Tailored individual therapy

Treatment may involve individual or group sessions. For young people, sessions will also involve a caregiver. Sessions take place at the clinic or via telehealth and typically start out on a weekly basis. Less frequent visits (eg fortnightly or monthly) may be scheduled as treatment nears completion.

The focus and duration of treatment will vary according to a client’s unique needs, the issues they wish to address and their treatment goals.

We also offer specific, structured programs – such as Cool Kids for anxious children and adolescents and the Ageing Wisely program for older adults – that are often subsidised by our research and training endeavours.

If a specific program is not suited to your needs, we offer individual sessions with psychologists on a full-fee basis.

Prior to the first session you will be asked to fill in standard questionnaires about common mental health difficulties. These will assist the psychologist to develop a treatment plan.

The first one or two sessions will focus on getting an understanding of why you are seeking help for yourself or your child and what you hope to achieve.

At the end of the first or second session, a treatment plan will be discussed. Other options that may be more appropriate, such as referral to a more suited service, may be suggested.

Regularly during treatment, and at the end of treatment, you will be asked to complete standard questionnaires to help us to monitor progress and to gain feedback on our service.

Arrangements for children and teens

For children, the first session is for parents only, allowing parents to speak freely about their concerns for their child. Unfortunately, this assessment session is not eligible for a Medicare rebate.

For teens, we will discuss with you whether a parent-only session is needed or whether parent and teen should attend together. If you attend together, a longer one and a half hour assessment session will be scheduled.

Future sessions may involve a child alone, parents and children together, or parents alone, depending on the nature of the difficulties and the skills that need to be developed. This will be discussed as part of the treatment plan.

Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or carer to all sessions.

Our programs and clinicians primarily practice Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). This evidence-based treatment focuses on discovering unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, helping clients to learn healthier skills and habits to reduce targeted problems.

In addition, principles or techniques from other evidence-supported theories such as mindfulness, dialectical behaviour therapy or interpersonal therapy are often incorporated.

Our clinicians do not offer family or couple therapy.

We have both generally registered psychologists and endorsed clinical psychologists. All are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia and Medicare.

To serve our clients effectively, our team includes:

• Registered psychologists who have postgraduate degrees in psychology and extensive supervised practice.
• Clinical psychologists endorsed in clinical psychology after completing postgraduate training and a registrar program.
• Senior clinical psychologists with extensive experience in assessing and treating anxiety and other emotional health difficulties, providing expert supervision and leadership in clinical psychology.

It is a requirement that all of our psychologists continually update and develop their skills through activities such as mentoring from senior clinicians, peer support, case review meetings, clinically focused meetings to learn about advances in research, and professional development.

Meet our clinical team.

In addition, the Emotional Health Clinic provides training opportunities for provisional psychologists who are completing a postgraduate degree in psychology. Provisional psychologists provide services including assessment and treatment under the supervision of a senior clinical psychologist.

A referral is not required to have treatment with us. However, to claim a Medicare rebate for full fee-paying services with a registered or clinical psychologist you must have a referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan from a GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist.

A referral is not required when treatment is provided by one of our provisional psychologists.

Fees vary according to the psychologist’s qualification level and the session’s length. Standard sessions are 50 minutes in duration.

Extended sessions may be recommended during treatment to allow sufficient time to apply new skills with the support of a therapist. These sessions are charged at a pro-rata rate, based on the standard session rate.

Home and school visits and sessions held outside the clinic have different cost structures. More information will be provided if this service is required.

Summary of standard session fees in 2024 (fees and rebates are subject to change):

Medicare provides rebates to assist with the costs of accessing psychological treatment through the Better Access initiative.

Eligible individuals may receive a rebate toward treatment costs for a maximum of 10 sessions in a calendar year. After your sixth session, you must return to your referrer to approve the continuation of sessions.

To be eligible for a Medicare rebate towards psychology services:

• your GP must first activate a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), and then create a referral letter, or
• if you see a paediatrician or psychiatrist, they may make a direct referral.

The referral letter must include:

• the provider details
• the client’s name, date of birth and address
• the client’s symptoms or diagnosis
• the number of treatment services required
• a statement about whether the client has a GP MHTP, shared care plan or a psychiatrist assessment and management plan
• be addressed “Dear psychologist” or to a specific psychologist.

Referrals must be dated before the first session to be eligible for a rebate.

You may be able to claim a rebate for psychology services using your private health fund.

You cannot claim a rebate from both Medicare and a private health fund for the same session.

Contact your health fund about whether you are eligible to claim psychological services.

Full payment must be made before each session.

If you have a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan and/or referral, you will have the option to claim on-site or can take your receipt to lodge with Medicare directly.

We accept payment via Visa, Mastercard and EFTPOS.

Note: Cash and cheques are not accepted.

If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, you must advise us no later than 11am on the previous business day.

For example, if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment set for 10am on Monday, you must contact us no later than 11am on Friday.

A cancellation fee of 100 per cent of the session cost will be charged for appointments cancelled or rescheduled after the 11am cut-off.