FAQs
Comprehensive Answers
Have a question about therapy or assessment? Elevate Clinical Psychology wants to ensure you have the best care possible. We believe there are no bad questions when it comes to your mental health. Check out our comprehensive answers below, and don't hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.
How Long Is A Session?
A typical therapy session is scheduled for 50 minutes, while assessments and couples work can often be scheduled as a 90 minute session.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
Everyone's needs are different, so the number of sessions will vary greatly. Some may only be seeking consult to get things on track and may only attend for one or two sessions, where as others might have long standing and complex concerns they wish to work through, and may attend for prolonged treatment. On average we have found our clients will attend 6-10 sessions depending on their needs.
Do I Need a Referral?
You do not need a referral to see a Psychologist, however, if you wish to claim a Medicare rebate then a referral from a Doctor is required. Your Doctor can provide you wiht a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) and referral letter made out to Elevate Psychology, which makes you eligible for the Medicare rebate for your sessions. Those without a Doctors referral are equally welcome to make a booking, however as there will be no Medicare rebate, they will not receive any rebates for the service.
How Much Do Sessions Cost?
For those eligible for a medicare rebate, a standard 50 minute session will incur a gap of approximately $80. For those paying privately or via other funding, there is an upfront cost of $220, and rebates can be sought via your private health or other funding sources.
How Do I Make A Payment?
As we do not have Eftpos facilities on site, prior to your first appointment you will be asked to provide payment details such as a credit or debit card, as well as medicare card details so that we can process your medicare rebate. In many cases your card will simply be debited on the day of your appointment as well as your rebate processed that same day (this may be delayed if there is any delays on Medicares side). Cash – We can accept cash payments, however as we do not keep cash on the premises you will be required to bring exact change. Other – If you prefer to pay via direct deposit or other pay services please discuss this with us prior to your first appointment to ensure we can accommodate your needs.
Whats The Process For Making a Booking?
We encourage new clients to obtain a referal and Mental Health Care Plan from their GP, this will alow you to claim medicare rebates for your sessions. Once you have this (or not, if you are seeking to pay privately) you can get in touch with us via phone, Email, or the online 'New Client' registration form. Existing clients can easily book and manage their appointments via our website booking portal.
What If I Need To Change Or Cancel My Appointment?
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please contact our clinic as soon as possible (we require 48hrs notice to enable us to give your appointment to another client on our waiting list or a cancellation fee will be payable). The quickest and most direct way to cancel or reschedule will be via our online booking portal (keeping in mind the cancellation policy). Otherwise you are welcome to contacting our clinic via phone or email to adjust your appointments. For those eligible for a medicare rebate, a standard 50 minute session with a Clinical Psychologist has an out of pocket cost of approximately $93. You will be charged $230 for the session itself, and Medicare will rebate $137.05 If you are paying privately and not under a medicare rebate, your out of pocket cost will be $230. Those who are covered via DVA typically have no out of pocket expense, while those who are covered via NDIS, or private health insurance will have varied out of pocket costs depending on their levels of cover.
What Is The Cancellation Policy And Will I Be Charged For Late Cancellations?
If your appointment is cancelled with less than 48 hours notice you will incur a 50% session fee. If you do not attend an appointment or an appointment is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice you will incur a 100% session fee. Please note that cancellation fees are NOT covered via Medicare rebates. As this can result in a greater out of pocket fee for you, we strongly recommend giving advanced notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. As a courtesy you will receive a SMS reminder with the date and time of your appointment 48 hours beforehand. It is best to make sure you are clear about your appointment date and time ahead of time as that appointment has been set aside just for you. If you have some extenuating circumstances regarding your cancellation or non-attendance, please get in touch with us to discuss your cancellation fee further. Late cancellations make it difficult to accommodate other patients who urgently need to see a psychologist and are often waiting for an available appointment. Your appointment is time reserved for you and is not available to others without sufficient notice of your cancellation.
How Many Sessions Can I Have?
This will depend on your needs and your funding model. Medicare provides a total of 10 sessions per calendar year for which you will receive a rebate. Where as other funding such as DVA or private health insurance will cover varying number of sessions. The only limit for sessions for those paying privately is that of how many you need or how many are agreed upon with your psychologist.
What If I Need More Than Sessions Than Medicare Covers?
If you have other forms of funding such as Private health cover, then you may get some rebates from this. Otherwise ongoing sessions can be paid for privately.
What Should I Expect From My First Psychology Session?
Once you have made a booking, most of the paperwork will already be completed, so its just a matter of attending your initial appointment with the psychologist. There may be instances where we request you fill out any missing information upon your first visit to the clinic, and so we recommend attending 10min early to your session. The first session is usually spent discussing the issues that lead you to making your appointment. This often includes what has recently happened, along with any relevant history. Your psychologist will ask questions relevant to your situation in order to gain as good an understanding of you and your situation as possible. Depending on your circumstance this first session may also include some goal setting and discussion around what therapy will look like going forward.
What Is The Difference Between a Counselor And A Psychologist?
