Registered Psychologist Psychology Service Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE depression bullimia anxiety psychosis pain management substance abuse mental illness Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE

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Frequently Asked Questions


Registered Psychologist Psychology Service Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE depression bullimia anxiety psychosis pain management substance abuse mental illness Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE    DO I NEED A REFERRAL?

Private patients do not need a referral from their GP to attend Psychology 4 Change. However, if you are planning to have your account paid by a third party or wishing to obtain rebates for our services (eg. Medicare, TAC, WorkCare, Victims of Crime, DVA, etc) you will need to bring along a copy of your referral letter or care plan.


Registered Psychologist Psychology Service Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE depression bullimia anxiety psychosis pain management substance abuse mental illness Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE    WHAT DO I NEED TO DO BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT?

Please read over all the material provided. Complete as much of the 'Patient Registration Form' as possible before your appointment. Bring this and any referrals along to the consultation. Please also read the 'Consent to Treatment Form’ as it is normally discussed during your first session.


Registered Psychologist Psychology Service Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE depression bullimia anxiety psychosis pain management substance abuse mental illness Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE    WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AT THE APPOINTMENT?

Many therapies last between 6-16 sessions, depending on the severity or complexity of your situation. During your first appointment, we will discuss your current situation, thoughts and feelings and how you ended up where you are today. You may be asked to complete one or more questionnaires to assess your situation more specifically and to provide us with information on which we can gauge your progress over the course of therapy. At the end of the first session, we will discuss your treatment options and discuss your treatment goals.


Registered Psychologist Psychology Service Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE depression bullimia anxiety psychosis pain management substance abuse mental illness Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE    WILL THE MATERIAL WE DISCUSS REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL?

Psychologists will not divulge information about you unless:

1. you specifically authorize (normally in writing) the release of that information;
2. the release of that information is to protect you or others from harm; or
3. the release of that information is required by law.


Registered Psychologist Psychology Service Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE depression bullimia anxiety psychosis pain management substance abuse mental illness Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE    WHAT HAPPENS TO THE INFORMATION THAT IS DISCUSSED / COLLECTED?

Information about you is collected as part of the treatment process. This may include your personal details, assessment results, and progress notes. This information is stored in a locked filing cabinet and is only accessible by the qualified psychologists at Psychology 4 Change. It is unusual for another psychologist, other than your treating psychologist, to access your file. We all respect that the information contained in your file is private and confidential. Permission will be obtained from you if your treating psychologist is to discuss your information with any other person (this includes a partner also in therapy or any other health professionals).


Registered Psychologist Psychology Service Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE depression bullimia anxiety psychosis pain management substance abuse mental illness Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE    CAN I GET ACCESS THE CONTENTS OF MY FILE?

In accordance with the current privacy legislation, you can obtain access to the information contained in your file in certain circumstances. A fee applies for this service and you may be required to make an appointment to discuss the contents (e.g. results of a psychological test). Gaining access to the information can take up to 30 days. Please ask if you would like to know more about this process.


Registered Psychologist Psychology Service Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE depression bullimia anxiety psychosis pain management substance abuse mental illness Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE    HOW MUCH WILL EACH APPOINTMENT COST?

Pensioners / Concession / Students / Low-Income (< $30,000 p.a.): $ 75.00
Full Rate: $110.00


Registered Psychologist Psychology Service Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE depression bullimia anxiety psychosis pain management substance abuse mental illness Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE    MEDICARE AUSTRALIA

To be eligible for Medicare rebates you must have a current Mental Health Care Plan (MBS Item # 2710) developed by your GP. Please talk to your doctor about this before your first visit with us. Once this care plan is in place, Medicare Australia will cover all or most of the cost of your consultation. If you receive Centrelink payments, have a student card, or if you can show that your income is below $30,000, the cost of your sessions will be bulk billed and you will not incur any out-of-pocket expenses. However, if your own personal income (not your spouses’) is above $30,000 per year and you are working, you may have to pay the full rate on the day and obtain your rebate of either $75 or $110 from Medicare directly. Feel free to discuss these options and any concerns you have with your treating psychologist.


Registered Psychologist Psychology Service Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE depression bullimia anxiety psychosis pain management substance abuse mental illness Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE    PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE

If you wish to attend Psychology 4 Change as a private patient, you are responsible for payment of your (or your child’s) account. You many be eligible for a rebate from your private health fund if you have extras or ancillary cover for psychological services. Please check with your health fund to see if you are eligible for a rebate. You may also need to check that your treating psychologist is a provider for your health fund. Private health insurance rebates can be claimed at our office, so that you only need to pay the gap amount. If you have a mental health care plan and also private health insurance cover, you are required to choose which system you are going to use as you cannot receive both a medicare rebate and a private health insurance rebate for the same consultation. If you require further treatment after your Medicare rebates have run out, it may be useful to use your private health insurance after this time. This is just a suggestion and you will need to take into account your level of cover to make this decision.


Registered Psychologist Psychology Service Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE depression bullimia anxiety psychosis pain management substance abuse mental illness Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE    THIRD PARTY BILLING

Some people are eligible for third party billing (e.g. TAC, WorkCover, Victims of Crime, DVA, their employers, or other agencies). This means that someone, other than yourself, will be responsible for paying for your consultations. All third-party billing agencies only cover the cost of your consultations if you have a current claim and a written referral from your GP. It is your responsibility to ensure that a current referral, your claim number and billing details are brought to the appointment, otherwise you will be required to pay the bill on the day.


Registered Psychologist Psychology Service Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE depression bullimia anxiety psychosis pain management substance abuse mental illness Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE    PAYMENTS

Payments can be paid by cash, cheque, EFTPOS or credit card. If you are paying by cash, please ensure that you bring the exact money as there is no facility for giving change. HICAPS is also available to claim your private health insurance rebates at our office. Payments and invoicing are typically done at the end of your appointment.


Registered Psychologist Psychology Service Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE depression bullimia anxiety psychosis pain management substance abuse mental illness Dandenong Berwick CRANBOURNE    CANCELLATION POLICY

As a courtesy to other clients needing appointments who are on our waiting list, it is appreciated if you could let us know as soon as possible if you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment. A cancellation fee of $50 will apply when less than 24hrs notice is given. This includes if you cancel on the day or fail to show up to your appointment. As Medicare, WorkCover and TAC do not cover cancellation costs, you will be responsible for these payments. An invoice will be sent to your home address and is due within 7 days.

 

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