Most clients prefer to obtain a GP mental health treatment plan care plan from their general practitioner or a psychiatrist to see registered psychologist. Please refer below link for more detailed information.
Link to Services Australia
Eligible clients can claim Medicare subsidies for up to 10 individual and 10 group mental health services per calendar year. Please note your doctor or psychiatrist may initially refer you for up to 6 sessions. If more session as required (and this is very common), you will be referred further sessions.
Medicare rebates are available for psychological treatment by registered psychologists under the Australian Government's Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative. This scheme provides considerable assistance to people living with mental health problems, allowing them greater access to psychologists and providing more affordable mental healthcare.
The current Medicare rebate for seeing a registered psychologist in Australia is $96.65.
Please refer to the link below for information:
Link to Health.Gov
If you prefer not to obtain a referral from your GP you may contact us directly via telephone, email or complete our online contact form. This will mean you will pay the full fee for our services without any rebate from the Australian Government.
If you have private health insurance that includes psychological counselling as extras cover, you may be eligible for a partial rebate. Please contact your individual insurance provider for further information about your individual coverage.
The APS National Schedule of Recommended Fees 2023-2024 has the standard 45 to 60 minute consultation fee at $300. This is a recommendation only.
The full fee for a 55 minute consultation at Cerebral Psychology is $240.00. With a mental health plan (Medicare rebate) you are entitled to a rebate of $96.65 from Medicare, meaning you will need to pay the gap of $143.35.
We also offer a reduced rate for concession card holders, students, and pension card holders. Please speak with our staff for these rates.
Costs for specialised testing for each individual can vary depending on the array of tests that may be required and symptoms the client may be experiencing.
The process that we adhere to is after our initial assessments we will provide you are full costing of the tests that are most specific to the presentation of symptoms.
Our group sessions are conducted on various psychological disorders. The minimum amount of client required is 4, with a maximum of 8 clients per session, accompanied by 2 registered psychologists.
The full fee for 10 weeks of group sessions is $850, $85 per session, with a rebate of 32.30, meaning the out-of-pocket fee is 52.70 per session. Please note our sessions are longer than a standard 50 minute consultation.
Please note people diagnosed with an eating disorder may be eligible for more than 10 sessions per calendar year.
Sessions length may vary from clinic to clinic. At Cerebral Psychology sessions are 55 minutes. To ensure we get the best out of the initial session we prefer to collect information from you prior to have a better understanding of your concerns, challenges and what are the key symptoms. This will mean we will ask you prior to meeting with a psychologist about your general concerns are and may require you to fill in surveys to assist a timelier approach to managing your concerns.
In some cases, depending on symptom severity we may recommend a double session (e.g., 110 minutes) to assist with the commencement and formulation of a treatment strategy.
All information that you disclose in your session with a psychologist is confidential and private. There are three exceptions to this rule.
Exception One: Risk of harm to yourself or someone else.
Exception two: Information regarding harm to a child or an older person.
Exception Three: information required through court orders.
If any of these situations become relevant your psychologist will discuss this with you. Please refer to our privacy and consent form that will be sent to you before your first session which outlines and explains these guidelines. Please note for sessions to commence these forms must be signed and returned to the clinic prior to your first session.
Please note we will also discuss guidelines around consent and privacy in our first session to ensure a mutual understanding is established, and the client has the ability to seek further information and ask additional questions.
At Cerebral Psychology, we prioritize both client and practitioner care, ensuring tailored services without overbooking. To maintain this standard, we have implemented a strict cancellation policy. By booking an appointment with us, you agree to this policy in full.
Our practice is committed to client-focused care, ensuring our practitioners can dedicate the time and attention needed for each individual. Unlike other clinics, we do not overbook or fill last-minute cancellations. This enables us to provide quality care, but it also requires a clear cancellation policy to maintain sustainability.
For all appointments at Cerebral Psychology, we require at least 2 days' notice to avoid a cancellation fee:
Exceptions may apply in cases of illness or family emergencies, which will be handled by our practice manager.
Medicare/NDIS/Work Cover/TAC rebates will NOT be applicable if a cancellation fee is charged.
Illness or family emergencies that prevent attendance will waive the cancellation fee. In some cases, a medical certificate may be required. Examples of family emergencies include:
The following situations are NOT considered family emergencies:
We understand that these events may be beyond your control, but the cancellation fee will still apply.
Cancellation fees can be paid over the phone at the time of cancellation or charged to the stored encrypted credit card.
If a cancellation fee is charged under this policy and is not promptly paid, we may need to pause providing further services. We also reserve the right to take necessary action to recover unpaid fees, including billing for additional recovery costs.
To cancel or reschedule an appointment, please contact us by calling 03 8804 6882 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. If your call is unanswered, leave a detailed message about the appointment, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can email us at info@cerebralpsychology.com.au.
A "No-Show" occurs when a client fails to attend a scheduled appointment without prior notification. In such cases, the same fee as a late cancellation will apply unless mitigating or emergency circumstances are involved.
To help avoid cancellation fees, we send text reminders two days prior to your appointment. However, it remains your responsibility to remember your scheduled appointment.
Cerebral Psychology ensures that all clients are fully informed about our cancellation policy through multiple communication channels, including our website, clinician discussions, our intake process and email correspondence. Please review this policy before beginning treatment to avoid any misunderstandings.
We understand other important things may evolve that do not enable you to keep your appointment with Cerebral Psychology. If you cannot keep your allocated appointment, please advise of any cancellations with a minimum of 48 hours’ notice where possible. To cancel or reschedule an appointment, please contact Cerebral Psychology on (03) 8804 6882.
Cancellation fees are payable on the phone at the time of cancellation or will be directly charged to the encrypted credit card account details stored.
Two or more cancellations in a row may result in suspension of services and/or termination of service.
