FAQs

Seeking out therapy is an individual choice. There are many reasons why people come to therapy.

Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing psychological issues, or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one’s life such as a divorce or work transition. Many seek the advice of a psychologist as they pursue their own personal exploration and growth.

Working with a psychologist can help provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges. Therapy can help address many types of issues including depression, anxiety, conflict, grief, stress management, body-image issues, and general life transitions. Therapy is right for anyone who is interested in getting the most out of their life by taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness, and working towards change in their lives.

Any information that identifies you or that you give to your therapist will be treated with utmost privacy and respect. Information about you is kept confidential and is only disclosed to additional parties with your prior consent.

The only time a psychologist is required to disclose information about you is if it is demanded by law or if there is reasonable evidence to believe that someone is at risk of harm if we do not divulge the information to the appropriate authorities.

Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual and their specific goals. During therapy sessions it is standard to talk about the primary issues and concerns in your life. It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, where each session lasts around 50 minutes.

Sometimes individuals who are going through a particularly difficult challenge may request more time per session or more than one session per week. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth.

There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a relevant book or keeping records to track certain behaviors. Between sessions it is important to process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life. For therapy to be most effective you must be an active participant, both during and between the sessions.

Therapy can provide insight and new perspectives into life’s challenges and can help create solutions to difficult problems. Many people find that working with a psychologist can enhance personal development, improve relationships and family dynamics, and can ease the challenges of daily life. Sometimes, just having someone there to listen is helpful. Overall, people in therapy tend to have lower levels of anxiety and stress, decreased conflict, and improved quality of life.

Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

• Developing new skills for handling stress and anxiety
• Modifying unhealthy behavior and long-standing patterns
• Attaining insight into personal patterns and behavior
• Increasing confidence, peace, vitality, and well-being
• Improving ways to manage anger, depression and moods
• Discovering new ways to solve problems
• Navigating life’s obstacles more effectively
• Improving listening and communication skills
• Enhancing the overall quality of life

Medicare rebates are available for a range of specified psychology services for people with certain conditions. To receive psychological services under Medicare, a person must be referred by his/her GP or in some instances by a psychiatrist or a paediatrician.

Click here for information on Medicare Rebates for mental health services provided by Psychologists

If you are referred by your GP/Psychiatrist/Paediatrician, we offer bulk billing to Healthcare Card/Pension card holders/full-time University students upon sighting relevant cards, otherwise billing is as follows:

Standard consultation (50 minutes) – $185.00 with a Medicare rebate of $124.50
We are able to offer a Medicare rebate at the end of your consultation, courtesy of our online claiming system. Your Medicare rebate is transferred into the bank account you have registered with Medicare.

For more information please enquire with reception.

To determine if you have mental health coverage, the first thing you should do is check with your private health fund. Check your coverage carefully and find the answers to the following questions:

• Do I have mental health benefits?
• How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?