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PSYCHOTHERAPY AND FAMILY THERAPY

WHAT IS PSYCHOTHERAPY?

Psychotherapy is working with current difficulties, crises and longer term difficulties by using a wide range of therapy interventions. It provides both short and long-term services according to people's needs. Psychotherapists work with individuals, couples, families and groups.

WHAT IS PSYCHOANALYTIC THERAPY?

Psychoanalytic therapy is a form of psychotherapy that seeks to help people by helping them to understand themselves and their experiences. It is based on the notion that, as well as our conscious ideas and feelings, we are motivated by ideas and feelings of which we are not consciously aware. The client and therapist investigate whether these ideas and feelings may be contributing to the client's problems. These problems might be physical symptoms, difficulties in work or intimate relationships, or simply problems with how we feel about the world and ourselves. To understand these unconscious factors, the client and therapist explore the client's present life experiences, as well as early childhood experiences, where present-day difficulties may have their origins. Together, the client and therapist seek to understand the ways in which the past may be repeating itself in present-day experiences and relationships. Psychoanalytic therapy seeks to provide a deeper, emotional understanding of the client's current problems, not simply an intellectual one.

WHAT IS FAMILY THERAPY?

This way of working involves engaging with the whole family system as a functioning unit. While the individuals in the family are as important in family therapy as in individual therapy, family therapists also deal with the personal relations and interactions of the family members, both inside the family and in the therapeutic system which comprises the family, the therapist or therapists, and their broader community.

Family therapists focus treatment in a way that allows for social context, communication and relationships to have a primary importance in therapy.

TRAUMA

Robyn Miller has a special interest in trauma, including abuse and family violence, and the debilitating psychological and physiological effects that can be caused by traumatic experiences.

GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS

Robyn provides a unique service to those who are distressed with gastrointestinal symptoms and who have developed psychological difficulties as a result of ongoing pain and discomfort. Over the past 20 years Robyn has developed a special interest in this area because patients were referred to her with high anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and disordered eating associated with Coeliac Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Fructose Malabsorption, Lactose Intolerance. She has devised and developed a programme to alleviate these difficulties which can achieve significant benefits.

DISORDERED EATING

Food forms a significant platform for interactions with family, friends and work colleagues. When this activity is pleasurable much can be gained for ongoing well-being. When this activity becomes unpleasurable, compulsive, and difficult, emotional health as well as physical health can be compromised. Robyn offers appointments for those experiencing disordered eating, and for those who wish to increase or to lose weight.

RELATIONSHIP DIFFICULTIES

Robyn Miller is consulted by couples who are experiencing difficulties in their relationship. These difficulties can include: loss and grief; infidelity; past abuse; chronic illness; and, parenting difficulties, particularly with adolescents.

REFERRALS AND REBATES

Robyn receives referrals from Gastroenterologists, Psychiatrists, General Practitioners, Psychologists, Dietitians, and self-referrals. A doctor's referral is not necessary.

Health Fund rebates may apply to counselling consultations with the following Health Funds:

  • Medibank Private
  • Australian Unity
  • CBHS
  • Westfund Health

BUSINESS AND EXECUTIVE COACHING

Robyn is a qualified company secretary and has had many years in senior management and executive management roles. Her practice offers mentoring and coaching for staff in organisations and how to respond to difficulties in the workplace including bullying.

REGIONAL AND REMOTE CONSULTATIONS

For those living in country areas or interstate, Robyn provides counselling by telephone (including skype) after initial face-to-face consultations.