Question 1

How do I make an appointment?

Accepted Answer

You can make an appointment by phoning the practice on 0466 122 214, by sending an email to reception@nbclinicalpsychology.au or by sending an enquiry through the contact page. If we are unable to answer your call, please leave us a message and we will endeavour to return your call within 24 hours.

During the initial phone-call we will discuss your needs and book in a day and time for your initial appointment.

Question 2

What can I expect during the initial appointment?

Accepted Answer

Your initial appointment will include a comprehensive assessment of 60-90 minutes duration. This will enable us to gather important information to determine your needs, your therapeutic goals and to develop an evidence-based treatment plan based on clinical best-practice guidelines.

Initial appointments are always booked between 9am and 3pm Tuesday to Friday. For children and adolescents, it is preferable that both parents attend the initial appointment, where possible. Separate parent appointments can be arranged for separated families, if required.

Subsequent therapy appointments will be discussed and booked in during the initial appointment.

Question 3

How long are subsequent appointments?

Accepted Answer

Subsequent therapy appointments are 50 minutes duration. Therapy appointments are generally booked in fortnightly, unless weekly appointments are recommended. After school appointments are in high demand and generally booked out two to three school terms in advance. Appointments will generally be during the school/work day until an after-school/later appointment becomes available.

Parents are asked to be available to attend separate parent-only appointments, where required, for their child/adolescent’s therapy and progress.

Question 4

How many appointments will I need?

Accepted Answer

The number of appointments needed depends on a variety of factors including an individual’s presenting issue, recommended treatment plan, frequency of appointments, consistency in attending appointments and an individual’s willingness/capacity to implement therapeutic skills outside of the therapy setting.

Some people will only require shorter-term therapy of six to twelve sessions. Other people will benefit from longer-term therapy.

Cancelled appointments can impact an individual’s progress and outcome in therapy. We therefore recommend consistency in attendance.

Question 5

Are sessions confidential?

Accepted Answer

All personal information discussed during sessions will remain strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to a third party without your permission, except in the following circumstances:
 
 • Written reports are required to be provided to the referring GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician on completion of the initial and subsequent course of treatment
 • Information is subpoenaed by a Court
 • a person discloses risk of significant harm to themselves or to others
 • a psychologist is legally mandated to report risk of significant harm to a child or young person, according to child protection legislation

Question 6

What is the cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

Your next appointment will be confirmed when you attend your current appointment. A text reminder is sent out three business days prior to appointments. We require at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel your appointment. As we often have a waiting-list, we appreciate the opportunity to offer any available appointments to clients on the waiting-list. If less than 24 hours notice is given for cancelling an appointment, or if you do not attend your appointment, a cancellation fee of 50% of the consultation fee is applied for the first and second cancelled appointments, unless there are extenuating circumstances. A cancellation fee of the full consultation fee will be applied for three or more cancelled appointments with less than 24 hours-notice.

Question 7

Do I need a referral to attend appointments?

Accepted Answer

You do not need a referral to attend appointments.

However, if you have a referral from your GP with a mental health care plan, or a referral from a Paediatrician or Psychiatrist, you can claim a Medicare rebate for your appointments. The current Medicare rebate for attendance at an appointment with a Clinical Psychologist (from 1st July 2022) is $131.65. This rebate can be claimed for up to ten appointments/sessions in a calendar year.

Medicare rebates cannot be claimed for parent appointments, unless the parent has their own referral and mental health care plan relevant to their child/adolescent’s presentation.

Currently, until 31 December 2022, the Australian Government has approved ten additional individual psychological therapy sessions in a calendar year under the Better Access Pandemic Support measure.

To access ongoing Medicare rebates, you will need to see your GP, Paediatrician or Psychiatrist for a review after your first six sessions. Your medical practitioner will be able to review you for another four sessions. After you have attended ten sessions, if you require additional appointments, your medical practitioner can review you for an additional ten appointments under the Better Access Pandemic Support measure.

Question 8

Can I claim private health insurance rebates?

Accepted Answer

You may be able to claim a private health insurance rebate depending on the health insurance provider you are insured with, and your level of cover. Medicare rebates and private health insurance rebates cannot be claimed for the same appointment.

Question 9

Are Telehealth appointments available?

Accepted Answer

Whilst we prefer to see clients face-to-face, Telehealth appointments are currently available via video or phone call.

We do ask that you reschedule your appointment or attend via Telehealth if you have any COVID-19, cold or flu symptoms to reduce risk of transmission of illness to others.

Question 10

Do you provide reports for Court proceedings?

Accepted Answer

We do not provide reports for Court proceedings or other third parties such as insurance companies. We also do not provide family assessments or reports for Family Court proceedings.

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