Frequently Asked Questions

The first session is really an opportunity for us to meet and begin understanding what's been happening for you.

You don't need to prepare anything, and you don't need to know exactly what you want to work on before you arrive.

I'll ask some questions about what has brought you to therapy, what's happening in your life at the moment, and some of your background. We'll also talk about what you'd like to get from therapy.

You are welcome to ask me questions as well.

By the end of the session, we should have a better idea of what you would like help with and whether working together feels like a good fit.

No. You can make an appointment directly without seeing your GP first.

You only need a GP referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan if you would like to claim a Medicare rebate.

Yes. Sessions are available both face-to-face and via telehealth.

Sessions are one hour.

This depends on what you're working on and what is practical for you.

I generally find that regular sessions are helpful, particularly at the beginning of therapy, but we'll discuss this together and decide what makes sense for your circumstances and treatment plan.

That's completely fine.

People don't always arrive at therapy with a neat description of the problem. You may simply know that you're struggling with something, feeling stuck, or that something in your life isn't working as well as you'd like.

Part of my job is to help you work out what's happening and where it might be useful to start.

My work draws primarily on behavioural therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT).

I also use elements of schema therapy, motivational interviewing and transactional analysis where these are useful.

I don't expect you to know which type of therapy you need before coming in. That's something we can work out together.

Yes. If you have a valid GP Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral, you can claim the applicable Medicare rebate for eligible sessions.

Yes, where the funding arrangement is appropriate. Sessions can be billed directly to your NDIS plan manager, or to you if you self-manage your funding.

Yes, for approved NSW Workers Compensation claims. Approved sessions are billed directly to the insurer, so there is no upfront session fee for you to pay.

Depending on your policy, you may be able to claim psychology sessions through your private health insurance.

Coverage varies, so I recommend checking directly with your insurer.

For face-to-face appointments, payment can be made by EFTPOS at the end of the session. Payment can also be processed using a stored card on the day of your appointment.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, please provide at least 24 hours' notice where possible.

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice are charged at the full session fee.

Yes. Confidentiality is an important part of psychological therapy.

There are, however, circumstances in which psychologists may be legally or professionally required to disclose information. I will explain confidentiality and its limits to you at the beginning of therapy, and you're always welcome to ask me questions about it.