What is a Clinical Psychologist?
According to the Australian Clinical Psychology Association:
“A clinical psychologist is a psychologist who is an expert in mental health. They have undertaken highly specialised training in the assessment, diagnosis, formulation, and psychological treatment of mental health, behavioural, and emotional disorders across the lifespan. Clinical psychologists are the only psychologists to have this advanced level of education and training in mental health. Education and training of clinical psychologists takes eight years…
Central to clinical psychology practice are psychological assessment, clinical formulation, diagnosis, and psychotherapy. A clinical psychologist is able to assess the causes of psychological distress within the context of the history of the problems and contributing factors, such as genetic predisposition, social and family influences, and psychological coping styles. A clinical psychologist can help develop a management or treatment plan for stabilisation or recovery. Clinical psychologists do not prescribe medication; they use psychological therapies.”
How long will my therapy session go for?
Sessions with Dr. Kat go for approximately 50 minutes.
Do I need a referral from my GP to see a Psychologist?
No, you do not need a referral to see a Psychologist. You are welcome to refer into Hope & Honey privately if this suits you best. However, by obtaining a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate of $131.65 per session, for 10 sessions per calendar year.
Are sessions with a Psychologist confidential?
Psychologists are bound by ethical guidelines, Australian Psychological Society (APS) Code of Ethics, and this includes protecting a client’s privacy by not disclosing the content of therapy. There are some limits to confidentiality though, which means that the psychologist will need to breach your privacy in situations where:
> Your information is subpoenaed by a court of law
> There are concerns about your immediate safety or the safety of others
How do I pay for my session?
We accept cash or card (EFTPOS, Visa, Mastercard) payments for sessions. In regards to reports, Hope & Honey will send you an invoice where you are able to Bank Deposit or pay via cash or card.
How do I claim my Medicare Rebate?
At Hope & Honey, we use HICAPS which means your rebate can be processed immediately after your appointment should you bring with you your Medicare card. Please allow a few hours to see this rebate appear back into your bank account.
**Please note, your current bank details need to be lodged with Medicare in order for your rebate to be deposited in a timely manner**
What happens if I use my 10 sessions under my Mental Health Care Plan?
In cases where your MHCP has been fulfilled for the calendar year, GP’s can also prepare Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) or Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plans for those who require access to a number of different therapy services. These referrals can be used to access Allied Health Services, including but not limited to: Psychology, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy services. An EPC referral allows a person to access up to five therapy sessions over a 12-month period. Medicare pays a rebate for the cost of these sessions of $56.00, where the remainder of the session will be an out-of-pocket cost to the client.
If you have Private Health Insurance, you may be able to claim your session with a Clinical Psychologist under your Health Fund.
We also accept Private sessions where you can access our Fee Schedule on our ‘Fees‘ page.
What happens at my first session seeing a Psychologist?
If you are under a Mental Health Care Plan please ensure you bring this with you and your medicare card in order for your rebate to be processed.
Firstly, your psychologist will go through important information with you which will include providing some basic details (e.g., DOB, contact details) and completing a Consent Form which outlines confidentiality, fees, session availability and limits to our service.
Once the administrative side is complete, your first session will explore what brought you to therapy, what difficulties you are currently experiencing, and what you are hoping to gain by engaging in therapy. In order to have a comprehensive understanding of what may be contributing to your difficulties, a clinical assessment will be undertaken where your psychologist will inquire about other areas of your life (e.g., family history, relationship history, previous counselling). In doing so, an individualised treatment plan can be developed to best assist you throughout your journey in therapy.