Fees and Rebates
A standard one-to-one therapy session is 50 minutes and costs $180.00.
You may be able to present your receipt and get this cost partially or fully rebated through your private health insurer, depending on your plan.
With regards to Medicare rebates, you will need to have been issued a Mental Health Care Plan by your Doctor to be eligible for a rebate. If eligible, you are entitled to a $87.45 rebate per session, leaving you $92.55 out of pocket. Please bring your referral to your session so Helen can process your rebate on the day. See below for more details on how to obtain a MHCP.
You may be able to present your receipt and get this cost partially or fully rebated through your private health insurer, depending on your plan.
With regards to Medicare rebates, you will need to have been issued a Mental Health Care Plan by your Doctor to be eligible for a rebate. If eligible, you are entitled to a $87.45 rebate per session, leaving you $92.55 out of pocket. Please bring your referral to your session so Helen can process your rebate on the day. See below for more details on how to obtain a MHCP.
Remote, Group and Couples Therapy
Helen does offer remote sessions (via telephone or skype), couples counselling and group therapy where appropriate. Get in touch with her via the contact page to discuss this further. Rates vary from above.
Recommended Number of Sessions
Everyone is different and therapy is a partnership between you and the therapist. Research shows that one of the most important variables contributing to change and growth in psychotherapy is the therapy relationship. Some people will feel the benefits of seeing a therapist in just a few sessions, others will stay in therapy for years. It is perfectly normal to feel apprehensive about your first session of therapy.
Mental Health Care Plans
If you wish to be assessed for a MHCP you will need to make an appointment with your GP. Your Doctor will ask you a series of questions about your mood and state of mind to deem whether you are eligible. If you meet the criteria your GP will issue you a MHCP and refer you to a psychologist. You can ask your GP to make out the referral to a psychologist of your choosing. You will be entitled to six rebated sessions in the first instance. After six sessions you may be asked to return to your Doctor for a review. At the GP's discretion, you may be given a further four, making it 10 in total. A MHCP is valid for two years. If you are on a MHCP Helen is obligated to keep your GP notified of your progress.
Insurance Claims
Individuals under Workers Compensation or Motor Vehicle Accident insurance claims may be eligible for psychological assistance if it is determined that there has been a psychological reaction to an injury. Please contact Helen directly to discuss insurance based referrals and the associated costs of providing legal reports.
Consent and Confidentiality
At your first session, you will be asked to sign a Client Information and Consent Form which includes your understanding that you may be charged a $50 cancellation fee if you cancel within 24 hours of your appointment. Helen will talk you through your own rights in terms of access to information and the confidentiality agreement you are entering into. Sessions between client and psychologist are confidential, except under these exceptional circumstances:
1 - It is subpoenaed by a court, or
2 - failure to disclose the information would place you or another person at serious or imminent risk, or
3 - your prior approval has been obtained to a) provide a written report to another professional or agency e.g. GP, lawyer or b) discuss the material with another person e.g. parent or employer.
1 - It is subpoenaed by a court, or
2 - failure to disclose the information would place you or another person at serious or imminent risk, or
3 - your prior approval has been obtained to a) provide a written report to another professional or agency e.g. GP, lawyer or b) discuss the material with another person e.g. parent or employer.
