Question 1

I am thinking about seeing a psychologist or counsellor, what are the steps I need to take?

Accepted Answer

To begin, please reach out to us by phone, email, or through the contact form on our website. Our administrative team will then discuss your needs and collect essential details such as your name, contact information, and whether you have a mental health treatment plan. We may also ask about your reasons for seeking therapy. This information helps us match you with a suitable clinician (if you don’t have a specific preference) and allows us to brief them before your first appointment. The timing for scheduling your initial session will depend on the availability of our clinicians.

Question 2

Do I need a referral or mental health treatment plan to see a psychologist?

Accepted Answer

With a valid mental health treatment plan (MHTP) from your GP, you can receive a rebate for up to 10 sessions with a psychologist each calendar year. Typically, your GP will provide a referral for 6 sessions initially, and you will need to return for a review to access the remaining 4 sessions. For information on our fees, please visit our fees page.(https://www.wellbeinginmind.com.au/therapy-fees) Please note that rebates are not available for sessions with counsellors or provisional psychologists. If you do not have a mental health treatment plan, you will be responsible for paying the full fee out of pocket.

Tip: When booking your appointment with the GP, ask if you need a longer session, as this can sometimes take extra time.

Question 3

Can I get a Private Health rebate?

Accepted Answer

If you have ‘extras’ private health insurance, you may be eligible to claim rebates for psychological and counselling sessions.

Each insurance company is different, and rebates depend on extras cover schemes which can change over time, therefore we recommend that you check with your insurer about rebate amounts. Wellbeing in Mind in no way guarantees any agreement held by clients with their private insurers.
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We are not able to process private health claims on site. You are required to pay the full amount immediately after the appointment and will be provided with an invoice to submit to your private health fund.

Question 4

What do I need to do prior to my first appointment?

Accepted Answer

When you schedule your appointment, our admin team will send an intake form to the email address you provided. Completing this form before your appointment will help streamline your visit. If you're unable to complete it in advance, please arrive at least 10 minutes early to fill out the necessary paperwork. Additionally, if you are eligible for Medicare rebates, be sure to bring your Medicare card with you.

Question 5

What can I expect from my first session?

Accepted Answer

If you haven’t completed the online intake forms, please arrive at least 10 minutes early to fill them out.

During your initial session, your clinician will discuss confidentiality, fees, cancellation policies, and your rights as a client. They will also ask about the reasons for seeking therapy and may request some relevant background information. You and your therapist will then collaboratively set goals for therapy.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to discuss them with your clinician; we are here to ensure you feel as comfortable as possible.

Question 6

How long is a standard appointment?

Accepted Answer

A standard appointment with a psychologist is 50 minutes. Longer appointments may be scheduled for couple sessions.

Question 7

I am struggling and need some extra support between sessions, what can I do?

Accepted Answer

Feel free to contact the clinic to see if we can accommodate you before your next scheduled appointment, although this may not always be possible. Wellbeing in Mind Psychological Services does not offer emergency support or crisis counselling.

For crisis support:

000 Emergency
Always call 000 if it is an emergency
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Mental health access line
Contact 1300 MH CALL (1300 642 255), which is a confidential mental health telephone triage service that provides the first point of contact to public mental health services.  This service is staffed by trained and experienced mental health clinicians who can provide support, information, advice and referral.

​Other 24/7 crisis services
Lifeline 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

Question 8

Do your clinicians see children?

Accepted Answer

Certainly! We have several clinicians who specialize in working with children. If you reach out to us, we can help you find a suitable clinician for your needs. For children below age 13, we will always schedule a parent-only intake interview first, to allow  your clinician to obtain a detailed understanding of your concerns for your child.

We aim to work collaboratively with parents of our child patients, unless otherwise directed by legal proceedings or immediate safety concerns. In cases of separation or custody disputes, Wellbeing in Mind will endeavour to act foremost for the interests and wellbeing of the child patient.

The contact information parents provide at the time of intake will be presumed correct, unless documentation proving otherwise is provided. If no information regarding legal orders or safety concerns is given, we will assume that both parents have equal parenting rights and are equally entitled to request information regarding the child patient.

It is the responsibility of parents/ carers to inform the clinic of changes in family circumstances. Any update to a child patient’s parenting/ care arrangements, or any safety concerns, must be provided in writing as soon as reasonably possible

Question 9

Something has come up and I am unable to attend my therapy appointment. What do I do?

Accepted Answer

We understand that you may sometimes be unable to keep an appointment because of sudden illness or an unexpected personal emergency. If this happens to you, please contact us as soon as possible to explain the situation.  If you are not able to attend in person, we are, in most instances, able to change your appointment to telehealth.

Depending on the type of appointment you have made, your psychologist may have reserved one or several hours especially for you. He/she also often spends considerable time preparing for the appointment. The following cancellation policy is in place to allow us to offer the allocated time to another client who may be on a waiting list for that appointment. 
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We require 48 hours notice on business days* to reschedule or cancel a session without incurring any extra fees. The following cancellation policy is in place:
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Private clients: Therapy Cancellation Fees
 • Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours but more than 24 hours (on business days*) = $50
 • Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice (on business days*) = $100
 • DNA/No show = Full cost of session.

NDIS clients: Therapy Cancellation Fees (based on the NDIS schedule of fees)
If cancelled with less than 48 hours notice (and appointment cannot be filled) = The full fee for the session.

*Our office hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday - Friday. Monday appointments must be cancelled/rescheduled on a Thursday to avoid incurring late cancellation fees.