Frequently Asked Questions

No referral is needed to book an appointment with us — you’re welcome to contact us directly at any time. However, if you’d like to access Medicare rebates under a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), you’ll need to see your GP first. A GP can assess your needs and prepare a plan that gives you access to up to 10 rebated sessions per calendar year. We can also see you privately without a referral if you prefer.

Not sure if you need a referral? Call us and we’ll help you work out the best path forward for your situation.

We work with adults, adolescents, and children across a wide range of presentations. True to our name, we welcome minds of all kinds — including people who are neurodivergent (autistic individuals, ADHDers, 2e), people from LGBTQIA+ communities, and those from diverse cultural backgrounds. We strive to provide affirming, non-judgmental care to everyone who comes through our door.

Our psychologists have experience across a broad range of areas, including:

• Anxiety, worry, panic, and phobias
• School can’t
• Challenging behaviours
• Depression and low mood
• Stress, burnout, and work-related difficulties
• Trauma and PTSD
• Grief and loss
• Relationship and family difficulties
• Autism and ADHD assessment and support
• Autistic burnout
• Understanding your neurodivergent identity
• Low self-esteem and identity concerns
• Life transitions and adjustment
• Sleep difficulties

If you’re unsure whether we’re the right fit, please reach out — we’re happy to have a brief chat before you commit to an appointment.

You can book online via our booking page, email us, or call our practice directly. If you’re using a Mental Health Treatment Plan, please have your referral and plan ready to share when you book. We’ll send you a confirmation and some intake paperwork before your first session.

Both are trained mental health professionals, but they’re at different stages of their career pathway — and both are regulated by the Psychology Board of Australia under AHPRA.

Registered psychologists have completed their postgraduate training and supervised practice requirements and hold full registration with AHPRA. They can work independently and are eligible to claim Medicare rebates (when clients hold a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan) and most private health fund benefits.

Provisional psychologists have completed their undergraduate and honours (or graduate entry) psychology degree and are currently working through their supervised internship — typically a two-year program or a one-year postgraduate placement. They are registered with AHPRA under provisional registration and must work under the supervision of a fully registered psychologist at all times.

In practical terms, this means:

• Provisional psychologists offer the same evidence-based therapy approaches and are often highly skilled clinicians — they have completed significant academic training before ever seeing clients
• Their work is regularly reviewed and guided by a senior registered psychologist, which adds an extra layer of clinical oversight
• Sessions with a provisional psychologist are typically offered at a lower fee, which can make therapy more accessible
• Provisional psychologists are not eligible for Medicare rebates, and some private health funds do not cover their sessions — check your policy before booking

If you’re unsure whether a provisional or registered psychologist is right for you, we’re happy to talk it through. We’ll always be transparent about who you’re seeing, their experience, and what funding applies.

Yes — we offer both in-person and telehealth appointments via a secure video platform. Telehealth sessions are available to clients across Australia, which means you can access support no matter where you live. Medicare rebates apply to telehealth sessions in the same way they do for in-person appointments.

You’ll need a quiet, private space, a stable internet connection, and a device with a camera and microphone. We’ll send you a link before each telehealth session.

Standard therapy sessions are 50 minutes. Initial assessment sessions may be longer (up to 80 minutes) to allow time to understand your background, concerns, and goals. Our admin team will discuss session length with you when you book in, and your psychologist will also discuss frequency at your initial appointment.

Session frequency is tailored to you — there’s no single right answer. As a general guide:

• Fortnightly is the most common rhythm for ongoing therapy. It gives you enough time between sessions to reflect and practise new skills, while keeping momentum going.
• Weekly sessions are often recommended at the start of treatment, or when someone is going through a particularly difficult period and needs more consistent support.
• Monthly (or less frequent) sessions suit people who are further along in their goals and are using psychology more for maintenance, check-ins, or support during specific life challenges.

Your psychologist will discuss what frequency makes sense given what you’re working on and what fits your life — including practical considerations like work, family, and the Medicare calendar year. As things shift, you can always adjust.

If you’re using a Mental Health Treatment Plan, keep in mind that your 10 Medicare-rebated sessions reset each calendar year (1 January). Your psychologist can help you space sessions in a way that makes the most of your entitlement.

We ask that you give us at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations within 48 hours, or no-shows, may incur a late cancellation fee. We understand that sometimes unexpected things happen — if something urgent comes up, please contact us as soon as you can and we’ll do our best to work with you. Letting us know with as much notice as possible allows us to offer the appointment slot to another client. If we can fill your appointment, you won’t be charged a cancellation fee.

