FAQ

What is a clinical psychologist?
Clinical psychologists have completed a minimum of 6 years of university training, and has been supervised for a further two years while working in a mental health setting. Clinical psychologists have training in the assessment and diagnosis of major mental illnesses and psychological problems. They are trained in the delivery of a range of techniques and therapies with demonstrated effectiveness in treating mental health disorders. They hold particular skills for applying psychological theory and scientific research to solve complex clinical psychology problems requiring individually tailored intervention.
How long does an appointment take?
A standard session is 50 minutes. We suggest that you then allow another 10 minutes to schedule further sessions (if needed).
What will happen at the first appointment?
The first appointment is a chance to get to know one another. Your psychologist will focus on getting to know the person referred (you or your child) and helping them to feel at ease talking to us. They will ask about the reason that you have come along, as well as asking about other areas of your life such as family, school, work, interests, health, friendships and relationships. Asking about these things helps the psychologist to better understand how your problem or concern fits with the rest of your life and how they can best help you. By the end of the session they will try to give you an idea of what they think will be helpful and how you can work on any problems together.
What will happen in follow-up appointments?
Following your initial session, your psychologist will share with you their ideas about the problem or concern that you have come about and outline their suggestions for things that will help. These might include different therapeutic approaches or strategies. You can then agree on a plan to work on these things together. Your sessions might involve talking, doing some exercises together, or for younger children, play or drawing. As different people find different strategies work best for them, your psychologist will check in regularly to see how you are finding the sessions. It is important that you give feedback so that the treatment can be adjusted to best suit you.
Are sessions confidential?

All information gathered by a psychologist during the provision of psychological services will remain confidential and securely stored. Exceptions to confidentiality arise when:

  • Information obtained by the psychologist is subpoenaed by a court or required by law.
  • Failure to disclose the information would place the client or another person at serious and imminent risk to life, health or safety.
  • The client (or guardian’s) consent has been obtained to
      • Provide a written report to you or to another professional or agency (e.g., lawyer, school, doctor).
      • Discuss information with another person (e.g., school, other professional, health services etc).
  • Disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law.

For clients who are under the age of 18 years of age, exceptions to confidentiality also arise when:

  • A client under the age of 18 discloses engaging in deliberate self-harm or having suicidal thoughts or plans. In this instance their parents or guardians will be informed by the psychologist.
  • A client under the age of 18 discloses any form of child abuse. In this instance the psychologist is obliged to notify the Child Abuse Report Line in their role as a mandatory notifier of child abuse.

Please note that if a medical practitioner, paediatrician or psychiatrist has referred you under a Mental Health Treatment Plan, then it is a Medicare requirement that that the psychologist provide a written report to the referrer after the 6th and 10th sessions.

Although sessions with children and young people are confidential, we endeavour to involve parents and caregivers as much as possible with the consent of the young person.

Will you see my child alone, or will I be a part of the session?
This is usually decided on a case-by-case basis. Younger children are usually seen with their parents for the first session unless there is a reason why they do not want this to occur. Following this, sessions may be a combination of you being seen alone and together and this will be negotiated with you and your child.

 

Adolescents are able to decide for themselves if they want their parents to be involved in the first session. We will discuss the options with you upon your arrival and help you to make your decision. We always try to involve parents and caregivers as much as possible, and to provide parents with some feedback. When an adolescent does not want to have their parent involved in sessions, we endeavour to provide some general feedback to parents about the therapy process and their child’s progress, while still respecting the teenager’s right to confidentiality.

How many sessions will I or my child need?
This varies between individuals and the type of concern being addressed. Your psychologist may be able to give you a better idea of this following your initial session.
How do I make an appointment?

You can make an appointment by completing our new client enquiry form. Our triage team will then review your form and call you back within 1-2 business days to discuss options. This way, we can ensure that we are helping you in the best way, and matching you with the right Psychologist in our team. 

Do I need a referral to see a psychologist?
No, you do not need a referral to see a psychologist. Whether you have a referral affects the way that you pay for your sessions. People attending without a referral (privately) either pay out-of-pocket or use Private Health Extras Cover for Psychology, and then pay the remaining gap amount. However, if you want to claim Medicare rebates for your sessions, you require a specific kind of referral from your medical practitioner called a Mental Health Treatment Plan. You can change from private to a Mental Health Care Plan or vice versa at any time if you want to.
How much does a psychology session cost?

Our fees are $278 for all consultations. After hours consultations (after 5pm and on weekends) are $288. We require full payment at the time of your appointment.

How do I access the Medicare rebate?
To access the Medicare rebate, you need a type of referral from a your General Practitioner (GP) called a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Some paediatricians and psychiatrists can also write Mental Health Treatment Plans. This plan involves your doctor providing a mental health diagnosis. It is recommended that you advise that you are seeking a Mental Health Care Plan at the time that you book an appointment with your doctor, or that you schedule an extended consultation time to complete the plan.

We require full payment of your session fee at the time of your appointment. Once we receive a copy of a Mental Health Treatment Plan that is dated before the session date, we are able to submit your claim to Medicare electronically and Medicare then refund the rebate amount to which you are entitled into your registered bank account.

Can I claim Private Health Insurance rebates?

If you have Private Health Insurance that includes Extras Cover for Psychology, you can claim for your sessions. For your convenience, we can assist you with claiming.

As the rebate amount varies between insurers and your level of cover, we are unable to advise what the rebate amount will be. We therefore suggest that you call your Private Health Insurer to check prior to your appointment. Some insurers pay different amounts for an initial consultation and for ongoing sessions.

You cannot claim both private health insurance rebates and the Medicare rebate for the same session.

Will I be charged if I cancel my appointment?

We understand that life is busy, and you can cancel your appointment without charge if you provide enough notice. If you provide late notice (less than 2 business days notice), a Late Notice Fee will be charged. Non-attendance of a scheduled appointment without notice will be charged the full fee. Medicare and private health insurance rebates are not available for Late Notice and non-attendance fees.

Are you registered for NDIS?
Umbrella Psychology and the psychologists working here are not registered NDIS providers.
Can you provide services under NDIS?

We can provide some services to clients using NDIS funding if they are self-managed or plan-managed. 

Do you offer discounts or concession rates?

We do not provide discounts or concessions.

Do you bulk bill?
We do not provide Bulk Billing Services. If you require Bulk Billing or free services, then we suggest that you contact Headspace or your local Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) team for further information.
Can I request reports?
Reports are available for some purposes. You should discuss your report request with your psychologist. There may be a report-writing fee and full payment may be required before the report is released.
Do you have disability access?

We have full disability access.

Who should I contact in an emergency or crisis situation?
If it is regarding a person under the age of 18 years, then you should contact the Women’s and Children’s Hospital on 8161 7000 and ask to speak to the Emergency Mental Health Nurse. Alternatively, you can attend the Emergency Department in person.

If it is regarding a person over the age of 18 years, then you should call the Assessment and Crisis Intervention Service (ACIS) on 13 14 65. Alternatively you can attend the emergency department of your local hospital. 

Other numbers that you can call are:

            Kids Helpline (for under 18’s):       1800 55 1800

            Lifeline (for over 18’s):                     13 11 14