FAQ

THE NUMBER OF SESSIONS VARIES FOR EACH CLIENT. SOME CLIENTS ATTEND A HANDFUL OF SESSIONS TO ADDRESS A SPECIFIC GOAL THAT IS IMPACTING THEIR WELLBEING. OTHERS MAY START WITH ONE GOAL, AND WITH TIME, WATCH THAT GOAL EVOLVE INTO A LONGER-TERM THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP. SOMETIMES, YOU MAY NEED TO CHECK IN PERIODICALLY AS PART OF PREVENTING RELAPSE. THE POINT IS, EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT, AND IT’S IMPORTANT TO TAILOR YOUR TREATMENT FOR YOU AND YOUR NEEDS.

Regular attendance is important for therapy to be effective. Weekly or fortnightly sessions are recommended to begin with, and attendance may vary throughout the course of treatment depending on what stressors are impacting your wellbeing. It is recommended that sessions be booked in advance to ensure you are supported regularly.

YES, YOU CAN! LET’S BREAK THIS DOWN FOR YOU:

MEDICARE: CLIENTS CAN ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEIR GP TO BE ASSESSED FOR A MENTAL HEALTH CARE PLAN. UPON PRESENTING YOUR REFERRAL TO YOUR PSYCHOLOGIST, YOU’LL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A MEDICARE REBATE OF $96.65 PER SESSION, FOR UP TO 10 SESSIONS PER CALENDAR YEAR. THIS INFORMATION IS VALID AS OF july 2024 AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

**PLEASE NOTE, REBATES CAN ONLY BE PROCESSED FOR SERVICES CONDUCTED FROM OR AFTER THE DATE OF THE REFERRAL.

PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE: REBATES VIA YOUR PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE ARE AVAILABLE SUBJECT TO YOUR LEVEL OF COVER WITH YOUR INSURER. IT’S RECOMMENDED THAT YOU CONTACT YOUR INSURER TO DISCUSS YOUR COVERAGE, AS WELL AS YOUR REBATE LIMITS, AS EACH FUND WILL PROVIDE DIFFERENT REBATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR INSURANCE POLICY.

** PLEASE NOTE, YOU CANNOT ACCESS REBATES FROM BOTH MEDICARE AND YOUR HEALTH FUND FOR A SERVICE. HOWEVER, SHOULD YOU EXHAUST YOUR REFERRAL REBATES FOR THE YEAR, YOU CAN TRANSITION TO HEALTH FUND (OR VICE VERSA).

Standard sessions run for approximately 50 minutes.

Therapy sessions conducted via telehealth have been found to be as effective as face-to-face treatment. There are also the additional benefits of accessing treatment from any location, the ability to work it in and around your schedule, no travel time to and from a practice and seeing a therapist in an environment that is comfortable for you.

PRIOR TO YOUR FIRST SESSION, YOU WILL BE SENT IMPORTANT PAPERWORK INCLUDING INTAKE INFORMATION, QUESTIONNAIRES, CONSENT FORMS, FEES AND INFORMATION REGARDING CONFIDENTIALITY, CANCELLATION POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS WITHIN SESSIONS. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THROUGH THESE CAREFULLY AND SEND OVER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH CARE PLAN REFERRAL PRIOR TO SESSION.

AT YOUR FIRST SESSION, WE WILL SPEND SOME TIME DISCUSSING THE ISSUES THAT BROUGHT YOU TO THERAPY, AS WELL AS ANY GOALS YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON AS PART OF YOUR TREATMENT. WE WILL COVER SOME BACKGROUND HISTORY INCLUDING FAMILY, WORK HISTORY, HOW YOU ARE LOOKING AFTER YOUR HEALTH AND ANY PREVIOUS MENTAL HEALTH HISTORY. WE WILL THEN SPEND SOME TIME RUNNING THROUGH SOME HOUSEKEEPING AND COLLABORATING WITH WHAT’S ON OFFER IN YOUR SESSIONS.

IT’S OKAY TO FEEL NERVOUS IN YOUR FIRST SESSION, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’VE NEVER DONE THERAPY BEFORE. SOMETIMES, WHEN WE OPEN UP AND START TO SHARE, IT CAN FEEL A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE TO BEGIN WITH. BE SURE TO BE KIND TO YOURSELF IN THE HOURS AND DAYS FOLLOWING – IT SOMETIMES CAN FEEL WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER!

NOT AT ALL! MANY CLIENTS CHOOSE TO SEE PSYCHOLOGISTS AS PRIVATE PATIENTS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. YOU WILL HOWEVER BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE FULL SESSION COST. YOU MAY THEN CHOOSE TO CLAIM VIA YOUR HEALTH INSURER SHOULD YOU HAVE THE RIGHT LEVEL OF COVER ON YOUR POLICY.

CONFIDENTIALITY IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE WITHIN SESSIONS. THIS MEANS THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN THERAPY, STAYS IN THERAPY, WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS. THESE EXCEPTIONS INCLUDING:

• IF THERE ARE ANY LEGAL PROCEEDINGS RESULTING IN US BEING SUBPOENAED BY THE COURT
• IF THERE ARE ANY CONCERNS FOR YOUR SAFETY OR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS
• IF YOU GIVE PRIOR APPROVAL TO LIAISE WITH A THIRD PARTY, SUCH AS YOUR GP, LAWYER, OR EMPLOYER.
  THESE CAN BE DISCUSSED FURTHER IN SESSIONS.

PAYMENT METHODS CAN BE MADE USING CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD. PAYMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SESSION. MEDICARE REBATES ARE PROCESSED ONLINE ONCE PAYMENT IS COMPLETE. YOUR MEDICARE REBATE SHOULD BE RECEIVED WITHIN THE DAYS FOLLOWING YOUR APPOINTMENT INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT SET UP WITH MEDICARE.

SESSION FEES ARE $240 FOR A STANDARD 50-MINUTE SESSION. SHOULD YOU PRESENT WITH A REFERRAL FROM YOUR GP, YOUR OUT OF POCKET PER SESSION WITH BE $143.35.

**PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS INFORMATION IS VALID AS OF THE 2024-2025 FINANCIAL YEAR AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

A 48 HOUR CANCELLATION POLICY APPLIES TO ALL SESSIONS. SHOULD YOU REQUIRE TO CANCEL WITHIN THIS TIMEFRAME, THE FULL COST OF THE SESSION IS CHARGED. THIS PROVIDES AMPLE TIME FOR US TO REACH OUT TO CLIENTS ON OUR WAITLIST.
** PLEASE NOTE, CANCELLATION FEES CANNOT BE CLAIMED FOR REBATES VIA MEDICARE OR YOUR HEALTH INSURER.