Australia has various types of psychologists. It can be confusing since their names are not always self-explanatory. In this article, we will be talking about provisional psychologists—what they are and why you may want to see one.  

What are they? 

As the name may suggest, provisional psychologists are psychologists-in-training. They are individuals who have been studying psychology for five or more years, and are towards the end of the Masters level training. Clinical internships are the final step to fine tune their expertise prior to becoming a registered psychologist. Like all psychologists, provisional psychologists receive supervision from senior clinicians during their internships. This means that they frequently obtain support and training from an experienced psychologist who supports the provision of high-quality therapy and coaches young clinicians in the use of their academic knowledge and skills.

What do they do? 

Provisional psychologists do the same work as registered psychologists. They will complete a psychological assessment, gain a shared understanding of the difficulties you are presenting with, and deliver evidence-informed treatment.                                                            

Why would you want to see one? 

Two brains instead of one 

One of the many benefits of a provisional psychologist having close supervision is that you will often be obtaining support from the brains of at least two people—the provisional psychologist and, indirectly, their supervisor. Both of these people work together to discuss the best and most appropriate support for clients. The supervisor will keep all discussions confidential. This means that your information will never be shared outside of discussions between the provisional psychologist and their supervisor.  

Knowledge of up-to-date research 

The provisional psychologist will be undergoing university training with experts in the field alongside providing therapy to clients. This is beneficial because universities emphasise teaching the most up-to-date research and knowledge. The field of psychology is constantly evolving and changing. Therefore, knowledge of current research and learning from psychology experts is invaluable in providing the best support to clients.

Greater availabilities for sessions 

A case load refers to the number of clients that a psychologist is currently helping. A provisional psychologist will typically have a smaller case load. This means that they often have a shorter waitlist and more time to focus just on you. Additionally, rest assured that they are doing lots of therapy planning and research when they are not seeing clients. You can definitely expect a high quality of care and understanding from a provisional psychologist.  

No mental health care plan required + affordable fees 

We all know that seeing a psychologist without a mental health care plan can be expensive! A mental health care plan entitles you to 10 sessions that reduce your out-of-pocket fee by Medicare rebate. However, depending on your circumstances, you may need to see a psychologist for more than 10 sessions! The plus side of seeing a provisional psychologist is that they usually offer lower fees for increased affordability. This means that you will likely be paying equal to or less than the out-of-pocket fees you would already be paying when you have a session covered by Medicare rebate.  

Are there any provisional psychologists at Person Centred Psychology? 

Yes! My name is Annabelle Welch. I have undergone three previous internships before coming to Person Centred Psychology. This will be the final internship of my Masters of Clinical Psychology. I have had experience in supporting adult clients with a range of difficulties including, anxiety, trauma, insomnia, relationship issues, and OCD. I also have a special interest in assisting people with eating and body image struggles. Feel free to reach out via our intake form if you are interested! We offer both in-person and Telehealth appointments.   

Author: Annabelle Welch

Provisional Psychologist