A little clarity before we begin.

$270 per standard therapy session

If you have a valid referral under a Mental Health Treatment Plan and meet Medicare eligibility requirements, a Medicare rebate may apply. For an individual video consultation of at least 50 minutes with an eligible clinical psychologist, the Medicare benefit is currently $149.05, leaving an estimated gap of $120.95.

Medicare fees and eligibility can change, so please confirm your circumstances before your appointment.

A Mental Health Treatment Plan is prepared by an eligible referring practitioner, commonly your usual GP. Eligible people may claim Medicare benefits for up to 10 individual and 10 group mental health treatment services per calendar year.

The first referral is generally for a course of up to six individual sessions. Your referring practitioner can review the plan and decide whether to refer you for further sessions, up to the annual limit. The referral must be valid and received before the relevant Medicare-rebatable service.

No referral is required to book privately. A valid referral is required if you wish to claim an eligible Medicare rebate. A psychiatrist or paediatrician may also provide an eligible referral in some circumstances.

Yes. Safe Space Psychology provides online appointments, allowing clients to attend from a private and suitable location. Video appointments require a stable internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone.

Therapy is a collaborative process that provides space to understand experiences, emotions and patterns of behaviour. Together, you and your psychologist identify goals and explore evidence-based approaches that may support meaningful change. Therapy is tailored to the individual rather than following a single formula.

Therapy may be helpful for people experiencing anxiety, low mood, stress, trauma, relationship difficulties, adjustment to change, emotional regulation concerns or other challenges. It can also support self-understanding, personal development and practical coping skills. An initial conversation can help determine whether the service is a suitable fit.

Children often communicate through play, creativity and behaviour as well as words. Depending on the child’s age and needs, sessions may draw on play therapy, art-based activities and cognitive behavioural strategies. Parents or caregivers are usually involved in planning and may join parts of sessions or attend separate parent consultations.

The psychologist will explain the proposed approach, goals and caregiver involvement at the beginning and review these as therapy progresses.

Sessions provide a respectful space to discuss emotions, relationships, identity, school or study pressures and life changes. Goals are developed collaboratively. Where a parent or caregiver is involved, expectations about privacy and appropriate information sharing are discussed clearly at the outset.

The number of sessions varies according to your goals, needs, circumstances and response to therapy. Some people seek focused short-term support, while others benefit from longer-term work. Progress and the ongoing plan are reviewed collaboratively.

Yes. Information shared in therapy is treated as private and confidential. There are limits: information may need to be disclosed where required by law, where there is a serious concern about safety, or in other circumstances explained during informed consent. Information can also be shared when you provide consent, such as with a GP involved in your care.

If you use a Medicare referral, relevant reports may be provided to the referring practitioner as required.

Children and young people also need a level of privacy for therapy to feel safe and useful. The exact arrangement depends on age, maturity, capacity to consent, safety, legal requirements and the role of parents or guardians.

At the beginning, the psychologist will discuss what will remain private, what general updates may be shared with caregivers, and the circumstances in which information must be disclosed to protect the child or another person. Wherever possible, this is handled openly with the young person.

A psychological assessment brings together information from interviews, questionnaires, observations and standardised assessment tools. The exact process depends on the referral question. It may include gathering developmental, educational, medical or family information and, where appropriate, speaking with parents, teachers or other professionals with consent.

After the assessment, findings and recommendations are discussed and a written report may be provided.

Autism, also called autism spectrum disorder, is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference that affects how a person experiences and interacts with the world. It can involve differences in communication, social interaction, sensory processing, routines and focused interests. “Spectrum” reflects that autistic people have varied strengths, experiences and support needs.

An autism assessment considers information from multiple sources and looks at development and functioning across contexts. An assessment is not based on a single questionnaire.

An ADHD assessment considers attention, activity level, impulsivity, executive functioning and how these affect daily life. It typically includes a detailed clinical and developmental history, standardised questionnaires, information across relevant settings and consideration of other factors that may contribute to similar difficulties.

The process is tailored to the person’s age and referral question. The likely stages, fees and expected timeframes are discussed before proceeding.

Supervision is a structured professional relationship that supports reflective practice, ethical decision-making, development of competencies and safe psychological services. Sessions may include case formulation, intervention planning, assessment, professional boundaries, registration requirements and career development.

The focus, frequency, documentation and responsibilities are agreed at the beginning and tailored to the supervisee’s pathway and goals.

For formal training pathways, the principal supervisor has primary responsibility for overseeing the approved supervision program, monitoring progress and completing required reports. A secondary supervisor contributes additional supervision, perspectives or areas of expertise within the applicable Psychology Board requirements.

The required proportions and eligibility rules vary by pathway. For example, current registrar-program guidance requires the principal supervisor to provide at least half of total supervision. The proposed arrangement should always be checked against the latest Psychology Board requirements.

Yes. Board-approved supervision may be available for provisional psychologists completing an approved supervised-practice pathway. Before beginning, the supervisee and supervisor clarify the pathway, Board requirements, work context, supervision frequency, fees and documentation.

Yes. Supervision may be provided for psychologists completing a registrar program toward clinical psychology endorsement, subject to suitability and current Psychology Board requirements. Registrar programs include psychological practice, supervision with an appropriately endorsed Board-approved supervisor and active continuing professional development.

Yes. Ongoing peer supervision can support reflective practice, complex case discussion, ethical decision-making and professional development. The format and focus can be tailored to individual psychologists and their continuing professional development needs.