Making An Appointment
Anne is currently accepting new clients and has appointments available. To make an enquiry or book an appointment, please reach out to Anne by phone or email, or using the contact form on this website. Referrers can also send referrals and mental health care plans by fax.
You do not need a referral to see Anne, however, a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) can help with the cost of sessions. A MHCP plan allows eligible people to access a rebate through Medicare for up to 10 sessions per year. If you do not have an existing MHCP and want to claim the medicare rebate for sessions, you will need to book a long consult with your GP who will discuss your concerns and provide you with a new plan or a review.
Anne is in sessions for much of the day and is not able to answer the phone at these times. Please leave a voicemail, or send an email and Anne will call you back as soon as possible.
What to Expect
First Appointment
It’s normal to feel nervous about starting therapy, and even to wonder if it’s really necessary. We all experience difficulties in our lives, things that we would like to change, or problems that could benefit from talking to someone. And everyone deserves to receive help to get through these challenges, including you.
People often feel anxious or emotional about discussing personal topics in therapy and understanding more about the process can help with this.
Your first appointment is an opportunity for Anne to understand what has brought you to therapy at this time. Anne will ask questions about your current concerns, your history, previous therapies that you have tried, other things that may be impacting your mental health and wellbeing, and what you are hoping to gain from therapy.
Anne will take notes during the session, which will be stored safely and securely in your client file. Psychologists are bound by strict confidentiality. This means that what you talk about in sessions is not shared unless you give your consent. There are some exceptions to this such as when there is risk of harm to you or someone else. Information about your confidentiality is provided in your consent form prior to starting therapy, and Anne will discuss this with you in more detail in your first session.
Following this session, Anne will talk to you about an evidence-based treatment approach that fits with your concerns and personal preferences.
Treatment Sessions
The number of sessions that you will need will depend on the type of concerns that you’re experiencing. Similarly, the frequency of your sessions will vary and will also be guided by your concerns and preferences. Generally sessions will be more frequent at the start of therapy and may become more spaced out over time. This will form part of your treatment planning and will be a conversation between you and Anne. Although Anne will provide guidance based on evidence-based practice, therapy is your choice and needs to be manageable for you.
Sessions are approximately 50 minutes long, followed by a few more minutes to finalise payment and book future appointments. It’s good to allow an hour for each session.
Fees and rebates
A standard session runs for 50 minutes and fees are payable at the time of the consultation by EFTPOS or credit card.
A Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) can help with the cost of sessions. The current Medicare rebate is $136.35 per session for up to 10 sessions in a calendar year. You will need to book an appointment with your GP to discuss this. Let the clinic know the reason for your visit when you book as this requires a longer appointment. If you have an eating disorder, you can also discuss an Eating Disorder Plan with your GP which may allow you to access the rebate for a greater number of sessions
You may be eligible for a rebate through your private health insurer dependent on your level of cover. Please check with your private health insurance provider if you intend to make a claim. It’s not possible to claim a private health rebate for a session that has been rebated through Medicare.