Addiction Psychologists in Sydney

Addiction covers alcohol, other drugs, and behaviours such as gambling. Psychological treatment is only one part of addiction care.

For drug use disorders, the WHO and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime list treatments that work, including cognitive-behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, contingency management and family therapy ¹.

Guidelines recommend a range of treatments for opioid dependence ². Those include maintenance treatment with methadone or buprenorphine, alongside psychosocial treatment and support.

Detoxification on its own does not treat a drug use disorder. Ask a practitioner what they treat, and where they refer.

Everyone on this page is listed under the professional title psychologist. Psychologists apply the study of the mind and behaviour to assist people through difficulty. Clinical psychologists work with people of all ages, with families, carers, teams and communities.

Assessment belongs to a psychologist's training, and sits alongside therapy. Clinical, counselling and educational psychology are different training routes. Each route emphasises different work.

Which titles are registered varies by country. Where the title is registered, the register says what it covers. Ask a psychologist which route they trained through, and what they work with most.

Our Sydney fee guide puts a session with a psychologist at $200 to $290. Those are advertised prices.

Sydney Local Health District Community Mental Health Service. Phone 1800 011 511. NSW public hospital and community mental-health services are free. The service is open to the public. You reach it through the NSW Mental Health Line, which assesses you clinically and refers you on. Local catchment areas apply.

Titles you will see include Psychologist (Psych), Provisional Psychologist (Prov. Psych) and Clinical Psychologist.

Search the register by name at Psychology Board of Australia (via AHPRA). Check that the name and title match and that the entry is current. If they do not, ask the practitioner why.

See the Australia page.