What is a Psychologist?

A Psychologist is someone who has specific training in the assessment and treatment of mental health and mental health related disorders. They undertake years of training through a relevant and accredited education system, before undertaking on-the-job training and experience over a number of years. Psychologists must uphold registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and must continue to access appropriate training and supervision throughout their career to ensure ethical and competent practice. You may also hear people call their Psychologist a ‘therapist’ or ‘counsellor’ which is pretty common, however the title of a Psychologist can only be used by an individual has gone through the appropriate training and accreditation.

How long is the usual wait time to get an appointment?

Wait times can vary, however we do our best to offer an appointment within the following 2 weeks after your initial contact. Should wait times vary, we will notify individuals accordingly.

What if I need urgent help sooner than my appointment?

Unfortunately, we are not an acute service, however there are appropriate services available to help. If you are needing to speak to someone urgently, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 or if unable to keep yourself safe you can present to your local emergency department. If you are not needing urgent help but cannot wait until your appointment arrives to seek support, we recommend visiting your GP.

Do I need to get a referral?

No, you do not need a referral. You are welcome to use your referral with us, however a referral must have a GP Mental Health Care Plan or Eating Disorder Plan (if applicable), in order to access a Medicare rebate.

What is a Mental Health Care Plan?

A Mental Health Care Plan is a specific type of referral created by a GP which enables you to access Medicare rebated psychology sessions. You will pay the relevant fee directly to your psychologist and using this plan, are able to access up to 10 Medicare rebated sessions per calendar year. Please remember to keep track of your sessions and to see your GP after your 6th session to gain a GP Review, to enable the remaining 4 sessions under the care plan to be accessed.

What is an Eating Disorder Plan?

A Eating Disorder Plan is a specific type of referral created by a GP which enables you to access Medicare rebated psychology sessions for Eating Disorder specific treatment. You will pay the relevant fee directly to your psychologist and using this plan, are able to access up to 40 Medicare rebated sessions per referral. Please remember to keep track of your sessions and to see your GP after 10th session to gain a GP Review, to enable the following 10 sessions to be accessed. At session 20, you will be required to see a psychiatrist to confirm the need for another 10 sessions. The final 10 sessions can be approved by your GP should you require ongoing support. Please remember that once you reach your Medicare Safety Net, session rebates will likely be higher and support you to financially cover these necessary sessions.

How long will therapy go for?

Each session will go for 50 minutes, and individual clients will differ in how many sessions they will need to reach their therapy goals. On average, clients will utilize an initial 6 sessions and review how many further sessions are required based on their needs. We find therapy is most effective at fortnightly intervals, to avoid long gaps between sessions, especially when getting started. Your clinician is able to tailor each session to your needs and work with you to find a schedule for sessions that is both financially suitable and therapeutically recommended.

What if I don’t gel with my Psychologist?

These things happen! We are all human and sometimes the psychologist to client match is a poor fit. We welcome feedback when this does happen and are very willing and able to support clients to connect with different psychologists or with clinicians with specific expertise. Please let us know if you wish to be referred to someone different as we all deserve to find a good fit of therapist!

What if I can’t make my appointment?

We understand life is busy and you might forget or misread an appointment schedule! Where possible, we encourage clients to give as much notice as possible for cancellations however in the event this was not possible, there is a 50% charge where less than 4 hours notice of a cancellation occurred. We thank you for your understanding.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

Whilst they may sound the same, and we both work in mental health, psychologists and psychiatrists differ in their training and expertise. Whilst a psychologist largely focuses on assessment and talk therapy, a psychiatrist is a mental health specialist who is a medically trained doctor capable of prescribing medication alongside a broad range of mental health treatment. Psychologists will often work alongside the psychiatrist to ensure you feel supported by your professional team.

Why offer telehealth appointments, why not face to face?

At this time, we are offering telehealth appointments only. Our telehealth sessions provide a convenient and private service to clients, enabling them to attend their appointments from the comfort and privacy of a space of their choosing. Telehealth eliminates busy waiting rooms and keeps your session confidential at all times. As our appointments are available outside of normal working hours, this offers an additional layer of convenience for our clients. If you are looking for face to face appointments, get in contact and we can recommend a clinic suitable to your needs.