Frequently Asked Questions

A clinical psychologist is a psychologist who specialises in mental health. They have undertaken highly specialised APAC-accredited training in the assessment, diagnosis, formulation, and psychological treatment of mental health, behavioural, and emotional disorders across the lifespan. The education and training of clinical psychologists takes eight years. Clinical psychology is a science-based profession that integrates theory and clinical practice to understand, prevent, and relieve psychological problems or disorders, whether they are mild, moderate, severe, chronic, or complex.

You do not need a referral to attend Rural Living Psychology. You can contact us directly to schedule an appointment. However, a GP referral letter and Mental Health Treatment Plan are required if you wish to claim a rebate through Medicare.

Average timeframe from referral to first appointment for new adult and older adolescent clients: Currently, new adult referrals are booked in within 4-6 weeks, and new child and younger adolescent referrals within 6 - 10 weeks.

A standard therapy session is 50 minutes in duration and is charged at $265.00.

Rural Living Psychology appointments are available Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm.

We see children, adolescents and adults. However, we do not offer services for couples counselling, geriatric counselling or crisis situations.

If you are self-referring, please email us at
admin@rurallivingpsychology.com.au

We will respond and send links to the new patient forms. Once we receive them, we will schedule an appointment. If you have already seen your GP for a Mental Health Treatment Plan, they will forward the referral to us, and we will then be in touch to begin the process.

Yes, you can claim a rebate from Medicare if you have a current Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP. For Private Health rebates, it’s best to contact your health insurer to find out what your rebate will be, as each health fund is different and it depends on your level of cover.

Telehealth sessions are conducted via secure video or phone call and are a convenient option for those who live remotely or interstate or have mobility issues. If you are unwell and can’t attend in person, your appointment will automatically be converted to telehealth. Medicare rebates still apply if you have a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan. Please contact us if you’re unsure whether telehealth is right for you or if you need help getting set up.

As with GP’s and other practitioners, there is a difference between those who ‘bulk bill’ – in other words, there is no expense to you, and those in private practice where one pays a ‘gap’ in addition to the Medicare rebate. Our psychologists are a specialist service with extensive training and experience and there is a gap payment associated with psychology services.

Medicare only provides a rebate (or a subsidy) rather than covering the cost of the entire session. It is a common misconception that the government pays for 10 free sessions a year. Medicare will subsidise your sessions with a rebate of $145.25. Our fees are $265, meaning there will be a gap payment of $119.75 for each session.

This will depend on the nature and complexity of your circumstances. You will usually start to notice positive changes after one or two sessions. Some people only require short-term counselling (6-10 sessions) in order to achieve sustainable change in their lives. For people with more complex, long-standing issues, longer-term psychotherapy may be required. It is up to you. We will work together to achieve your goals and regularly review progress, ensuring you get the most benefit from counselling. Sessions usually occur on a weekly or fortnightly basis to begin with and then taper out over time.

All information discussed in counselling sessions is confidential, except in the following circumstances:

There is risk to your safety, or the safety of another person.

Our counselling notes are subpoenaed by a Court.

You have provided us with permission to speak to another person or organisation about your circumstances.

Please note that if you intend on claiming a rebate from Medicare we are required to provide summary reports to your referring GP regarding your counselling treatment progress.

A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is a support plan developed by your GP to help you access mental health care. It outlines the type of mental health issues you’re experiencing and the goals you’d like to work towards in therapy.

With a valid MHTP, you may be eligible for up to 10 Medicare-rebated sessions per calendar year (initial 6 sessions, with the option for 4 additional sessions after a GP review). Medicare rebates offered on sessions under the MHTP are $145.25 with a registered psychologist, making it more affordable to access professional support.

If you think a Mental Health Treatment Plan might be helpful for you, we recommend booking a longer appointment with your GP to discuss your needs.