Your questions answered

A clinical psychologist is a professional who diagnoses and treats mental illnesses. I also provide in-depth therapy to enable understanding of yourself and your emotional functioning through psychoanalytically-oriented therapy. Attendance is usually one to two times per week for as long as is required. You are welcome to call me to discuss this.

Yes. Your record is not accessible online, and I am the only person within the clinic who has access to your files. Your consultations are not recorded to your online My Health Record. I also do not send or accept social media requests from patients and their families, ensuring that our interactions remain private and professional at all times.

There are some circumstances. Under jurisdiction, I have to tell the relevant authorities if I receive information about child abuse, neglect or abandonment; about a major criminal act or an intent to commit one; or about an intent to harm oneself or another person. I must also comply if I am subpoenaed to an Australian court to give evidence or to provide a clinical record. I might also have to contact another mental health support service if a client is deemed sufficiently unwell to require an immediate assessment for possible hospital admission.

As part of my professional registration, I am required to discuss my clinical work in supervision sessions on a regular basis. Patient names are not used, to ensure privacy. Attendance at psychotherapy with me is on the understanding that I may be required to obtain a second opinion about the work we undertake as part of such supervision. You are welcome to ask any questions about this requirement.

A Mental Health Care Plan can be obtained from your GP or psychiatrist, along with a letter of referral, to enable you to receive a Medicare rebate on your consultation fee, unless you have reached your safety net, in which case the rebate is higher. A summary of all initial assessments and progress throughout your treatment will be sent to your GP, as required by Medicare legislation.

Medicare provides a rebate to a maximum of ten sessions per calendar year. Many people require treatment that exceeds ten appointments. If you have private health insurance, you may wish to check whether clinical psychology is included in your extras policy. Some health funds require the ten Medicare sessions to be claimed before you can make a claim with your private insurer. It is best to check with them first.

Please telephone the clinic receptionist to obtain information about current consultation fees. Fees are subject to change without notice. All fees are payable on the day, and this is not a bulk-billing practice.

A non-refundable booking fee is required to secure your first appointment. This is deducted from your first consultation fee. Reception will confirm the amount when you book.

Yes. If you wish to consult me, it is important that you call the clinic first to discuss the nature of your NDIS funding. I will speak with you about what psychological issues are included in your capacity building plan. I am unable to accept referrals where the NDIS funding is for an intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder, as these are not specialty areas of mine.

If it is your first appointment with me, please bring your GP referral letter and Mental Health Care Plan, if these have not already been sent to me by confidential fax. If you wish to pay privately, you will be asked to provide valid photo identification at your initial assessment.

All appointments are fifty minutes long, and you will receive a reminder text message two days beforehand.

An appointment cancellation must be made before 12:00 noon on the day prior to your appointment, or by 12:00 noon Saturday for a Monday appointment. The full fee will be charged for any appointment not cancelled by this time, or not attended.

Any NDIS-funded patients who wish to cancel an appointment must provide two business days notice, otherwise the full fee is payable from your funding allocation.

Sessions are conducted in person at my clinic in Blackburn North.

Telehealth is available for patients living in regional and rural areas. Please telephone the clinic to discuss whether telehealth is suitable in your circumstances.

If you wish to book a telehealth appointment, please leave your details and I will discuss your circumstances with you in confidence to determine whether telehealth is suitable.

If you are facing an emergency, call 000 straight away. You will be asked “Police, Fire or Ambulance”.

Lifeline, 24 hours: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue, 24 hours: 1300 224 636
PANDA, Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia: 1300 726 306
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467