Psychology (Medicare and Private)
What is Psychology?
Low or depressed mood
Anxiety
Negative rumination
Bullying
Learning difficulties
Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
Intrusive thoughts
Psychological servicing refers to individual assessment and therapy that aims to assist people in addressing any mental health, cognitive and/or general concerns they may have. This can include one or more of the following:
Difficulties concentrating
Trouble recalling memories
Psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia or delusions
Stressors (e.g. financial, relationship, employment)
Impulsive behaviour
Grief and loss
Individuals who are not experiencing any particular concerns and instead would like assistance achieving a more positive self may also benefit from psychological support.
Cost and Medicare Rebates
We are a Medicare provider meaning that we are able to provide psychology to individuals through the Better Access program so that services are more accessible. If you have been provided a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral from your GP or Psychiatrist, you will be able to access 10 Medicare rebated intervention sessions per calendar year (6 initially and then another 4 after a follow up visit to your GP/Psychiatrist).
Psychology sessions are charged at $200 per session. Medicare provide a rebate of $93.35 for sessions 50 minutes or more in length, or $66.20 for sessions less than 50 minutes.
Private psychology services without a Mental Health Treatment Plan or referral are paid for out-of-pocket at $200 per session. Although you will not be able to receive a Medicare rebate for these sessions, you can make a claim through your relevant Private Health Insurance if covered.
Initial Psychological Assessment.
Upon receiving a referral for Psychological servicing, we will meet with you to complete an Initial Psychological Assessment to gain a better understanding of you and your psychosocial information. These assessments allow us to learn about you and important aspects of your life such as your home life, family relationships, interests, dislikes, individual and therapy goals, and presenting concerns.
Following this assessment, we will often complete one or more short psychometric tests to help us understand your current concerns and any distress you may be experiencing. We will then use this assessment and your referral information to develop an individual treatment plan consisting of further assessment and intervention.
As this assessment is always conducted at the first appointment regardless of referral type, you are able to claim this as part of your first Medicare rebated session if accessing services through a Mental Health Plan.
Mental Health Diagnostic Assessment.
Mental Health Diagnostic Assessments allow us to assess for the presence of one or more underlying mental health conditions such as Depression, Anxiety, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Understanding what is happening for you will allow us to provide the best recommendations for further assessment and intervention. Mental Health Diagnostic Assessments are not able to be claimed through Medicare.
Assessments.
Intervention.
Face to Face.
We find that face to face sessions allow us to build a positive therapeutic rapport with the individuals we work with through our warm and personable approach. We have consulting rooms where we can meet in person to talk more about your concerns.
Telehealth and Phone.
If face to face sessions aren't a suitable option for you, we also offer telehealth services that can be conducted via a video call or phone call. We want you to feel comfortable when engaging in therapy where you can speak openly about your concerns. Telehealth sessions allow you to do this in the comfort of your own home or a place where you feel safest. Telehealth sessions can be claimed through Medicare as normal with a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Family and Carer Sessions.
As part of the Better Access program, Medicare offers rebates for up to two Family or Carer Sessions out of the totalled ten sessions per calendar year. This allows other people involved in your treatment to receive assistance in supporting you. Family and Carer Sessions can be accessed with your consent via face to face, telehealth or phone, and do not include the attendance of the person themselves.
Therapy with Children.
We understand that experiencing big emotions for the first time can be overwhelming for your little ones. Using play-based therapy techniques allows children to open up about how they are feeling in ways that are comfortable and known to them. This means that you will often find us sitting on the floor and utilising techniques like drawing, role play and writing stories during our sessions.
Therapy with Adolescents.
Through our work with adolescents in different settings, we understand that the teenage experience can be particularly difficult and unique to each young person. Because of this, sessions with our adolescents are tailored to their needs through an open, empathetic and patient approach.
Therapy with Adults.
During our counselling sessions, we may practice a number of different therapy styles to see what works best for you. This can include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing, and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.