FAQs

PrivatePsychServices predominantly provides online therapy sessions. Depending on your individual circumstances, face to face sessions may be offered. If you prefer face to face only, PrivatePsychServices can refer you to another psychologist who provides these services.

The Better Access to Mental Health Care Scheme is an Australian government initiative designed to improve access to mental health services, specifically including psychological care. The Scheme provides Medicare rebates for psychological services, making mental health care more affordable and accessible for individuals with mental health conditions.

Under this scheme, individuals can receive Medicare rebates for consultations with registered psychologists. It allows for up to 10 individual therapy sessions per calendar year with an eligible psychologist.

Your psychologist will write a progress report detailing your treatment progress and outcomes after six Medicare-rebated sessions. Based on this report, you can obtain a re-referral from your doctor for an additional four Medicare-rebated appointments. After these subsequent four sessions, your psychologist will provide another treatment update to your doctor.

Individuals need a referral from a general practitioner (GP), psychiatrist, or paediatrician. This referral process typically begins with the development of a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP).

A Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) is a comprehensive treatment plan created by a GP, psychiatrist, or pediatrician for individuals experiencing mental health issues, specifically aimed at facilitating access to psychological services. The plan outlines the individual’s mental health concerns, treatment goals, and strategies to manage their condition.

This plan ensures a coordinated approach to treatment, with the GP or referring specialist overseeing the individual's care and facilitating access to necessary psychological services.

Book in with your General Practitioner (GP) and explain your mental health concerns. Your GP will complete the MHCP and provide you with a copy. You will need to provide these documents at your first session, which will entitle you to the Medicare rebate.

You may be eligible for a Medicare rebate of $93.35 per session for up to 10 sessions per calendar year. To receive this rebate, please visit your GP to obtain a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP).

PrivatePsychServices accept private health fund rebates if you have extras cover. You may be eligible for rebates for individual therapy, depending on your health fund.

If you are unsure what your entitlements are, check with your health fund before commencing treatment.

You can make your claim directly through your private health insurer. You will be required to provide your paid session invoice to your health fund, which is emailed to you after each session with your psychologist.

As long as mental health services are included in your policy, you are eligible to receive rebates for psychology sessions.

Note: You cannot claim both your private health fund rebate and a Medicare rebate in the same session.

Unfortunately, we do not bulk bill at this time. However, lowered fees for people experiencing financial hardship are available under exceptional circumstances, and if requested by your Psychiatrist/GP in their referral letter.

Follow the links on our website which will redirect you to the client portal page. When you book your appointment, you will be prompted to create a client profile, where you will have access to your past and future appointments and invoices.

You will receive a welcome email as well as an email that redirects you to sign a consent form and fill out an intake form and brief questionnaire. Fill these documents out before your first session. You will also receive your specific Telehealth Link, which you will use for each session with your psychologist.

Your first session will involve identifying and discussing the main issues of concern being experienced by you along with some initial therapy planning.

Following your consultation, your psychologist will have a good understanding of the difficulties you are or have been experiencing. Based on this information, they will collaborate with you to develop a flexible treatment plan. It is important that you understand the relevance of their treatment plan and raise any issues you may wish to clarify.

At PrivatePsychServices, every assessment begins with an initial intake session, gathering comprehensive background information to form a holistic understanding of the individual. Then you are involved in a subsequent testing session, which may take up to three hours, depending on the assessment.

After the session, the psychologist scores and interprets the assessment data, and completes a comprehensive report. Subsequently, a feedback session is scheduled to discuss the assessment results and report.

Cancellations must be advised 48 hours before the appointment. You can do this through accessing your Client Portal and selecting the red cross to cancel. Alternatively, you may text, email, or call to cancel your appointment.

Cancellations made within 48 hours of appointment incurs a $138 (incl. GST) fee.

No-shows will be charged the full session fee (incl. GST).

Cancellation fee must be paid prior to your next appointment.

Should the cancellation or non-attendance be under exceptional circumstances, this can be discussed with administration.

All billing is managed online through our diary system, which is secured and encrypted through "Stripe" billing service. As such, it is a condition of booking that you provide us with your payment details. Prior to your first appointment, you will fill out a form where your payment details will be entered directly into our system. PrivatePsychServices will then charge your stored details automatically on the day of your appointment. Once you have attended your session, the Medicare rebate (where applicable) will be processed.

No, we do not currently offer therapy sessions or couples or families, but can refer you to professionals in our network who do.