Towards Optimism Psychological Services

After my GP sent the referral to Towards Optermism, it didn’t take long for the psychologist called me to make an appointment. She was very friendly. I have been seeing her ever since. The receptionists are professional. The psychological has saved my life. I have seen many people who tell me I can help, no one has helped me like she has.

I am disgusted and disappointed in the lack of care from TOPS Psychology clinic.



After making an appointment for a vulnerable person with autism spectrum disorder, and having the appointment confirmed. To then be contacted and told that the lead Clinical Psychologist does not wish to work with the young person because they believe that they are not the right fit for my client without even having a consultation, and because they have autism spectrum disorder.



I am shocked and disgusted by this because as advertised on the website that this clinic and particular person deals with specific specialities that relate to

complex psychological disorders, depression, anxiety and provide evidenced based treatments such as cognitive behaviour therapy. Which would have been great for my client. I believe this information online and from the experience that I have had to be extremely inaccurate but also misleading for vulnerable people and others.



How can someone with such high levels of training have very little understanding. In the process of relaying that information to others and preparing them for a consultation. People need to be able to build trust and confidence in the mental health care system and not be turned away from supports that are advertised. In addition, this has cost the client in the long run and this has been such a waste of time and effort. A practice that presents very professionally but unfortunately is such a letdown.



Moreover, the clinic did offer to provide another psychologist however they are not clinically trained in such areas that the clinical psychologist was and furthermore only took appointments one day per week. Because this is such an important moment in this young person's life building trust and seeing a psychologist and combating the stigma around psychologists. This gives fellow psychologists a very bad name.



However, I did decide to accept the appointment with the new psychologist, however after being told that I could not receive a confirmation email regarding the appointment and only a 1-day reminder notice. Consequently, and out of frustration due to poor management, I decided to cancel the appointment as I was not willing to risk the first engagement to be a poor one. As the need for ongoing support is high and I did not want the vulnerable person that I support to have a negative experience with any psychologist.



I have decided to find support for my client elsewhere because I thought I was buying a Lamborghini as advertised and unfortunately, I ended up with a Ford Pinto.



(B.Psych Sci, B.Bus Marketing) (Current- GDPA) Monash University, 64th Globally, 3rd in Australia.