|
Frequently Asked Questions |
FAQs
What does a psychologist do?
A psychologist can do a variety of things from assessments, diagnosing and therapy through Telehealth. They use evidence-based therapies, ‘talking therapies’, to help people to make changes in their lives to better cope with stress, conflict and other issues. It often involves doing some tasks out of the session, to try out new skills. Psychologists are sometimes called ‘clinicians’ and you, can sometimes be called ‘clients/patients’.
Will anyone know if I am seeing a psychologist?
Only if you tell them. If you live in a small rural or remote community, you may be worried about your privacy when seeing a mental health professional. When seeing a psychologist by videoconference, this can help ease these worries. Talk to your clinician during your appointment if you have any more worries about this.
Do I need a referral?
Yes. You can refer yourself or someone else, e.g. a doctor, nurse, counsellor, support person, social worker, etc. can do it for you. If you see your doctor first, you may be eligible for a mental health care plan where you will be able to receive a Medicare rebate and the sessions are bulk-billed.
What is Telehealth?
Telehealth is a videoconference session involving you and your clinician using both a video and audio connection. You may already use FaceTime, Skype, Zoom or Messenger to connect to family and friends. It is the same thing but talking to a psychologist instead.
What is a mental health care plan (MHCP)?
A mental health care plan is a plan that is made by your GP, psychiatrist or a paediatrician for treating a mental health issue. It will identify what type of care you need and will spell out what you and your doctor are aiming for you to achieve. At this stage, with a MHCP you are eligible for up to a total of 10 sessions per calendar year of a rebate from Medicare with an eligible plan.
How much will a session cost?
New Tracks Psychology is a private practice and fees will be charged as of 1 July 2022. Fees are payable on the day of your appointment through our online STRIPE payment system. Fees are as follows and if you have a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) you will get a Medicare rebate:
Psychologists:
Living in the Kimberley$170 per session (rebate from Medicare: $98.95) ($71.05 out of pocket)
Living outside of the Kimberley$210 per session (rebate from Medicare $98.95) ($111.05 out of pocket)
Clinical Psychologists:
Living in the Kimberley $215 per session (rebate from Medicare: $144.25) ($70.75 out of pocket)
Living outside of the Kimberley $255 per session (rebate from Medicare: $145.25)($113.15 out of pocket)
Other Third Parties:
NDIS, Work Cover, Insurance Companies $265 per session.
The current recommended fee for psychologists is $315 (AAPi) for a standard psychology session 45-60 minutes. We aim to keep costs as low as possible for all clients at New Tracks Psychology.
Currently, Medicare will not allow you to pay 'just the gap' fee, so you will have to pay the full fee and if you have Medicare Easyclaim set up, we can claim it for you and you will get the rebate directly into your account. If not, you can take you invoice to a Medicare office and lodge them over the counter.
If you have private health insurance, you may be able to claim a rebate through your fund after paying for the session. Please check with your private health fund to confirm any rebates that may be available to you.
Please note: you cannot claim both a Medicare rebate and a private health fund rebate for the same session.
You will also be responsible for the cost of using your personal technology (e.g. smart phone, laptop or iPad) and for the internet data and/or phone charges.
Is what I tell the psychologist confidential?
Yes, to a certain extent. All psychologists are bound by ethical requirements and will keep their notes in a file, locked in a filing cabinet in their office or within a secure storage system on-line. There are times when information will have to be disclosed and these include: if it is subpoenaed by a court; if the clinician believed you or another person is at serious risk to life, health or safety; or if your prior permission has been given to provide a written report or discuss with another professional or agency, e.g. your GP.
How long is an appointment?
All appointments with our psychologists generally last approximately 50 minutes. The first appointment may go for longer but you will be informed when booking.
How many appointments will I need?
This is entirely dependent on your needs, the presenting issue and you. This can be best discussed with your clinician during the initial appointment.
Can I bring someone into the session with me?
This is entirely up to you. You can request for a partner, relative or other person to be present during the session if you want to.
How often will I have to have sessions for?
This is entirely up to you, your clinician and your individual circumstances. Most people have recurring appointments every fortnight or each month. You can talk about the time period between sessions during your first appointment. Sometimes the time between sessions can change depending on your individual circumstances at the time.
What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?