Availability varies across our team. Some of our psychologists offer late afternoon and early evening appointments on weekdays. Please contact us to enquire about current availability and we’ll do our best to find a time that works for you.

Our standard session fee reflects the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and the recommended rates from the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and Australian Association of Psychologists, Inc (AAPI). Please contact us or visit our fees page for current pricing. We aim to be transparent about costs and will discuss fees with you before your first appointment.

If cost is a barrier, please let us know. Our provisional psychologists have lower fees. We can also help connect you with lower-cost services in your area if that is more appropriate.

Yes. If you have a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) from your GP, you are eligible for a Medicare rebate on up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year with a registered psychologist. The rebate is applied at the time of payment and you pay only the gap. We will process the Medicare rebate on your behalf after we receive payment.

Some clients also access rebates through their private health insurance. Check with your insurer about your extras cover for psychology.

Please note that provisional psychologists are not eligible to register as a Medicare provider, so are not able to provide Medicare rebates; many private health insurers do not cover provisional psychologists. Our fees for provisional psychologists are lower to reflect this and we recommend always checking with your health insurer prior to your appointment.

Yes, in many cases — but it depends on your policy. Most Australian private health funds offer a psychology benefit under their extras cover (sometimes called ancillary cover). If your policy includes psychology, you can typically claim a rebate per session up to an annual limit.

A few things worth knowing before you claim:

• You generally can’t use Medicare and private health for the same session. If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan and are claiming a Medicare rebate, you cannot also claim that session through your extras cover. Most clients choose Medicare for rebated sessions as the Medicare rebate is usually higher, but it’s worth checking to compare.
• Benefit amounts vary widely. Some funds offer $40–$60 per session; others offer more. Check your annual limit too — many policies cap psychology benefits at a set dollar amount per year, which can be reached quickly.
• Waiting periods may apply. If you’ve recently taken out or upgraded your extras cover, you may need to serve a waiting period (commonly 2–12 months) before you can claim psychology benefits.
• Provisional psychologists may not be claimable. Some funds only pay benefits for sessions with a fully registered psychologist. Check with your fund if you are seeing a provisional psychologist at our practice.

We recommend calling your health fund before your first appointment to ask about your psychology benefit, your remaining annual limit, and whether our psychologists are recognised providers. We can provide a receipt with all the details your fund needs to process a claim.

We accept credit and debit card payments, including EFTPOS. For telehealth clients, payment is processed securely online following your appointment. We do not accept cash. Medicare rebates are processed electronically at the time of payment where possible.

Your first session is primarily about getting to know you. Your psychologist will ask about what’s brought you to therapy, a bit about your history and life context, and what you’re hoping to get out of the process. You don’t need to have everything figured out — it’s fine to come in and say “I’m not sure where to start.” There’s no pressure to share more than you’re comfortable with.

By the end of the session, your psychologist will share some initial thoughts and work with you to start forming goals and a plan for your sessions.

This really depends on what you’re working through, your goals, and how you respond to the therapeutic process. Some people find that 4–6 sessions are enough to address a specific issue. Others benefit from longer-term support, particularly when working through complex trauma, longstanding patterns, or significant life challenges. Your psychologist will review your progress with you regularly and you’ll always be involved in decisions about the length of treatment.

Our psychologists draw on a range of evidence-based approaches tailored to each individual. These may include:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Schema Therapy
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills
• Trauma-informed and EMDR approaches
• Mindfulness-based interventions
• Narrative Therapy
• Play therapy

All our psychologists utilise neuroaffirming practice no matter the modality and we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Your psychologist will explain any approaches they recommend and why, and will always work collaboratively with you.

The relationship between you and your psychologist is one of the most important factors in how helpful therapy is — so this matters. If after a few sessions you’re not feeling comfortable or don’t think it’s working, please tell us. We can explore whether a different psychologist in our practice might be a better fit, and we’ll support you in making that change without any awkwardness. Your wellbeing comes first and we promise your psychologist won’t take it personally.

This depends on your child’s age, their needs, and what the psychologist recommends. As a general guide:

• In early childhood (under 5-6), parent-only sessions are often utilised more frequently to discuss specific parenting strategies to support your child.
• Younger children (typically under 7–8) often benefit from having a parent or caregiver present for part or all of a session, particularly early on, to help them feel settled and safe.
• Older children and adolescents usually see their psychologist one-on-one. Having their own private space tends to support openness and trust — which is central to good therapy outcomes.

