FAQ

You can click here​ to can book online, or by calling our admin angels to arrange an appointment with a psychologist best fitted to your clinical needs. We understand that your relationship with your psychologist is an important one, so we make every effort to book an appointment with a psychologist who is the best fit for you.

Standard consultation times for individual sessions are up to 50 minutes. Relationship or family therapy sessions are longer (usually 75-100 minutes, depending on how many attendees), with appropriate length of time discussed between you and your therapist.

Session fees vary depending on the length of your session and the qualifications of your therapist. We encourage you to contact our lovely admin team to discuss fees and rebates, or any other questions you may have about booking an appointment or obtaining a referral. You will be asked to pay on the day of consultation. Depending on how you were referred, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate, or you may be covered by your private health insurance. Please note, we are not a bulk billing practice, however we are able to offer a discount for bookings between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Appointments from 4:00 pm onwards, or those booked on Saturdays attract a higher fee. Our admin team can assist with current fees, and discuss whether you are eligible for a Medicare rebate or other types of funded services. You do not always need a referral to access a therapist, so please contact us to discuss your options and make an appointment. You may also make an appointment by clicking here​.

Actually, we welcome everyone to call and make an appointment or book online, so you don’t need a referral at all. If you decide to access therapy without a referral you will need to pay the full amount for your sessions as an out of pocket expense, which is a preferred method by many clients.

Every person has a different journey through therapy. The number of sessions relies mainly on the client’s needs and goals to achieve.

Some people come to see a psychologist to develop coping strategies to reduce or manage symptoms of mental illness. This type of therapy can be short to medium term. Some clients may wish to continue therapy with less frequent visits to deal with setbacks or prevent relapse.

Other people come to see a psychologist to understand long-standing patterns that stem from experiences during their childhood, or to receive ongoing support. This type of therapy tends to happen over an extended period of time, although this is dependent on client preferences and goals.

Sometimes people come to therapy for a one-off session to speak about a specific issue in their life or to talk through a particular concern.

Long and short term therapy can also be utilised as a space for self-development and growth.

At the beginning of your first session at Haven Psychology Centre, your psychologist will briefly run through important paperwork with you. This will include completing a form with basic personal information and a consent form that covers issues such as confidentiality, fees and other important information about sessions. If you have been referred by a GP or psychiatrist, we will discuss the details of your Mental Health Care Plan at this point.

​The remainder of the session is usually spent discussing the issues that have brought you to therapy. As well as developing a thorough understanding of your concerns, your psychologist will explore relevant background history, for example, information about your family, social relationships, work history and any past counselling that you have done. Based on this information we will begin to help you to understand more about what might be triggering and maintaining your current issues. If time allows, we will also work with you to develop a collaborative and flexible plan for future therapy sessions.

Prior to your first appointment, we recommend arriving 15 minutes early to ensure enough time to complete any forms, and to take a moment to relax before seeing your therapist.

You will need to make an appointment with your GP who will assess whether you are eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan. A Mental Health Care Plan will enable you to claim a Medicare rebate.

To be able to claim the Medicare rebate for your session you will need to bring a copy of your Mental Health Care Plan to your first appointment with your psychologist.
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A Mental Health Care Plan is a plan your doctor writes with you about treating a mental health condition. It helps you to access eligible allied health professionals like psychologists, to assist you with improving your mental health and quality of life.

A Mental Health Care Plan can be useful for people with minor mental health conditions or very serious conditions, short-term concerns or long-term illnesses. You don’t already have to be diagnosed with a mental health condition to talk to your doctor about making a Mental Health Care Plan.

Having a Mental Health Care Plan allows you to have up to 10 individual, and 10 group therapy sessions per calendar year, with a rebate provided by Medicare.

A Mental Health Care Plan needs to be created by your doctor. You can visit your regular GP, or if you don’t have a doctor you normally see, any GP can create a Mental Health Care Plan for you. Creating a plan can take a little longer than a normal appointment, so it can help to ask for a longer or double appointment when you make your booking.

Tell your doctor what your concerns about your mental health are and that you are interested in creating a Mental Health Care Plan.

Your doctor will need to diagnose you with a mental health condition to create the plan, so they will ask you questions about what’s been happening and how you’ve been feeling. They will ask you to fill out a form called a K10 questionnaire, which is a simple checklist that measures if and how you’ve been affected by anxiety or depression recently.

They will then talk with you about your goals for how you’d like to feel, and write a referral outlining how your mental health issues have been impacting your well-being. You will need to bring your Mental Health Care Plan and                your referral with you to your first appointment.

That’s ok. It’s up to you how you choose to access psychology services and from whom. If you have a current referral for a Mental Health Care Plan, that means you’re eligible for a rebate from Medicare under the Better Access Scheme. Who you select to work with is your choice. The referral may be transferred to different psychologists or psychology clinics.

Psychologists are health professionals who work in a range of areas and community settings. To become a fully registered psychologist you must undertake an undergraduate degree, an Honours degree and at least two years of supervised training and further education in the field of psychology.

Psychologists assist people with everyday concerns such as stress and relationship difficulties, as well as mental health issues. Psychologists use different evidence-based approaches to help people develop skills to cope with difficulties and to prevent on-going issues. There are a large number of research studies supporting the effectiveness of psychological therapy.
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Psychiatrists have completed a medical degree and further training and study related to the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Psychiatrists specialise in the medical treatment of mental illness and can prescribe medication. Some psychiatrists combine medication with therapy.