Starting therapy is straightforward. Here’s the path from first thought to first session:

See your GP and ask about a Mental Health Treatment Plan. If it’s right for you, your doctor will prepare the plan and a referral.

Contact us with your referral — call the practice you’d like to attend, or send us a message.

We’ll match you with a psychologist suited to your needs and book your first appointment (a short wait sometimes applies, because we guarantee ongoing care).

Attend your sessions — usually weekly or fortnightly, with the same psychologist.

Medicare covers up to 10 sessions of psychotherapy on referral from a general practitioner. The referral is initially for six sessions with a further four available on review. When you pay our fee -which is set at approximately $60 above the Medicare rebate the difference is immediately paid into your account by Medicare.

The services are available to patients who are assessed by doctors to be eligible. The patient must be managed under a GP Mental Health Care Plan (Item 2700(2701) or 2715(2717), or have a psychiatric assessment and management plan (Item 291 or 293) and a Mental Health Care Plan must be in place.

Referrals can also be made by a Paediatrician. or Psychiatrist

It is however, imperative that the Mental Health plan or Psychiatric Management Plan is in place at the time of the referral or you will not be eligible for a rebate.

There is current confusion as Dr’s confuse the terms Mental Health Care Plan and Referral are BOTH needed, a new referral (not MHCP or review) is required every time a course of treatment starts or at session 6. The Dr must specify how many sessions are wanted.