Patient FAQ
For psychiatrists, please have your GP forward a referral addressed ‘Dear Doctor.’ For psychologists, please have your GP forward a referral and a mental health treatment plan. Due to the volume of referrals, it may take 3 weeks to process it.
If we are unable to allocate your referral we will inform your GP and it will be up to your GP to contact you to consider other options. If the referral is accepted, you will receive an SMS to arrange an appointment. This is a good time to ask any questions you might have. Please note none of the clinicians accept third party referrals such as DVA, TAC or Workcover.
A non-refundable deposit is required to secure an appointment due to the amount of patients not attending. You can reschedule your appointment with at least one week’s notice otherwise your deposit will be forfeited and further cancellation fees may apply if you wish to rebook.
How Do I Make An Appointment?
What Can I Expect From My First Consultation?
Your initial session will be 45-50 minutes so please ensure you complete the patient intake form before your appointment as this will greatly assist with your assessment. You will be asked series of questions to gain a better understanding of your mental health.
Sometimes it might not be possible to cover everything in one session so subsequent sessions may be required before the assessment can be completed and a comprehensive management plan created with you. You do not have to talk about anything that is too difficult for you but the more you share, the more accurate the assessment will be.
If you have booked a telehealth appointment please click on the profile photo of your specific clinician to access their telehealth link.
At the time of making your first assessment appointment, you will receive an email invitation to access the secure patient portal where you will need to enter your details and complete some questionnaires. Please feel free to upload any additional documents you think might be important via your patient portal.
What Should I Bring To My Consultation?
Generally speaking, initial assessments are quite in-depth and personal so the first meeting is usually one-on-one, but you are more than welcome to bring a support person if you are comfortable sharing your private information with them. Please rest assured that your privacy and safety is paramount and information will only be shared with these individuals upon your expressed informed consent.
Who Should I Bring To My Consultation?
What Can I Expect From Subsequent Consultations?
If you are seeing a psychologist your subsequent sessions will generally be quite regular to ensure there is consistent progress in your therapy. For psychiatrists, the length of your subsequent consultations may vary according to clinical appropriateness. These sessions may involve further assessment, explanation of treatment options and addressing your mental health problems. They may also involve monitoring your mental health and response to treatment. If medications are involved, you can expect to be informed of why they are relevant, how to take the medications and any potential associated risks. We strongly suggest you ask any questions to ensure you have a proper understanding of your treatment plan.
A transparent and trusting therapeutic relationship is important so all patients will be advised of their fee prior to the confirmation of their appointment. Each clinician sets their own fee and it varies according to the type and length of the consultation. All psychiatrists/psychologists are registered with Medicare so you may be eligible to claim a rebate from your consultation if you have an eligible referral.
As a general guide, out of pocket costs for an initial FIRST appointment with a psychiatrist ranges from approximately $844 to $905. For psychologists the out of pocket costs is approximately $150-185. None of the independent clinicians bulk-bill.
Please note that consultation fees need to be paid at the completion of the session and unfortunately, due to the frequency of non-attendances, cancellations of appointments without 2 business days’ prior notice will lead to a cancellation fee as other patients cannot access these reserved appointments.
What Are The Consultation Fees?
Unfortunately, as independent private clinicians, they do not have the capacity to manage psychiatric crises and emergencies. If you require urgent help please call Lifeline on 13 11 14, attend your local hospital or call 000 and ask for an ambulance.
Please note clinicians do NOT provide clinical care outside of scheduled sessions so any clinical matters please call to book an appointment.
What Do I Do In An Emergency?