Initial consultation

In the initial consultation, I will try and get to know you and work with you to identify what you would like out of working together and the goals of therapy.

I will also conduct a detailed clinical assessment over the initial two consultations. This will provide an understanding of you in the context of your experiences and will enable me to create a formulation that I can share with you to start the collaborative journey and work towards the goals of therapy.

Sessions

Work in therapy will focus on addressing what you “need”.

The number of sessions involved in treatment is dependent on your presenting concerns and the therapy goals and is different for each individual. Work in therapy can roughly be classified as:

1. Addressing symptoms/finding strategies/building skills

2. Addressing long enduring life patterns

When addressing longer enduring patterns, a longer commitment may be required, and this is something that we will discuss in the initial consults.

Fees & Rebates

My fee is $280 for a 50-minute consult with a Medicare Rebate of $137.05 with an eligible Mental Health Care Plan from your GP.

Extras in Insurance may also cover a part of your consultation fee.

The fee is required to be paid on the day of the consultation. I do not provide services under Work Cover, TAC, or provide medico-legal reports.

Referrals

You can see me with or without a referral from your GP. The majority of the people I work with have a referral from a GP with a Mental Health Care Plan.

I am a registered provider of Clinical Psychology Services under Medicare. If you are referred by a GP or a Psychiatrist under a Mental Health Care Plan you are eligible for Medicare rebates of $137.05 per consult for a total of 10 consultations in a calendar year.

The initial referral is valid for six consultations, following which the Mental Health Care Plan must be renewed by your referring GP to be eligible for an additional four consultations.

If you have an Eating Disorder Plan then you are eligible for 40 sessions per calendar year and a review with your GP has to occur after 10 consultations.

It is the responsibility of the client to ensure that their Mental Health Care Plan is up to date and renewed as required.

Confidentiality

Information that is provided to a Psychologist is confidential, and I cannot disclose any information you provide without your consent.

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) code of Ethics mandates that there are exceptions to this:

1. If there is a risk of harm to self or others I must disclose minimal information regarding the risk to other professionals engaged in your care and follow my duty of care to ensure the safety of yourself or the person who may be at risk of harm.

2. I must write to your referring GP

3. Legally I am required to report suspected abuse of a child or a vulnerable adult.

Cancellation Policy

If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, a 48 working hours/ 2 business days notice is required to permit that time to be offered to someone else. If you are not able to provide this notice, a cancellation fee will be incurred, wherein 100% of the session fee will be charged.

Medicare does not provide rebates for non-attended appointments.