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Psychologists are experts in mental health. They have undertaken highly specialised training in the diagnosis and psychological treatment of mental, behavioural and emotional disorders.  Clinical psychology is a science-based profession which integrates theory and clinical practice to understand, prevent, and relieve psychologically based distress or dysfunction.

A psychologist is able to assess your symptoms of psychological distress. Central to practice are psychological assessment, clinical formulation and psychotherapy.  A clinical psychologist is able to make a diagnosis and work with you to develop a management plan for your treatment and recovery. Psychologists do not prescribe medication, rather they use psychological techniques, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy to treat you.  

A psychologist is a professional trained in the science of how people think, feel, behave and learn.

In Australia, psychology is a regulated profession. This means that people who call themselves a psychologist or say they are practising as a psychologist must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) and listed with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Registered psychologists are required to have a minimum of six years of university training and supervised experience, and to engage in ongoing education to keep their skills and knowledge up to date.

They must also adhere to certain strict standards to keep their registration, and must provide professional services according to a strict code of ethics.

Psychologists work with the mind through talking and behaviour change techniques. They do not prescribe medication, even though they are usually familiar with most psychoactive medications. 

You will be entitled to a Medicare rebate if you have a Mental Health Care Plan, which is usually provided by your GP, or in some instances a psychiatrist or paediatrician.

If you are referred by your GP/Psychiatrist/Paediatrician, we offer bulk billing to Healthcare Card/Pension card holders, otherwise billing is as follows:

Standard consultation (50 minutes) – $190.00. The Medicare rebate is $124.50
We are able to offer the Medicare rebate at the end of your consultation, courtesy of our online claiming system. Your Medicare rebate is transferred into the bank account you have registered with Medicare.

For more information please enquire with reception.

Click here for further information regarding Medicare rebates for psychological treatment by psychologists.

If DVA has already issued you with a White Card for mental health treatment, you are able to receive treatment immediately.  Alternatively, you can apply to DVA.  

If you have a Gold Card, your mental health treatment is paid for by DVA when you use your card.

If you think your mental health condition was caused by your military service, you can also submit a claim for compensation.

You do not need a card to access a psychologist. You are still eligible under the medicare system.

You can find out more information about this by clicking this link.

Seeking out therapy is an individual choice. There are many reasons why people come to therapy.

Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing psychological issues, or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one’s life such as a divorce or work transition. Many seek the advice of a psychologist as they pursue their own personal exploration and growth.

Working with a psychologist can help provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges. Therapy is right for anyone who is interested in getting the most out of their life by taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness, and working towards change in their lives.Psychologists work with the mind through talking and behaviour change techniques. They do not prescribe medication, even though they are usually familiar with most psychoactive medications. 

Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual and their specific goals. During therapy sessions it is standard to talk about the primary issues and concerns in your life, and initially this includes your background and history of issues. It is common to schedule a series of fortnightly sessions, where each session lasts around 50 minutes.

Sometimes individuals who are going through a particularly difficult challenge may request more time per session or more than one session per fortnight. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth.

There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a relevant book or keeping records to track certain behaviours. Between sessions it is important to process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life. For therapy to be most effective you must be an active participant, both during and between the sessions.Psychologists work with the mind through talking and behaviour change techniques. They do not prescribe medication, even though they are usually familiar with most psychoactive medications. 

Neuropsychology is a specialised field of psychology concerned with the examination of brain behaviour relationships.  Neuropsychologists use detailed interviewing, standardised psychometric assessments and other relevant data (such as brain imaging, pathology etc) to assess, diagnose and treat conditions that affect the brain. Psychologists work with the mind through talking and behaviour change techniques. They do not prescribe medication, even though they are usually familiar with most psychoactive medications. 

Any information that identifies you or that you give to your therapist will be treated with utmost privacy and respect. Information about you is kept confidential and is only disclosed to additional parties with your prior consent. However, when a GP or Psychiatrist or Paediatrician refers you, it is usual for them to require some feedback about how things are so they can manage your health. The only time a psychologist is required to disclose information about you to a third party is if it is demanded by law (by subpoena), or if there is reasonable evidence to believe that someone is at risk of harm if we do not divulge the information to the appropriate authorities.

Neuropsychological assessments examine many aspects of cognition (thinking) including attention, language and verbal abilities, visuospatial processing, speed of thinking, memory, reasoning and problem solving.  The assessment gives the neuropsychologist a cognitive profile of strengths and weaknesses which they then combine with relevant history and other information in order to determine the presence (or absence) of atypical cognitive functioning.