You do not need a referral to book an appointment. However, obtaining a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist allows you to claim Medicare rebates for up to 10 sessions per calendar year.

To access rebates under Medicare, you will need to book an appointment with your GP to request a MHCP. At this appointment, you will be able to discuss your reasons for wanting a referral and complete a few short questionnaires to check your eligibility. Your GP may have a psychologist in mind, but you are able to request a direct referral to the psychologist of your choice.

No. The Medicare rules dictate that doctors first give you a referral for 6 sessions, then a further 4 sessions. How many sessions you require is typically decided by a discussion between you and your psychologist.

No, the referral can be addressed to a different psychologist or have a general ‘Psychologist’ title and Medicare will still process the rebate.

If you have private health insurance with extra cover, you may be able to claim back part of your session fee. Contact your private health fund to see if you are eligible. Please note you are not able to claim both a Medicare rebate and a rebate from your private health fund simultaneously.

Sessions typically run for 50 minutes. However, some psychologists may recommend 90-minute sessions for certain therapies, such as EMDR therapy. The initial session aims to understand the issues you're facing and develop a plan to assist you. It's common to feel a bit anxious, but your psychologist will guide you through the process, discuss your goals, and determine how they can best support you.

The answer is a definitive "no." Our practice has a strict policy against employing students, as we firmly believe that individuals seeking psychological support should receive care exclusively from fully qualified professionals. A Clinical Registrar is a psychologist who: (a) holds full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia, (b) has completed 6-8 years of university education in psychology, (c) has earned either a 2-year Master’s degree or a 3.5-year Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology as part of their education, and (d) is currently undergoing a 1-2 year registrar program. This means they are working as a highly skilled professional while also engaging in further professional development and peer consultation. It is only after completing all of these steps that one can officially be called a Clinical Psychologist.

It's generally recommended that different family members or friends see different psychologists to maintain professional boundaries and ensure effective treatment. Exceptions may include couples or family therapy sessions.

Psychologists provide talk-based therapies and interventions to help understand and manage mental health issues. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication and often focus on the medical aspects of mental health. Whilst Clinical Psychologists have had training in psychopharmacology, they cannot prescribe medication.

It's important to feel comfortable with your psychologist. If you feel the fit isn't right, discuss your concerns with our lovely reception team who can assist in matching you with another psychologist.