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FAQs

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Please contact our friendly admin team on 03 9088 1122 to discuss a possible appointment. They are very knowledgeable and can walk you through what you need and answer any other questions you may have. 

You actually do not need a referral to see a psychologist, but in order to receive a significant concession, of which most are entitled to, you will need a referral from your GP, Psychiatrist or Paediatrician. Most people do receive these from their GP, and in order to get this referral, let them know you are seeking an assessment for a Mental Health Care Plan. 

First of all, all of us wish we could offer this service for free, and one of our most difficult personal ethical quandaries being a psychologist is charging for our services. I think this says a lot about our profession as our caring often comes first.

However, charging no fee is not realistic, but here at PsychologyCare our fees are reasonable and in line with industry standards.

The amount you are out of pocket varies depending on your situation. Most people are eligible for up 10 concessional (rebated) sessions via a Mental Health Care Plan (referral from GP). The Medicare Rebate to see a Clinical Psychologist is currently $136.35 per session for 10 sessions and our fee to see a Clinical Psychologist means you will likely be out of pocket just over $125 per session for appointments in business hours.

The Medicare Rebate to see a Registered Psychologists is currently $92.90 and our fee to see a Registered Psychologist reflects a similar out of pocket expense at just over a $125 per session.

Finally, some may have private health insurance, with mental health services as an “extra.” If this is the case please contact your insurance provider and they will likely be able to further reduce any out-of-pockets expenses.

For more information on our fees give us a call on 03 9088 1122.

Most consultations are between 50-60 minutes in duration. However, some psychologists like to extend their first appointment to 90+mins in order to do a thorough assessment. You will be informed ahead of time if this is the case. 

Yes. We offer appointments from 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and also have a few appointments available on the weekend.

Absolutely. Before COVID-19 most psychologists would never have dreamed of seeing clients over telehealth, but since COVID-19 we have all become quite adept at this method, and in actual fact the results do not suggest much difference between in-person vs telehealth. We offer this for the convenience of our clients, but still do prefer in-person if possible. 

First and foremost a welcoming and safe space. Our top priority is “healing through relating.” This means a psychologist will seek to connect with you, and understand the problems you experience in a profound way. We believe that “what went wrong must go right” and this means that what went wrong in your early relationships, needs to go right within the therapeutic relationship. Sometimes, this will mean you experience deep empathy and compassion, at other times you will feel understood and heard like never before, and at other times you will feel both challenged and seen. If we achieve this on a consistent basis we hope to provide a corrective emotional experience for you, which will enhance all the relationships in your life, including and most importantly with your self 

This is a difficult question to answer. It depends on your particular circumstances. Some people have experienced significant trauma, neglect, abuse and/or loss in their lives. To expect, quick recovery from this would be to invalidate the reality of their experience, and to ignore the impact on their personhood. If there has been a significant history of difficult experiences and consequently struggles with mental health, the approach to therapy will likely start slowly and carefully with a clear understanding change will take time. This does not mean progress will not be made, it just means transformative change will take time.

For others, where there is not a significant history of complex relationships and trauma, it is likely improvements can happen in a shorter period of time, but this does not depend just on the therapist but also on the motivation of the client. It is important to attend sessions regularly and to ask yourself regularly whether your will is on board, and whether you are ready to face what you have been avoiding, go through the pain and thus change your life positively.