Whatever the arrangement, parents and carers are always kept informed and involved. Your psychologist will regularly check in with you about your child’s progress and will let you know if anything important comes up, such as risk. You’ll never be left in the dark about how your child is going.

At the start of treatment, your psychologist will discuss what involvement looks like for your family and agree on an approach that works for everyone.

Yes — we offer outreach services and work alongside schools, kindergartens, and early childhood settings as part of our commitment to supporting children in the environments where they spend their days. We know that for many children, the best outcomes happen when therapy doesn’t stay within the four walls of a consulting room.

Outreach visits may involve observing your child in their setting, consulting with educators and support staff, contributing to individual learning or support plans, and helping implement strategies that are consistent across home and school.

We work collaboratively with teachers, integration aides, wellbeing teams, and early childhood educators — always with your knowledge and consent.

Parent involvement is a cornerstone of our outreach model. When we’re working regularly with a child in a school or kinder setting, we schedule dedicated parent sessions throughout the engagement. These sessions are a chance to:

• Share what we’re observing and working on with your child
• Discuss strategies you can use consistently at home
• Answer your questions and address any concerns
• Update goals as your child grows and their needs change

We firmly believe that parents and carers are the most important people in a child’s life, and that you know your child best. Our outreach work is designed to support you as much as it supports your child’s educators — so that everyone around your child is working from the same page.

We conduct a range of psychological assessments for children, adolescents, and adults. These include:

• Autism assessments — comprehensive diagnostic evaluations using evidence-based assessment tools such as the MIGDAS-2, alongside clinical interviews, behavioural observations, and social, emotional, and adaptive assessments
• ADHD assessments — including clinical interview, rating scales (completed by parents, teachers, and/or the individual), and where appropriate, cognitive testing
• Cognitive and learning assessments — including IQ testing and assessments for learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyscalculia
• Social, emotional, and behavioural assessments — to better understand a child’s needs in home, school, or early childhood settings
• NDIS functional capacity assessments — to support access requests, plan reviews, or funding for specific supports

If you’re not sure which type of assessment is right for your situation, contact us for a brief consultation and we can help you work out the best path forward.

Assessment length varies depending on what’s being assessed and the age of the person. As a general guide:

• Autism assessments typically involve multiple appointments across several hours of direct assessment time, plus time for the psychologist to score, interpret, and write the report. The full process — from intake to receiving your report — usually takes 4–8 weeks depending on current waitlists.
• ADHD assessments generally involve one or two clinical appointments (1.5–2.5 hours each), plus rating scales and a cognitive assessment (approximately 2 hours).
• Cognitive/learning assessments are usually completed in 1-2 sessions of 2–3 hours for school-aged children, though complex presentations may require additional time.

You’ll be given a clear timeline at your intake appointment, including when you can expect to receive your written report (usually 4 weeks after your last assessment appointment).

The most important thing is to make sure your child is well-rested and has eaten before the appointment — assessments can be mentally tiring, and hunger or fatigue can affect how a child performs or engages.

When it comes to what to tell them, honesty in simple, age-appropriate language works best. You might say something like: “We’re going to meet someone who plays some games and asks some questions with you, to help us understand how your brain works and figure out the best ways to help you.” Try to frame it as a neutral or positive experience rather than a test they can pass or fail — because they can’t.

• Avoid coaching your child on how to answer questions or behave — accurate results depend on seeing how your child naturally responds
• Let them bring a comfort item (a toy, fidget, or snack) if that helps them feel settled
• If your child takes medication for ADHD, discuss with your prescribing doctor and your psychologist beforehand whether to take it on the day — this decision depends on what is being assessed

There are no right or wrong answers in a psychological assessment. We’re here to understand your child, not judge them.

We’ll send you some information ahead of your appointment, but as a general guide it’s helpful to bring:

• Any previous reports — psychological, educational, speech pathology, occupational therapy, paediatric, or otherwise
• School reports and any Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or Individual Learning Plans (ILPs)
• A list of any current medications and doses
• Medicare card and any relevant referrals (e.g. from your GP or paediatrician)
• Completed rating scales or questionnaires if these were sent to you in advance
• For children: a snack, a drink, and anything that helps them feel comfortable

If you’re gathering school teacher rating scales, it helps to request these well ahead of the appointment so there’s time for the teacher to complete and return them.

It depends on the type of assessment and your child’s age and needs, but typically there is a parent component and a child component that run separately.

Most assessments begin with a parent interview where the psychologist gathers detailed background information from you — developmental history, family context, what you’ve observed at home and school. This part is usually scheduled as a separate appointment.

