A psychologist is a mental health professional who is trained in the science of how people think, feel, and act. Psychologists generally require a minimum of six years of University training, which includes two years of supervised practice.
A psychologist is trained to assess a client's presenting issue and assist the client in understanding how the issue/s may have developed. They provide therapy and support for a client in order to better manage their mental health and improve their wellbeing.
No, you do not - You can book in with us as a private client. However, obtaining a referral from a GP may give you access to a Medicare rebate.
If you obtain a referral and Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from a GP, you may be able to access a medicare rebate for up to 10 sessions in a calendar year.
If you have private health insurance, please check with your insurance company if you are eligible for psychological services cover.
At your first session, please bring your referral and Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) prepared by your GP (if applicable) and your medicare card.
You will firstly be asked to fill out a form with basic details (e.g. name, DOB, contact details). Your psychologist will then go through a consent form with you, explaining important details such as the confidentiality of sessions.
Once this is complete, the session will generally entail asking you about what brought you to therapy and about the difficulties that you have been experiencing. Your psychologist will also ask you about other areas of your life (e.g. family, work, previous counselling, etc.) This is important in order to develop a better understanding of your current circumstances and to develop an individualised treatment plan. This may take longer than one session.
Sessions are about 50 minutes in duration.
This varies from person to person. While some only attend for a few sessions, others may need ongoing therapy for a number of years. This is largely dependent on what you hope to gain from therapy and the complexities behind what you are seeking therapy for.
Yes, everything that is discussed between you and your psychologist is kept private and confidential except when:
If you have been referred by your GP, we will also maintain some communication with your GP.
Other than this, we require your consent to disclose your personal information to others.
With a mental health care plan (MHCP), you may be eligible for a rebate, meaning that the out-of-pocket fee for a session during business hours is $98.35. For after-hours appointments, the out-of-pocket fee is $118.35.
If you want to access a private session as you do not have a referral and MHCP prepared by a GP, please contact us about fees. You may also be able to access a rebate through your private health insurance.
Please note that our fees are significantly lower than the Australian Psychological Society (APS) recommended fee of $280 for a session (current - June 2023).
Please contact the us at least 24 hours in advance if you are unable to attend your appointment. If less than 24 hours notice is provided, a 50% cancellation fee will be charged.
In the instance of a non-attendance without notice, a 100% cancellation fee will be charged.
If a cancellation is made due to sudden sickness or emergencies, please contact us ASAP.
Please note that we:
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any further queries or questions.
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