No, you don't need a referral to book an appointment.  However, to access the Medicare rebate, you will need to obtain a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP). Please provide your valid GP referral prior to your first psychology appointment. An initial MHCP will entitle you to rebates for six sessions. To obtain further sessions, you will need to return to your GP to have the plan reviewed. You may be eligible for up to 10 sessions per calendar year. 

• $250 for a standard 50 minute session with an out of pocket cost of $108.15 using a valid Mental Health Care Plan.

• $265 for an after hours 50 minute session (4pm onwards) with an out of pocket cost of $123.15 using a valid Mental Health Care Plan. 

Fees for assessment reports and formal letters are to be agreed with the Psychologist. 

Silver Gum Psychology does not provide medico-legal reports or offer court attendances at this time.

Please send an email to admin@silvergumpsychology.com.au outlining the main reason for your booking and any questions you may have. If you have a Mental Health Care Plan or are an NDIS client, please mention that as well. I will aim to respond within 48 business hours to confirm my availability.

Once availability is confirmed, I will email you a link to an online intake and consent form to complete. After that, you will be able to book your appointments online via Halaxy.

If applicable, please provide a copy of your referral prior to your first appointment.

Each session is 50 minutes long to allow 10 minutes of session notes after the appointment. 

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please provide at least 48 hours notice (2 business days). Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice or non-attendance on the day will result in the full appointment fee being charged. This cancellation fee is to be paid in full prior to your next appointment and cannot be claimed through Medicare. For example, if your appointment is at 9.00am on a Monday, you must cancel prior to 9.00am on the Thursday prior, otherwise you will incur the cancellation fee. 

This policy is in place to discourage last minute cancellations and non-attendance. There is a high demand for psychological services and sufficient notice allows us to offer the appointment to others who may be in need of an urgent appointment. 

Please note your appointments may be rescheduled at any time if it is deemed necessary due to staff illness or other unforeseen circumstances.

I am not currently offering formal assessments, although this may be a service I provide in the future. I do have extensive experience assessing cognitive abilities and neurodiversity in children and adolescents. If you choose to start therapy, we can discuss any concerns you have, and together, we can develop a plan moving forward.

You know your child best, so it's entirely up to you what you share with them. However, I generally recommend that parents have a conversation with their child before the session, so they know what to expect and aren't caught off guard. For example, you might say, "We're going to see someone named Jess. She's like a talking doctor. She wants to get to know you and our family, and she might be able to help us with [X]. There will be toys, and we’ll be able to play and talk about things we might need help with as a family."

Some children might worry that it's a medical appointment with tests or needles. You can reassure them that it's not that kind of appointment—it's all about talking and playing.

If your child finds comfort in having something familiar, feel free to bring along a favourite toy or comfort item to the session. This can help them feel more at ease. 

Children and young people: 

For the first session, I typically see both the parent/guardian and child together so I can understand everyone’s concerns and ensure we're all on the same page. However, if there are sensitive topics you'd prefer not to discuss in front of your child, or if there's important background information you'd like to address privately, we can also start with a parent-only session.

Adults:

You are welcome to attend the session by yourself, or you may choose to bring a partner or support person if that would help you feel more comfortable. We can discuss your preferences and ensure that the session structure supports your needs.