Frequently Asked Questions

What to expect

  • The first session involves a comprehensive assessment, which includes discussion of current symptoms and functioning, what you’ve tried so far to manage your current concerns, mental health history, family history, family/living arrangements, general health and reasons for seeking help.

    You will have the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have and schedule further appointments if you would like to. It’s helpful to keep in mind that this assessment stage often takes more than one session.

    One of the most important aspects of the first few sessions is to start building rapport with your psychologist, because a strong therapeutic relationship is really important for positive therapy outcomes.

    Occasionally, after the assessment sessions either you or your psychologist may decide that another psychologist or health care provider may be more suitable for your needs. In this case we are happy to make referrals to other practitioners.

  • The initial assessment session is 90 minutes. After that, individual therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes. Sometimes a 90 minute session may be necessary, but this would be discussed with you prior to the session.

    Weekly appointments are recommended during the early stages of therapy. Once you've established a relationship with your psychologist and some improvements have been made, sessions may become fortnightly or monthly.

  • Yes we do! We use a commonly used platform called Zoom for our Telehealth sessions. All you need for this is a laptop/tablet or phone with a microphone and camera. If you would like a Telehealth session, let us know when you book and we will give you more information with the log in details.

  • Everyone has different treatment needs so there is no set answer for this one! Some people might be experiencing a simpler life challenge which may take a few sessions, whereas others with more complex situations may require anything from 6 months to a few years. You can discuss this in the early sessions with your psychologist, as you refine your treatment goals together.

  • Yes! Psychologists are ethically bound to keep your information private and confidential. We will not disclose any information about you without your consent.

    However, psychologists also have an ethical and legal obligation to protect you and others from harm and there are some circumstances where we may be required to disclose information to third parties. These are:

    • If permission is given by the client to do so

    • If there is a risk of serious harm to you or another person, including a child

    • If there is a legal obligation to do so (e.g., a subpoena, information about a serious crime)

  • Parents bringing children to therapy are expected to be involved in sessions to some degree. The first session is typically conducted with parents only, so that parents can have time to share their concerns. The following session involves your child. The format of this session varies depending on the child’s age, presenting concerns and individual needs. For example, sometimes the session may include parent, child and psychologist, or sometimes just child and psychologist.

Referrals

  • No you don’t need a referral to see a clinical psychologist. You can pay for appointments yourself or seek a rebate through your private health fund.

    However, if you would like to claim a rebate through Medicare, you will need a referral from your GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician. See the Rebate FAQs for more information.

Fees & Rebates

    • $398 - Initial assessment session (90 minutes)

    • $265 - Individual therapy sessions (50-minute session)

    These rates are well below the Australian Psychological Society's recommended fees of $311 per 50 minute session.

  • There are several Medicare schemes that offer rebates to help subsidise the cost of sessions, with the most common being the Better Access to Mental Health Care scheme. To access this rebate, you need to follow these steps:

    • Visit your GP, psychiatrist, or paediatrician: They will assess your eligibility and, if appropriate, create a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP).

    • Obtain a referral: Your Dr will provide a referral letter to the psychologist.

    • Bring both documents to your first session: Make sure to bring the MHTP and referral letter with you.

    • Claim the rebate: After each session, we will claim the Medicare rebate on your behalf. 

    Other important notes: 

    • Ten sessions per calendar year (Jan-Dec) are eligible for Medicare rebates. 

    • The Medicare rebate for a 50 min appointment with a clinical psychologist is $141.85. 

    • Depending on your referrer, you will usually get 6 sessions initially and then 4 more under the Better Access Initiative in 2025.

    Jacqui is also qualified to offer sessions under a specific Medicare item (Medicare item 81000) which offers pregnancy support counselling to assist women who may have personal concerns relating to a current or recent pregnancy (within the past 12 months), whether this be full-term or part-term (including planned termination). 

    The pregnancy support counselling rebate is $70.85, which covers up to three 30-minute sessions with a psychologist per pregnancy. Find out more about it here.

  • If you have private health cover for psychological treatment then you may also be entitled to claim a rebate. The claimable amount and number of sessions per calendar year depends on your health cover. We suggest you consult your private health insurer for more information.

    You can only claim a rebate through either Medicare OR your private health insurer for any one session.

  • We understand that unexpected events may occur from time to time, however, we do have a lengthy waiting period so we ask that you are thoughtful of other patients and give us as much notice as possible should you need to cancel or reschedule. This allows time to offer clients on the waitlist an opportunity to have an appointment. We are happy to change your appointment to a telehealth consultation if you cannot attend due to symptoms of illness or isolation requirements.

    To avoid cancellation fees, please allow 48 hours notice across two business days.