- Geelong Psychologist. Telehealth Available. Medicare Rebates. Book Appointment:
- 03 5292 8833
- [email protected]
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This is different for everyone. Psychology and Counselling in Geelong is the first step in making change.
Recovery can depend on the issue and how ready for treatment you are. As well as how much hard work you put in! You can get some good progress within 6 sessions if you complete out of session work and come to the sessions prepared.
At the beginning of your first session your Geelong psychologist will briefly run through important paperwork with you. Most importantly, as well as completing a form with basic personal information, you will be asked to sign a consent form. This covers issues such as confidentiality, fees and other information about sessions.
After your paperwork is completed
After completing your paperwork the remainder of the session is usually spent discussing the issues that have brought you into therapy. As well as developing a thorough understanding of your concerns, your psychologist will explore relevant background history. After that, we will also work with you to develop a collaborative and flexible plan for future therapy sessions.
Absolutely not.
Why shouldn’t I be scared?
Because the only thing you will do in the session is talk. However, working with a Psychologist can make you feel nervous and that’s understandable. Besides, it can be confronting to talk about things that cause you pain. What you say to a Psychologist is kept strictly confidential (unless you intend to harm yourself or others) and what you say will be treated with respect at all times. Therefore, therapy should be a warm and nurturing environment where you can explore difficult feelings with safely.
To become a fully registered psychologist you must undertake an undergraduate degree and at least two years of supervised training as well as further education in the field of psychology.
Psychologists use “talk therapies” to help you develop skills to cope with difficulties and to prevent on-going issues.
Psychiatrists have completed a medical degree and further training related to the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Therefore, psychiatrists specialise in the medical treatment of mental illness and can prescribe you medication.
Psychologist
The title of “Psychologist” is protected in Australia. Therefore, to be able to use this title you must be registered with the Australian Health Professionals Council.
Counsellor
Currently in Australia the term “counsellor” is not protected. You need to be aware that anyone can refer to themselves as a counsellor. However, many counsellors have undertaken training and education. An organisation called the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) has also been set up to protect the standards and ethical training of the counselling profession and you should check with them if your counsellor is registered.
Psychology & Counselling Geelong by Happy Minds Psychology
All counselling undertaken by our therapists at Happy Minds are by fully qualified & fully registered Psychologists.
Medicare
If you have a referral from a GP or a psychiatrist for a Mental Health Treatment Plan you will be eligible to receive a Medicare rebate of $86.15 per session for up to 10 sessions per calendar year.
Private Health Insurance
If you have private health insurance that includes psychological counselling as extras cover you may be eligible for a partial rebate. However, it is recommended that you contact your individual insurance provider for further information about your individual coverage.
You will need to make an appointment with your GP who will assess whether you are eligible for a Mental Health Treatment Plan. A Mental Health Treatment Plan will enable you to claim a Medicare rebate of $87.45 per session for a maximum of ten sessions per calendar year. Until 2022, an additional ten sessions are available due to Covid-19, bringing the total number of rebates to 20.
To be able to claim the Medicare rebate for your session you will need to bring a copy of your Mental Health Treatment Plan to your first appointment with your psychologist.
No, you do not need a referral. Therefore, you can make an appointment with a psychologist without a referral from your GP or a psychiatrist. If you decide to do this you will need to pay the full amount for your sessions out of your own pocket.
Your sessions with a Psychologist will be approximately 50 minutes long.
Importantly, all information that you disclose in your session with a psychologist is confidential.
Are there any exceptions to this?
However, there are two exceptions to this rule. The first exception is if you are at risk of harm to yourself or someone else. The second exception is in relation to any court orders that apply to you. If either of these situations become relevant your psychologist will discuss this with you.
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