How much do sessions cost?
Medicare Mental Health Treatment Plans
If you have a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan and a referral from your GP or another eligible referring practitioner, I currently bulk-bill eligible psychology sessions directly to Medicare.
This means you pay no out-of-pocket cost for eligible Medicare sessions.
Private Clients
Private appointments are also available. My private consultation fee follows the current Australian Psychological Society suggested fee schedule.
If you have private health insurance with psychology cover, you may be able to claim part of your appointment cost. The amount you can claim will depend on your individual policy, so please check with your health insurer.
DVA, WorkCover and NDIS-funded appointments are billed according to the requirements of the relevant funding arrangement.
How many Medicare sessions can I have?
Under the Better Access initiative, eligible clients can access Medicare benefits for up to 10 individual mental health treatment sessions in each calendar year.
Your initial referral can cover up to 6 sessions.
At the end of that course of treatment, I will provide your referring practitioner with a progress report. If further treatment is appropriate, you can return to your GP or other referring practitioner for review and a new referral for additional sessions, up to the annual Medicare limit.
The 10-session allowance runs from 1 January to 31 December each year.
How often will I have appointments?
No single schedule suits everyone.
Where possible, I generally prefer to see new clients weekly or fortnightly for the first few sessions. This gives us the opportunity to get to know each other, identify what you would like help with, and begin developing strategies while maintaining continuity between sessions.
After that, appointments may move to fortnightly, monthly or another frequency depending on your needs, progress and appointment availability.
We will discuss what is appropriate for you rather than following a one-size-fits-all schedule.
What is telehealth?
Telehealth simply means having your psychology appointment without needing to come to my counselling rooms in Cordalba.
Appointments can be provided:
- by telephone; or
- by secure video consultation.
For many people, telehealth is convenient and comfortable. It can be particularly useful if you live some distance away, have difficulty travelling, are unwell, have work or family commitments, or simply prefer speaking from your own environment.
Medicare-funded psychology sessions can be provided by telephone or video where Medicare requirements are met, and telehealth is clinically appropriate.
You are not locked into one type of appointment. Depending on your circumstances, we may use face-to-face, telephone or video appointments at different times.
Do I have to use telehealth?
No.
If you prefer face-to-face counselling and an appointment is available, you are welcome to attend my rooms in Cordalba.
If we are using telehealth and you become uncomfortable with the format, please tell me. We can discuss whether another way of conducting future sessions would suit you better.
You may also ask questions about telehealth, privacy or how the appointment works at any time.
Can someone else be with me during my appointment?
Yes, if this is appropriate and you would like them there.
Please let me know at the beginning of the session if another person is present. We can discuss their involvement and make sure that you are comfortable with them being part of the appointment.
How do I become a client?
If you are seeking Medicare-funded psychology sessions, the first step is usually to talk with your GP about whether a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral are appropriate for you.
You can then contact me to enquire about availability and complete the online forms on the Psychological Services page:
- New Client Personal Details Form
- Consent to Record Sessions
You can submit the forms securely online — there is no need to download, scan, photograph, or email them.
Once I receive your information, I will contact you about availability and next steps.
Please remember that submitting the forms does not automatically book an appointment.
What happens before my appointment?
Once we arrange an appointment, I will send you a reminder text message the day before your session.
Please reply to confirm that you will be attending.
If your appointment is by telephone, I will call you at the arranged time. If it is by video, I will provide the information you need to join the consultation.
What if I need to cancel?
I understand that sometimes life happens and appointments need to be changed.
If you cannot attend, please let me know as early as possible. I usually have other clients waiting for appointments and, with sufficient notice, I may be able to offer your appointment to someone else.
Late cancellations and missed appointments may incur a cancellation fee. Medicare, DVA, WorkCover and other funding organisations do not necessarily cover cancellation or non-attendance fees, so you may be personally responsible for the charge.
If a cancellation or non-attendance fee remains unpaid, you may not be able to book further appointments until the account is settled.
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