There are a number of differences between the two types of mental health professionals. Generally, there are two main differences. Psychologists are trained at university in understanding human behaviour and psychological issues while psychiatrists first complete a Medical degree and then specialise in mental health issues. Only psychiatrists are able to prescribe medications to treat your mental health. Some people see both a psychologist and a psychiatrist, it just depends on each individuals' needs.
Do you charge cancellation fees?
If, for some reason you need to cancel or postpone your appointment, please give the psychologist at least 48 hours notice, otherwise you may be charged the cost of the session. Our clinicians reserve the right to charge cancellation fees depending on individual circumstances and fees vary according to the clinician.
How long is the waiting list?
Waiting periods for an appointment vary dramatically due to a number of factors. Once we receive a referral, we will contact you within 2 business days and discuss any waiting periods. We try to accommodate Emergency appointments if it is practical and possible. It is common for some ongoing clients to reserve 2-3 appointments in advance following their first appointment.
What if I don’t know what to say?
First don’t worry, especially during the first session. The psychologist will go through some things such as consent with you during the first session and you will get a ‘feel’ for the psychologist. They will also explain to you that if you feel that they are not the ‘right fit’ for you, they will help to find another person for you to talk to. It is the most important thing that you feel comfortable with the psychologist, as if you don’t you will probably not open up to them about things, which is a very important part of therapy.
Can I record my session?
It is best to discuss this with your psychologist. Usually, if there are things you need to do or remember the psychologist will ask you to write it down or they could text it to you after the session.
Are there certain questions I should ask the psychologist?
Ask anything you like, whether they answer them or not will be up to the psychologist. There are no ‘silly’ questions in therapy. They are just questions looking for answers that your psychologist will try and help you with.
If I have had a couple of sessions and I don’t feel the psychologist is the ‘right fit’, what can I do?
If you feel comfortable, talk to the psychologist. We all know that we don’t ‘fit’ with every person in the whole world and this is just a fact. It is totally fine and nothing at all personal if you do not feel comfortable with your psychologist. If you do not feel like you can talk to the psychologist, please text or email New Tracks Psychology (information on the Contact Us page).
A psychologist can do a variety of things from assessments, diagnosing and therapy through Telehealth. They use evidence-based therapies, ‘talking therapies’, to help people to make changes in their lives to better cope with stress, conflict and other issues. It often involves doing some tasks out of the session, to try out new skills. Psychologists are sometimes called ‘clinicians’ and you, can sometimes be called ‘clients/patients’.
Will anyone know if I am seeing a psychologist?
Only if you tell them. If you live in a small rural or remote community, you may be worried about your privacy when seeing a mental health professional. When seeing a psychologist by videoconference, this can help ease these worries. Talk to your clinician during your appointment if you have any more worries about this.
Do I need a referral?
Yes. You can refer yourself or someone else, e.g. a doctor, nurse, counsellor, support person, social worker, etc. can do it for you. If you see your doctor first, you may be eligible for a mental health care plan where you will be able to receive a Medicare rebate and the sessions are bulk-billed.
What is Telehealth?
Telehealth is a videoconference session involving you and your clinician using both a video and audio connection. You may already use FaceTime, Skype, Zoom or Messenger to connect to family and friends. It is the same thing but talking to a psychologist instead.
What is a mental health care plan (MHCP)?
A mental health care plan is a plan that is made by your GP, psychiatrist or a paediatrician for treating a mental health issue. It will identify what type of care you need and will spell out what you and your doctor are aiming for you to achieve. At this stage, with a MHCP you are eligible for up to a total of 10 sessions per calendar year of a rebate from Medicare with an eligible plan.
How much will a session cost?
New Tracks Psychology is a private practice and fees will be charged as of 1 July 2022. Fees are payable on the day of your appointment through our online STRIPE payment system. Fees are as follows and if you have a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) you will get a Medicare rebate:
Psychologists:
Living in the Kimberley$170 per session (rebate from Medicare: $98.95) ($71.05 out of pocket)
Living outside of the Kimberley$210 per session (rebate from Medicare $98.95) ($111.05 out of pocket)
Clinical Psychologists:
Living in the Kimberley $215 per session (rebate from Medicare: $144.25) ($70.75 out of pocket)
Living outside of the Kimberley $255 per session (rebate from Medicare: $145.25)($113.15 out of pocket)
Other Third Parties:
NDIS, Work Cover, Insurance Companies $265 per session.
