NEW CLIENT WAITLIST CURRENTLY CLOSED
· What is a psychologist?
A psychologist is a registered professional trained in the science of how people think, feel, behave and learn. In Australia, psychology is a regulated profession, which means that to be able to use the title of “psychologist”, the practitioner must be fully registered with the Psychology Board of the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA). All registered psychologists must meet a minimum standard of education and training (minimum of a 6-year sequence of Board approved University education and training) and have been assessed as meeting a set of core competencies and standards required for registration. Psychologists must also commit to ongoing continued professional development each year in order to hold their registration and keep their skills and knowledge up to date.
You can check to see if your health practitioner is registered by searching for them on the AHPRA database.
Registered psychologists are required to abide by the Code of Ethics, set by the Australian Psychological Society (APS), to safeguard the welfare of clients receiving psychological services, and the integrity of the profession.
· What is a clinical psychologist?
A clinical psychologist is an AHPRA registered psychologist who has obtained an endorsement in the area of clinical psychology practice. This means, that in addition to their 6-year sequence of education and training to meet minimum requirements for general registration as a psychologist, they have completed additional postgraduate training in the area of clinical psychology.
Clinical psychologists are specifically trained in the assessment and diagnosis of mental health conditions and psychological problems that range from mild to severe and complex. They are trained to use a range of psychological therapies to treat a wide variety of mental health conditions and to individually tailor a planned approach to treatment.
· But I don’t think my issues are “big enough” to see a clinical psychologist
No such thing! Our approach is client-centered, and we work together to help you clarify your personal goals, and fully explore what is getting in the way of you reaching them. Once we have clarified this, through supportive counselling, we facilitate personal growth and development, help you to problem-solve any issues in your life, learn new skills, and help you take the steps to become the best version of you. Whatever the issue, big or small, it can be helpful to talk it over with a trained professional to help you get “unstuck” and get you moving again along your journey.
If we discover that we are not the right health professional for you, we can help you explore alternative options and link you in with the right service.
· What is the difference between clinical psychologists and other psychologists?
Psychologists with general registration can be endorsed in one or more of the following approved areas of practice, in accordance with their area of additional specialised training.
- Clinical psychology
- Clinical neuropsychology
- Community psychology
- Counselling psychology
- Education and developmental psychology
- Forensic psychology
- Health psychology
- Organisational psychology
- Sport and exercise psychology
Whichever type of psychologist you see, you should expect the same quality of care, ethical behaviour and standards of practice.
· Is everything I tell you private?
Under our Code of Ethics, psychologists take necessary steps to safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of client information. However, there are limits to this confidentiality:
- Psychologists have a duty of care to disclose confidential information if there is a risk of harm or safety concerns for the client or others.
- Psychologists must comply with disclosing information where there is a legal obligation to do so (such as if information is subpoenaed by a court of law).
- Otherwise, psychologists can only disclose confidential information with the explicit consent of the client (e.g., if they are requested by the client to write a report/letter or to share information / correspondence with other service providers).
Please note that your referrer or relevant funding body may require information and regular reports about your presenting issues, mental health care, and treatment progress in order to make decisions about continued funding. If you have concerns about this, please ensure you discuss this with your psychologist prior to initial consultation.
· Do I need a referral?
No, you do not need a referral to access psychological counselling. However, with a GP referral, you may be able to access rebates via Medicare's Mental Health Care Plan, which reduces the out-of-pocket cost for consultations. Without a mental healthcare plan, standard consultation fees apply, and you cannot access a rebate from Medicare.
· What are your fees?
We believe that finances should not be a barrier to accessing necessary mental health treatment and counselling. If you are experiencing significant financial hardship, or have a pension/concession healthcare card, please contact us to discuss alternative payment arrangements or reduced fees.
· How long do sessions run for?
Our standard consultations run for approximately 50 minutes.
· How do you take payment and process Medicare rebate?
We accept cash, EFTPOS or credit card payment. We have a HICAPS & EFTPOS terminal that supports 100% of Australian private health funds, as well as Medicare Easyclaims. This allows us to process your Medicare or private health insurance rebate on the spot, directly following your consultation.
· What if I run out of my Medicare sessions and I need more therapy?
If you have exhausted the available Medicare-rebated sessions under your mental health care plan, you can continue seeing your psychologist by paying for additional sessions out-of-pocket, or claim on your private health insurance. We encourage you to first check your level of cover with your private health insurance.
· I have approved funding for psychology sessions under Workcover, TAC, Victims of Crime, NDIS or DVA White Card. Can I see you?
Yes, we may be able to provide psychological services under these referral types. You will need to provide this information and relevant documentation (e.g., claim and reference numbers, agency information and contact details, etc) to your psychologist prior to your initial appointment to ensure your sessions are covered. For further information on each of these funding bodies, click here .
· Can I see you under NDIS?
Soul Psychology and Counselling is not a registered NDIS provider; however, if you have a self-managed NDIS plan, then you may be able to access your funding to see a psychologist at Soul Psychology and Counselling. If you are not sure, please contact your NDIS support coordinator, or local area coordinator to clarify how your plan is managed. For further info, click here.
· Are consultations available on weekends or after hours?
Yes - Soul Psychology and Counselling offer weekend or after-hours appointments. Please discuss with your psychologist to determine availability.
· Do you write reports / letters
With your request and written permission, we can provide written reports or letters for court / legal matters, or to other services as needed.
Clinical psychologists are appropriately trained to assess and diagnose mental health conditions and are therefore qualified to report on and provide advice in clinical and compensation areas. This is why many services require a clinical psychologist to provide an assessment to support any applications concerning mental health, or disability.
Our report fees vary with the type and length of the report required. Please discuss your individual needs with your psychologist.
· Cancellation policy
Please allow at least 48-hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Missed appointments or late cancelations without 48-hours’ notice may incur a late cancellation fee of 50% of the consultation fee which is payable, prior to rescheduling a future appointment.
· Can psychologists read minds?
Short answer: No! Long answer: No, most definitely not.