The Find a Therapist search function on the PACFA website was revised in December 2021, so members of the public looking for a counsellor or psychotherapist can more easily find a highly skilled and qualified PACFA member who meets their needs.
With clients finding PACFA therapists via organisations such as the Australian Patients Association, Beyond Blue and Better Health Channel, it’s important that practising members ensure their therapist profile is up to date and accurate.
The revised Find a Therapist directory has received an average 3200 visits per month in 2022.
To increase the chances of clients finding and contacting you, make sure you have supplied/updated the following on your profile:
1. Practice address(es) and opening hours
2. 'About me' section
3. Profile photo – if you don’t have one, upload a headshot of up to 1MB in JPEG or PNG format
4. Whether or not you offer telehealth
5. Therapy modalities (such as Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Gestalt) and presenting issues you specialise in.
You should only add modalities and specialisations that you are qualified for, in line with the PACFA Scope of Practice – i.e. you could produce qualifications should you be asked by an insurer or in the unlikely event of a court case.
If you have ticked a modality or specialisation for which you are not adequately qualified, simply log in to your therapist profile and untick it to remove it from your profile.
To access your therapist profile, head to pacfa.org.au, go to ‘For members’, and choose the first option, ‘Member portal’.
We have prepared a video guide that takes you through how to update your therapist profile. We have recently updated our website, so it may look a little different to the video, however the steps are the same.
If you have specialist training in relationship counselling, consider joining PACFA’s Australian College of Relationship Counsellors. Psychotherapists are encouraged to consider applying to join PACFA’s College of Psychotherapy. College membership shows potential clients and employer organisations that you have attained specialist qualifications beyond PACFA’s high membership standards.