The current recommended fee for psychologists is $315 (AAPi) for a standard psychology session 45-60 minutes. We aim to keep costs as low as possible for all clients at New Tracks Psychology.
Currently, Medicare will not allow you to pay 'just the gap' fee, so you will have to pay the full fee and if you have Medicare Easyclaim set up, we can claim it for you and you will get the rebate directly into your account. If not, you can take you invoice to a Medicare office and lodge them over the counter.
If you have private health insurance, you may be able to claim a rebate through your fund after paying for the session. Please check with your private health fund to confirm any rebates that may be available to you.
Please note: you cannot claim both a Medicare rebate and a private health fund rebate for the same session.
You will also be responsible for the cost of using your personal technology (e.g. smart phone, laptop or iPad) and for the internet data and/or phone charges.
Is what I tell the psychologist confidential?
Yes, to a certain extent. All psychologists are bound by ethical requirements and will keep their notes in a file, locked in a filing cabinet in their office or within a secure storage system on-line. There are times when information will have to be disclosed and these include: if it is subpoenaed by a court; if the clinician believed you or another person is at serious risk to life, health or safety; or if your prior permission has been given to provide a written report or discuss with another professional or agency, e.g. your GP.
How long is an appointment?
All appointments with our psychologists generally last approximately 50 minutes. The first appointment may go for longer but you will be informed when booking.
How many appointments will I need?
This is entirely dependent on your needs, the presenting issue and you. This can be best discussed with your clinician during the initial appointment.
Can I bring someone into the session with me?
This is entirely up to you. You can request for a partner, relative or other person to be present during the session if you want to.
How often will I have to have sessions for?
This is entirely up to you, your clinician and your individual circumstances. Most people have recurring appointments every fortnight or each month. You can talk about the time period between sessions during your first appointment. Sometimes the time between sessions can change depending on your individual circumstances at the time.
What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?
There are a number of differences between the two types of mental health professionals. Generally, there are two main differences. Psychologists are trained at university in understanding human behaviour and psychological issues while psychiatrists first complete a Medical degree and then specialise in mental health issues. Only psychiatrists are able to prescribe medications to treat your mental health. Some people see both a psychologist and a psychiatrist, it just depends on each individuals' needs.
Do you charge cancellation fees?
If, for some reason you need to cancel or postpone your appointment, please give the psychologist at least 48 hours notice, otherwise you may be charged the cost of the session. Our clinicians reserve the right to charge cancellation fees depending on individual circumstances and fees vary according to the clinician.
How long is the waiting list?
Waiting periods for an appointment vary dramatically due to a number of factors. Once we receive a referral, we will contact you within 2 business days and discuss any waiting periods. We try to accommodate Emergency appointments if it is practical and possible. It is common for some ongoing clients to reserve 2-3 appointments in advance following their first appointment.
What if I don’t know what to say?
First don’t worry, especially during the first session. The psychologist will go through some things such as consent with you during the first session and you will get a ‘feel’ for the psychologist. They will also explain to you that if you feel that they are not the ‘right fit’ for you, they will help to find another person for you to talk to. It is the most important thing that you feel comfortable with the psychologist, as if you don’t you will probably not open up to them about things, which is a very important part of therapy.
Can I record my session?
It is best to discuss this with your psychologist. Usually, if there are things you need to do or remember the psychologist will ask you to write it down or they could text it to you after the session.
Are there certain questions I should ask the psychologist?
Ask anything you like, whether they answer them or not will be up to the psychologist. There are no ‘silly’ questions in therapy. They are just questions looking for answers that your psychologist will try and help you with.
If I have had a couple of sessions and I don’t feel the psychologist is the ‘right fit’, what can I do?
If you feel comfortable, talk to the psychologist. We all know that we don’t ‘fit’ with every person in the whole world and this is just a fact. It is totally fine and nothing at all personal if you do not feel comfortable with your psychologist. If you do not feel like you can talk to the psychologist, please text or email New Tracks Psychology (information on the Contact Us page).
New Tracks Psychology acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend our respect to all Elders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.
We Would Love to Help You Soon!
HoursM-F: 8am - 8pm
(AWST) |
Telephone / FaxM: 089374 2262
F: 03 8679 0505 |
PO Box 189, Chelsea , Victoria, 3196
|
|
Australian Business Number: 642 512 60168
|