Psychological Counselling Services FAQ

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A referral from your Doctor is only required if you wish to claim a rebate for a portion of your fees from Medicare. However, you can also pursue counselling without referral if you prefer not to involve a doctor.

Your General Practitioner or Psychiatrist may place you on a Mental Health Care Plan, which will enable you to claim a rebate from Medicare for your sessions. To ensure you can claim for your therapy session, please bring a copy of your doctor’s referral and health care plan to your first appointment with us. Additionally, remember to check with your private health fund for potential rebates.

Please note that we are not a bulk-billing practice. Clients are required to pay our full fee on the day of consultation.

Patient MHCP referral letters are valid for 1 year from the date of the referral. Patients can also seek counselling without a referral to manage their mental health needs. Each patient is eligible for up to 10 sessions per calendar year under a Mental Health Care Plan: they can initially access 6 sessions, and if additional treatment is necessary, they may receive a further 4 sessions within the same calendar year. Additionally, those with private health fund rebates may further benefit from these sessions.

Private health funds provide rebates for psychological services, allowing you to access counselling without a referral. If you're interested in utilizing your Mental Health Care Plans, please reach out to your health fund for more information on the available rebates and any limits associated with your plan.

If you are referred by a third party, such as an insurance company, Work Cover, solicitor, or rehabilitation program, please note that referral information and approval must be obtained prior to making an appointment. However, if you prefer counselling without referral, you may still access services under Mental Health Care Plans or utilize private health fund rebates.

Your client file, which includes your personal information and session notes, is kept securely. Any information disclosed to your psychologist during sessions remains confidential, unless it is subpoenaed by a court, you give us permission to disclose it, or failing to disclose the information would place you or another person at risk. For those seeking counselling without referral, it is important to note that Medicare Mental Health Care Plans require our psychologists to provide brief reports on your progress to your referring GP throughout your treatment. Additionally, if you have a private health fund, you may be eligible for rebates that can assist with the costs of your sessions.