During the direct assessment component, children usually work one-on-one with the psychologist. This is important because the presence of a parent — even a calm and quiet one — can influence how a child responds and may affect the validity of the results. Most children settle quickly once they’re in the room.

For very young children or those with high support needs, we’ll discuss the best arrangement with you beforehand. You’re always close by, and we’ll let you know immediately if your child needs you.

After the assessment is complete, we schedule a feedback session with parents to walk through the results, explain what they mean, and discuss recommendations. You won’t just receive a report in the mail — we take the time to explain everything clearly.

Once the assessment is scored and interpreted, you’ll receive a comprehensive written report. This typically includes a summary of background information, the assessment findings, any diagnoses reached, and a set of practical recommendations — for home, school, and any referrals to other services that may be helpful (such as speech pathology, occupational therapy, or a paediatrician).

Reports can be shared with your child’s school, GP, paediatrician, the NDIS, or any other service with your written consent. We can also write a shorter summary letter for specific purposes (such as school adjustments or NDIS applications) if needed.

If a diagnosis is reached, our psychologist will talk you through what it means, what it doesn’t mean, and what supports are available.

Psychological assessments are a significant investment, and we want to help you understand what funding may be available. Assessment costs, funding options, and any expected out-of-pocket gap will always be discussed with you clearly before any assessment begins. We want you to be able to make an informed decision without any surprises.

There are several pathways depending on your circumstances:

Medicare
Some components of a psychological assessment may attract a Medicare rebate if you have a valid referral. A paediatrician or psychiatrist can refer under a Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders referral for certain presentations. However, Medicare does not fully cover comprehensive diagnostic assessments (such as full autism or cognitive assessments), so there will typically be an out-of-pocket gap. We’ll be upfront about what Medicare covers for your specific assessment before you book.

NDIS
If your child or family member is an NDIS participant, assessment costs may be covered under the Capacity Building — Support Coordination or Improved Daily Living budget, depending on what’s included in their plan. For people seeking NDIS access for the first time, a GP or paediatrician referral for an assessment can be part of building the evidence base for an access request. Contact us to discuss whether NDIS funding applies to your situation.

Private health insurance
Some extras policies include a psychology benefit that can be applied to assessment appointments. The rebate amount varies significantly between funds and policy levels — it’s worth checking with your insurer whether psychological assessment services are included and what your annual limit is.

We are not a registered NDIS provider, so we are unable to accept clients who are NDIA-managed.

Yes. Our psychologists can conduct functional capacity assessments and prepare reports to support NDIS planning and review meetings. We can also carry out cognitive and diagnostic assessments relevant to NDIS access. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs and to enquire about current waitlists for assessment services.

Yes. Everything you share in sessions is confidential and protected under the Privacy Act 1988 and the ethical guidelines of the Australian Psychological Society. We will not share your information with anyone — including family members — without your consent.

There are a small number of situations where confidentiality has legal or ethical limits. Your psychologist will explain these during your first session. Briefly, these include situations where there is a serious and imminent risk to your safety or the safety of others, or where disclosure is required by law (such as a court order or mandatory reporting obligations).

If you’ve been referred by your GP under a Mental Health Treatment Plan, Medicare guidelines require us to send a brief outcome report to your GP after your 6th session and when your treatment concludes. You’ll be informed about what’s included in these reports, and we can discuss any concerns you have about what is shared. Outside of this requirement, we won’t contact your GP without your consent.

Your records are stored securely in a password-protected, encrypted practice management system. We follow best practices for data security in line with Australian privacy legislation. Telehealth sessions are conducted using a platform that complies with Australian health privacy standards. Your records are retained for the period required by law and then securely destroyed.

We really appreciate word-of-mouth referrals — it means a lot when someone trusts us enough to recommend us to the people they care about. However, in most cases a psychologist won’t be able to see two people who are close to each other, such as friends, partners, family members, or colleagues.

This comes down to the ethical principle of avoiding dual relationships and conflicts of interest, as set out in the Psychology Board of Australia’s Code of Conduct. When a psychologist sees two people who know each other, it creates a risk that:

• The psychologist’s objectivity and impartiality could be affected
• Information shared in one person’s session — even unintentionally — could influence how the psychologist relates to the other
• One or both clients may feel less able to speak freely

This isn’t a reflection on you or your friendship — it’s about protecting the integrity of the therapeutic relationship for everyone involved. We’ll always be upfront about this when you book.

The good news is that our practice has multiple psychologists, so in many cases we can arrange for you to see a different clinician while your friend continues with theirs. Please contact us and we’ll find the best arrangement for your situation.