Do I need a referral to make an appointment?
You do not need a referral, you are able to book an appointment as soon as you are ready. We are able to find you a Psychologist who is available at a time convenient to you.
What training and experience do your Psychologists have?
All our Psychologists are trained in post graduate level of Psychology, with extensive experience in public and private mental health settings. Psychologists are a regulated and legislated profession under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Each of our Psychologists have their individual areas of interests, and you can see this on our practitioners page.
Will my sessions be covered by Medicare or Insurance?
It is possible to have 10 sessions per calendar year covered by Medicare, if your GP has issued you with a Medicare mental health care plan. Currently the rebate for a single session under the Medicare plan ranges from $84.80 to $124.50. You will need to speak to your GP about qualifying for this plan and bring it along to your first session. Some private health insurance covers Psychology sessions and it is best to check with your provider.
What can I expect at my first session?
You will meet your individually assigned Psychologist for an initial consult, this will take 50minutes. Here your Psychologist will listen into the difficulties you may be experiencing, and fulfil a mental health screen and assessment. You will have a chance to ask your questions of the process and discuss your personal goals for what you hope to get out of seeing a Psychologist. From there you will have a chance to make on-going appointments.
What To Expect From Us
We take the assessment phase seriously. We gather information from the child, the parents and at times if necessary from teachers and the school. This is done with your permission. We take our time to put your child at ease and explain our role in a way that is non-threatening and is respectful to the way the family has explained things. We often say we are like a coach who helps people improve their life by problem-solving some tricky situations. Though our sessions are confidential, especially with younger children, we are likely to incorporate family sessions and strategies. We understand you need some feedback too. If we believe your child is at risk of harm, we will always tell you. These are the limits of confidentiality that we explain to our clients. Depending on what the issue is, we may use cognitive strategies to combat negative thoughts, or behavioural techniques to remedy troubling behaviour. Therapy sessions with children is like journeying through a secret garden. We first have to gain the child’s trust, and then allow them to take us into the different aspects of their world so that we can see firsthand what is troubling them.
