FAQ
I want to attend counselling - how should I book an appointment?
The easiest way to contact us is by filling out the contact form. This will provide us with the relevant information about your concerns and what you hope to achieve by attending counselling. It will also help us to understand which therapeutic approach might be best suited for your situation and help us to match you with an available clinician. Our clinicians are either qualified Psychologists or qualified Social Workers. We will then contact you to arrange an appointment, send out consent forms and gather any further documentation.
Do I need a referral to see a psychologist?
No you do not. Anyone can privately access therapy with a psychologist . If you wish to claim a Medicare rebate then a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) referral letter from a GP is required. A MHTP may be available for those with a diagnosed mental health condition.
What should I expect at the session?
A standard counselling session runs for 45-50 minutes depending on the age of the client. We offer both face to face and telehealth (online) appointments.
Children 12 years and under: The first session is with the parent/carer without the child present. This is to gain an in depth understanding of what is happening for the child, gather background information, select the most appropriate therapeutic approach for the child and determine therapy goals. We also require consent from both parents/guardians.
What if I want to have a quick catch up with my therapist to ask a question or let them know how things are going?
We aim to work collaboratively and are conscious to do this in a way that will ensure the best outcome for you and your child/teen. Typically it is not helpful for parents to discuss the child/teens problems in front of them. We ask that you book an alternative appointment time to discuss your child's needs. This is the most effective ways to keep us up to date.
How do I book an assessment?
Parents, Schools or Paediatricians may be interested in obtaining a psychological assessment to gain more insight about an individuals strengths and differences. By completing the contact form we will gain a sense of which assessment is most suitable for your circumstance. We will then contact you to book a pre-assessment consultation where we gather in depth background information, answer any further questions and book your appointments.
How do Collaborative Proactive Solutions sessions work?
The first one or two sessions are with the child's parent/carer. In these sessions we identify lagging skills and unsolved problems and provide parents with further information about the model. The following sessions are then conducted collaboratively with the parent/carer and child.
Do you bulk Bill? No we are not a bulk billing (free) service. The current recommended session price for Australian Psychologists set by the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc is $315 for a 40-60 minute session. Our fees are set well below this level in order to help make our service more accessible.
Can I claim a Medicare rebate? You may be eligible to access a Medicare rebate for counselling sessions with a psychologist if you have a valid referral from your GP.
Cancellations
What if I need to cancel my appointment or don't show up?
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment a minimum notice of 2 business days is required. Medicare rebates are not paid by Medicare for missed appointments. As a courtesy we will send you a text reminder of your appointment 3 business days before the appointment. See our fee schedule and payment policy for further details.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
According to NDIS guidelines a late cancellation is anything less than 7 business days notice. If you do not attend or cancel your appointment your NDIS plan will be charged for that appointment.
Third party payers (non-government organisations, government departments)
A late cancellation is anything less than 3 clear business days notice. If you cancel late or do not attend an appointment, the third party will be charged the full session fee for that appointment.
The easiest way to contact us is by filling out the contact form. This will provide us with the relevant information about your concerns and what you hope to achieve by attending counselling. It will also help us to understand which therapeutic approach might be best suited for your situation and help us to match you with an available clinician. Our clinicians are either qualified Psychologists or qualified Social Workers. We will then contact you to arrange an appointment, send out consent forms and gather any further documentation.
Do I need a referral to see a psychologist?
No you do not. Anyone can privately access therapy with a psychologist . If you wish to claim a Medicare rebate then a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) referral letter from a GP is required. A MHTP may be available for those with a diagnosed mental health condition.
What should I expect at the session?
A standard counselling session runs for 45-50 minutes depending on the age of the client. We offer both face to face and telehealth (online) appointments.
Children 12 years and under: The first session is with the parent/carer without the child present. This is to gain an in depth understanding of what is happening for the child, gather background information, select the most appropriate therapeutic approach for the child and determine therapy goals. We also require consent from both parents/guardians.
What if I want to have a quick catch up with my therapist to ask a question or let them know how things are going?
We aim to work collaboratively and are conscious to do this in a way that will ensure the best outcome for you and your child/teen. Typically it is not helpful for parents to discuss the child/teens problems in front of them. We ask that you book an alternative appointment time to discuss your child's needs. This is the most effective ways to keep us up to date.
How do I book an assessment?
Parents, Schools or Paediatricians may be interested in obtaining a psychological assessment to gain more insight about an individuals strengths and differences. By completing the contact form we will gain a sense of which assessment is most suitable for your circumstance. We will then contact you to book a pre-assessment consultation where we gather in depth background information, answer any further questions and book your appointments.
How do Collaborative Proactive Solutions sessions work?
The first one or two sessions are with the child's parent/carer. In these sessions we identify lagging skills and unsolved problems and provide parents with further information about the model. The following sessions are then conducted collaboratively with the parent/carer and child.
Do you bulk Bill? No we are not a bulk billing (free) service. The current recommended session price for Australian Psychologists set by the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc is $315 for a 40-60 minute session. Our fees are set well below this level in order to help make our service more accessible.
Can I claim a Medicare rebate? You may be eligible to access a Medicare rebate for counselling sessions with a psychologist if you have a valid referral from your GP.
Cancellations
What if I need to cancel my appointment or don't show up?
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment a minimum notice of 2 business days is required. Medicare rebates are not paid by Medicare for missed appointments. As a courtesy we will send you a text reminder of your appointment 3 business days before the appointment. See our fee schedule and payment policy for further details.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
According to NDIS guidelines a late cancellation is anything less than 7 business days notice. If you do not attend or cancel your appointment your NDIS plan will be charged for that appointment.
Third party payers (non-government organisations, government departments)
A late cancellation is anything less than 3 clear business days notice. If you cancel late or do not attend an appointment, the third party will be charged the full session fee for that appointment.