Counsellors can come from a broad range of training and backgrounds. Currently in Australia the term “counsellor” is not protected. This means that anyone can refer to themselves as a counsellor, and their levels of training can range from none at all, to Diploma or even Masters degrees. Psychologists required to meet certain standards of education which is governed by AHPRA. They are trained in a variety of areas including clinical, health, sports, neuro, organisational or forensic psychology. The level of education required to become a psychologist is a minimum of 4 years of university study with at least 2 years supervised practice post their degree. Many Psychologist have also completed a Masters degree in their particular field of psychology and typically a registered psychologist will have completed a 6 year degree and 2 years of supervised work.
Whats The Difference Between a Psychologist And A Clinical Psychologist?
A Clinical Psychologist is required to have completed a minimum of a Masters degree, which is 2 years of postgraduate study in Clinical Psychology (some will have completed a Doctorate or PhD), along with 2 years post study supervision. A Masters degree in Clinical Psychology typically focuses on specific clinical knowledge, assessment, formulation and treatment for disorders such as Depression, Anxiety, Personality, Bi Polar Disorder, Psychosis, Trauma and so on. A clinical Psychologist is trained to identify not just what the client is dealing with currently, but also in determining what has lead to that presentation, what factors play into that issue, and tend to conceptualise the broader picture of what has lead the client to this point in their life. From that they then work with the client to determine the best approach for therapy for that individual case.
What Is The Difference Between A Psychologist And A Psychiatrist?
Psychologists are trained to assess and treat mental health concerns via the use of various talking therapies such as CBT, ACT, Psychodynamic etc. Although they have typically completed 6 years of study at University, they do not hold a medical degree, and are not medical doctors. Psychologist can not prescribe medication for clients. Psychiatrist are trained Doctors with a speciality in the fiend of Psychiatry. They hold a medical degree, and although many have training in the area of talking therapies, their primary approach is often that of how medication can assist with the mental health concerns a client is facing. Psychiatrists are the go to Doctor for specialised knowledge for the role of medication in treatment for mental health concerns.
How Does Confidentiality Work With A Psychologist?
Much the same as with your Doctor. All information that you disclose in your session with a psychologist is confidential, just as it is with your Doctor. There are two exceptions to this rule in which your confidentiality may be broken. The first is if you are at risk of significant harm to yourself or others, and the second is if there is a court order to disclose information. If either of these situations arise, your psychologist will discuss them with you.
Do You Offer Telehealth Or Telephone Sessions?
Generally, Yes. In some cases we can offer Telehealth or Telephone services, however this will depend on the service you are seeking. For those looking for therapy for a mental health issue we strongly recommend an in person appointment as remote services often lack the personal touch and understanding required for best results. Assessments for ADHD – These can be conducted entirely remotely, however these assessments often require both the client, and a close relative/partner to be present, so this will need to be accommodated for. For optimal results we would recommend clients to attend in person for the interview portion of the assessment where possible. Assessments for ASD – Elevate Psychology does not recommend telehealth or telephone sessions for the interview portion of this service as it can have an impact on the fidelity of the assessment results. For those seeking a psychologically based consult on a matter other than their own personal mental health concern (i.e. Work place dynamics, professional reflection, or psychologists seeking supervision) then remote services would be suitable.
Can I Seek Therapy Even If I Don't Have A Diagnosed Mental Health Condition?
Yes. In fact many people see a psychologist for reasons other than a diagnosed mental health concern. Often people may be seeking to work on personal growth, enhance their relationships, manage stress, or navigate a complex work or family environment. A consult with a Psychologist who is trained in these areas can often provide valuable insight to the inner workings of the mind, be it yours or others. Clients often find this can be very helpful in their day to day live as they navigate complex interpersonal dynamics.
Can I Speak To My Psychologist During A Crisis?
Unfortunately no. As your psychologist is often seeing other people outside of your appointment times they are NOT available for crisis or emergency calls. If you, or someone you know is in an emergency dial 000. If you are a client, or you are calling on behalf of one of our clients, and you require more immediate mental health advice or support please contact one of the following services: Lifeline: 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 headspace: 1800 650 890
Are You What I Am Looking For In A Service?
Getting the right care, and the right psychologist is crucial for ones mental health needs; its all about finding the right fit. To help with we always recommend you read up on a psychologists bio to get a sense if their approach might be for you. Additionally, if you are curious about what we do or do not see at Elevate Psychology here is a basic list of things to point you in the right direction. Presentations we are focused on and experienced with: Assessment for ADHD or ASD Treatment for: Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Couples sessions, Personal growth and development, consult and analysis of complex dynamics be it introspective or within a family or work environment. Types of therapy used: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic therapy, Interpersonal therapy, Family systems and Couples therapy (Gottmans’ approach), and elements of Schema therapy, Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT) and Rational Emotive Behavioural therapy (REBT). Although we can provide opinion and recommendations for any diagnostic issue (and formal assessment for Adult ADHD or ASD), we are NOT a speciality clinic for the treatment of issues such as: Eating Disorders Autism (ASD) ADHD Trauma (PTSD) Schizophrenia – Psychosis Family Therapy Child Psychology Dementia Palliative care Equally we do NOT provide services such as: Court Reports Intelligence or IQ testing Functional Assessments Clients funded by TAC or Victims of Crime