Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM MY INITIAL APPOINTMENT?

It is very normal to feel a bit nervous and unsure about how the session will go. Your psychologist is trained to make you feel comfortable and you will generally warm up after introductions, and discussion about consent, confidentiality and privacy agreements. 

The first session is known as the ‘initial assessment’ appointment whereby the psychologist will ask you about your reason for seeking therapy, presenting complaints, background history, and the goal of therapy to understand your therapeutic needs. Towards the end of the session, the psychologist will present to you their formulation of the treatment plan and discuss options that will be suitable for you. It is also very common for some people to feel that they have not been able to talk about all the problems in detail, but you will have the opportunity to cover them in subsequent consultations. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR A SESSION?

A one-time additional fee of $20 applies for initial consultations.

Standard 50-minutes consultations are $240.

10-minutes of the allocated hour is dedicated to any administration, record keeping and treatment planning related to your file

After-hours consultations from 5PM onwards incur a surcharge of $20 (total $260). If you are a full-time student, concession cardholder, or pensioner, please request for our reduced fee rates *subjected to the clinician’s availability.

Extended consultation of 75-90 minutes will incur additional costs pro-rated to the time allocated as discussed with your psychologist.

Fees schedule from 1 June 2024:

The current APS Board recommended schedule fee for 1 July 2023 until 30 June 2024 is $300 for a 46–60-minute consultation.

Please note that the full consultation fee is payable upfront, after which the Medicare rebate ($141.85) is processed for you into your nominated bank account if you have a valid GP referral and Mental Health Care Plan. You can request for a receipt at any time if you wish to claim using your private health fund.

HOW MANY SESSIONS DO I NEED?

You can access up to 10 sessions per calendar year under Medicare. The first referral covers 6 sessions and you will do a review with your GP should you choose to continue with further 4 sessions. Each clients’ needs are different and your psychologist will be able to discuss session planning with you according to your therapy goals.

WHY DO I NEED TO GIVE MY CREDIT/DEBIT CARD DETAILS?

Your credit/debit card details are taken at the time of booking to ensure that clients are accountable for their sessions and will not be used for any other reasons other than:

  1. For any late cancellation charges with less than 24 hours’ notice prior to the appointment time, the full amount for the appointment will be charged which is not claimable with Medicare.
  2. For telehealth appointments charges which will be processed after attendance of the consultation.

If you do not have a credit card, you can choose to pay via direct deposit before your consultations to confirm your appointment.

WHY DO I NEED A GP REFERRAL?

No, you do not need a referral to have an appointment with your psychologist. However, you will need to consult your GP to get a valid referral to a psychologist if you wish to receive the Medicare rebate as part of the Medicare requirement. You do not need to consult your GP if you are a Private Paying Client or if you choose to use your Private Health Fund cover.

Please note that you cannot claim BOTH Medicare and Private Health Fund for the same session. Most clients may choose to use all 10 Medicare sessions and then claim subsequent appointments via private health funds.

HOW DO I CANCEL MY APPOINTMENT?

You may reschedule or cancel your appointment for any reason with 24 hours’ (business days) notice (ie. If you have a Monday appointment, notice is required to be given before 4pm on Friday to avoid cancellation fees) at no cost to you by emailing booking@safehavenpsychology.com.au or using the Cancel Link sent to your appointment confirmation email.

Late cancellations or no show will incur a charge of the full session fee to your credit/debit card details taken at the time of booking. Please note that cancellation charges are not Medicare claimable.

Kindly understand that a late cancelled appointment is a loss to three people:- 

  1. The client who is delaying their therapy progress
  2. Another client who is seeking for help and is on waiting list to see the psychologist urgently
  3. The psychologist who spent hours preparing for the session
WHAT IS TELEHEALTH?

Telehealth is a method of distance therapy delivered using the Internet. Your psychologist will conduct the telehealth session in the same confidential way as a face-to-face session by using a private location and using headphones. No voice or video recording of the session is allowed to protect confidentiality.

Coviu, a video communications platform will be used for the purpose of videoconferencing. A private link will be sent to your email within 24 hours of the appointment – you will not need to sign up for any account. It should
load automatically with any digital device when you click on the link and it is recommended that your device has a front-facing camera for video viewing (eg. smartphone, iPad/tablet, computer with a camera, microphone and
speakers/earphones).

Alternatively, you can opt for a phone session and your psychologist will ring you at the appointed time from a private number. In case of a technology or internet failure, the session will automatically be continued via phone session.

To read more about Coviu’s privacy and security policies, please see here.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT USING TELEHEALTH?

Pros of using telehealth include:

  • Access to your therapist from the comfort of your own home or office
  • Convenient as you save travel time if you have a busy schedule
  • More comfortable for those who find it confronting to meet a therapist face-to-face
  • Safe and adhering to social distancing during COVID-19 to avoid the risk of exposure

Cons of using telehealth include:

  • May find that it takes some time to connect with your psychologist compared to face-to-face
  • Technical issues may occur such as internet or computer problems which can disrupt the flow of the session
  • Clients need to discuss concerns more openly to avoid any misunderstandings as your psychologist may miss verbal or non-verbal cues as they are not in the same room
  • There is an inherent risk of using video conferencing software and Internet service, whereby someone could hack or tap into the video connection even if the program has end-to-end encryption and high-security standard as with any other Internet-related threat
  • Certain therapy techniques which require contact and real-time interactions cannot be used
HOW CAN I GET STARTED?

If you are new or visiting our website, we welcome you to Safe Haven Psychology.

There are 5 simple steps for you to understand how we can arrange a session in our Getting Started page.