At Athelas Psychiatry, therapy is at the heart of care. Dr Megan Richardson provides structured, in-depth psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and adults, grounded in evidence-based modalities including Psychodynamic Therapy, Schema Therapy, ACT, and Internal Family Systems.

Therapy is offered within a relational, goal-oriented framework, and patients are supported in exploring identity, emotional patterns, and underlying narratives in a way that fosters long-term change and integration.

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Structure and Frequency of Therapy

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Effective therapy requires consistency and relational safety. For this reason, therapy is offered on a weekly or fortnightly basis, depending on clinical needs and mutual agreement. This frequency allows for the development of trust, continuity, and therapeutic momentum.

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Dr Richardson works within a contract of care, where both patient and therapist commit to regular attendance, therapeutic honesty, and shared responsibility for progress. Irregular attendance or engagement outside of this model may indicate that therapy is not currently the right fit.

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We will be adjusting the diary so that a patient can have a specific time and day as a regular appointment where possible, as a predictable and intentional part of their week. 

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Medication and Therapy

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Medication may be discussed and prescribed where appropriate, but it is never a condition for participation in therapy. Dr Richardson supports patients in making informed choices about their treatment, including the reduction or discontinuation of medication when desired and clinically safe.

All care decisions are made collaboratively, with respect for autonomy and neurodivergent experiences.

 

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Ongoing Support for Current Patients

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Patients who are already engaged in care with Dr Richardson will continue to be supported as long as they are actively participating in appointments and following agreed-upon care recommendations. This includes attending sessions regularly, maintaining contact when challenges arise, and working within the therapeutic plan. 

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If your care no longer needs the input of a psychiatrist, please reach out and we can help by organising a warm handover of care to your preferred GP. If you wish to transition to a different psychiatrist with more of a focus on medication, please let us know and we can provide appropriate support for this transition. 

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Patients who disengage, cancel frequently or stop attending without communication may not be ready to engage in care at this point in time, or may not be benefitting from this style of care. Please reach out to us if you are wondering. If a patient cancels multiple appointments, fails to attend or disengages from the care pathway,  it may be necessary to end the current episode of care and hand care back to the referring GP.

 

Attending appointments as a priority shows an intentional choice to move towards healing and growth. 

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Our Approach

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Therapy at Athelas is not about compliance, symptom-suppression, or short-term fixes. It is about building insight, emotional capacity, and sustainable wellbeing. We welcome individuals seeking a deeper, respectful therapeutic experience that honours their agency and complexity.