suburbs: South Yarra, Malvern & Hawthorn
Address: Suite 204, 9-11 Claremont, South Yarra VIC 3141

Postal Address: PO Box 319 MALVERN VIC 3144
Phone/Fax: 95002202  (M) 0400 547 631
Email:  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Web : www.toorakpsychology.com.au