Therapeutic support for children, teenagers, and young adults.

About Michael

Michael Ralph is a registered psychologist. He grew up in a country town in WA and moved to Perth to complete his university studies. As well as psychology, Michael has always been interested in living a healthy lifestyle and keeping physically fit and active (Football and Surfing). He is a loving husband and father of three.

Michael has extensive experience working with adolescents, particularly supporting boys and young men. Michael has built his experience across a number of roles within schools and child protection. He has worked as a psychologist and caseworker for the Department of Communities an Indigenous Boarding co-ordinator and has been the part of Psychological services team at one of Perth's leading boy schools over the last 12 years, 7 of those as the Director.

Michael has established a very strong understanding of the core issues impacting boys and young men and importantly the different strategies and evidence-based therapeutic approaches that produce positive outcomes. He has extensive experience working with children and adolescents with anxiety, depression, substance misuse, trauma, grief and loss, nonsuicidal self-harm, body image concerns, ADHD, Autism, and relationship issues. Michael is also an Accredited Eating Disorder psychologist (ANZAED) with experience in the assessment and treatment of clients with eating disorders.

As a result of working in a school setting, Michael has a sound understanding of how schools operate and how they can support an individual struggling with mental health or learning-based concerns. Michael is experienced in conducting educational assessments, including the identification and diagnosis of learning disorders (Dyslexia/Dysgraphia/Dyscalculia) and screening for ADHD. He is experienced with the requirements and guidelines of the School’s Curriculum Standards Authority (SCSA) when applying for Special Provisions having completed over 300 applications.

Michael will work with clients and their families to develop strategies to assist them to manage their symptoms, concerns and reduce distress. Michael is passionate about helping children, adolescents, and young adults to overcome the challenges they face during their transition to adulthood. He understands the importance of being proactive and raising awareness about mental health and well-being. Michael will ensure clients are well-equipped with strategies to respond to and manage life challenges that continue to present across a lifespan.

Different Approach

Through years of incorporating exercise as part of his therapeutic approach and witnessing the significant benefit on clients’ engagement in the therapy process, mood, and positive response to therapy- Michael’s office is located within a gymnasium. This allows for the training aspect to be included as part of the treatment plan (client’s choice). The therapeutic benefits of physical activity are well-established for both clinical and non-clinical populations.

Michael has found by making the counselling process less clinical and overwhelming by including an exercise component, clients, especially boys and men talk openly about the concerns and issues impacting them. The increased engagement and communication as well as the associated benefits of exercise help improve therapeutic outcomes.

In addition, to his psychology qualifications, Michael has also completed a certificate 3 and 4 in fitness (personal trainer) which provides him with the knowledge and skillset to conduct a training session in a safe and effective manner.

Therapeutic Approaches/Interventions

Michael has trained in the following evidence-based interventions including

  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

  • CBT- E (Eating Disorders) (ANZAED)

  • Solution Focused Therapy

  • Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

  • Grief and Loss Counselling

  • Schema Therapy

First Session

Your first session is spent with Michael learning about the issues that brought you to seek support. He will work with you/your family to formulate a treatment plan aimed at addressing your particular challenges.

Michael is committed to providing ‘best practice’ treatment strategies that have been clinically proven (‘Evidence-Based’) to help achieve optimal outcomes. The intervention will be modified to ensure it is developmentally appropriate.

Ongoing

Your ongoing treatment plan will be created on a case-by-case basis. You/your family and Michael will discuss what will work best for you. Sessions are generally planned on a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly basis.

The most important aspect is feeling comfortable accessing therapeutic support. Michael will work with you to adjust the session to suit what works best for you as the client to help make the process of seeking support a positive one.

Michael can help with a range of issues impacting an individual’s mental health and well-being.

  • Depression and anxiety

  • Eating Disorders

  • Self-esteem and confidence

  • Body image concerns

  • School Refusal

  • Behavioural concerns

  • Relationship problems/Socialisation

  • Identify/Issues regarding sexuality.

  • Learning problems and associated difficulties (ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia (Assessment/Diagnosis)

  • School concerns/management by the school/support needs

  • Parenting/Relationship issues

  • Health and Wellbeing

  • Substance misuse

  • Assessment/Diagnosis (SCSA special provision applications)

Fees

  • Clients referred under a general practitioner, paediatrician, or psychiatrist mental health plan are entitled to a Medicare rebate as a psychologist for 10 individual sessions and 10 group sessions per calendar year (Medicare Rebate $96.65 for 50+ minutes (individual session). A review with a GP following 6 sessions is a requirement to access the additional 4 sessions.

  • Your referring GP will schedule a review of your progress after the first six psychological therapy sessions. At this point, Michael will provide a written report to your GP regarding treatment progress and outcomes. The GP will provide a re-referral for an additional four sessions if required.

  • The standard fee for individual therapy is $220 per session (50+ minutes).

  • Out-of-pocket cost- $123.35 per session ($96.65 rebate)

  • Assessment- cognitive assessment and achievement testing with consultation and review- $1200. Not eligible to receive a rebate.

Contact and Location

  • For bookings please email- michaelralphpsych@gmail.com (contact number provided at booking)

  • Essence Fitness - 1 Bay Road Claremont WA, 6010 (opposite Claremont Medical)

  • Michael will let you in through the front entrance of the gym or back entry to the private office.

  • Parking is available out the front or behind Essence Fitness (Bay road off Stirling Highway)