FAQ

A Psychologist has specialist and in-depth knowledge of both physical and mental health and the impact on wellbeing.

At Elementa Psychology our Psychologists:

• Spend time getting to know you to understand your uniqueness as a person.
• Help you to identify the problem areas in your life and understand the impact these have on your functioning and relationships.
• Clinical Psychologists can diagnose mental health disorders, if relevant, and explain this to you.
• Work with you to develop a treatment plan with clear goals.
• Provide treatment that is supported in its effectiveness by current scientific research (evidence-based practice).
• Liaise with other supports in your life - such as your GP or other health practitioners and, if you wish, your family.
• Review your progress.

If you are experiencing problems with your mood, thinking, relationships or life’s challenges you can benefit from seeing a psychologist who can help you understand what is going on, clarify a diagnosis, and provide therapy and support to you and your family to improve your wellbeing and quality of life.

Have a look at the questions below; if you answer YES to any of them then you would benefit from seeing a Psychologist.

• Do you worry a lot of the time?
• Do you feel sad a lot of the time?
• Do you feel numb or cut off from life?
• Is stress overwhelming at times?
• Do you have trouble sleeping?
• Have you stopped doing activities that you usually enjoy?
• Have you stopped spending as much time with friends and family?
• Are your problems interfering with your job, relationships or other areas of your life?

The gap fee depends upon the practitioner you are seeing and their level of experience as this determines their fee.

To access Medicare rebates for psychology services under the Better Access initiative, you need a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from a GP, psychiatrist, or paediatrician, allowing you to claim up to 10 rebated sessions per calendar year.

Step 1. Initial referral: You will need to book a double appointment with your GP. Your GP assesses your needs and creates a MHCP, referring you for an initial six sessions with a psychologist or clinical psychologist.

Step 2. Progress review: After your sixth session, your psychologist will write a report to your GP detailing your progress and their recommendations for further treatment.

Step 3. Second GP appointment: You will need to make another appointment with your GP. At this appointment, your GP will discuss your progress with you and determine whether further sessions will be beneficial. If the GP agrees, they will provide a new referral/review letter for the remaining four sessions, completing the annual total of ten sessions.

Go to the home page of our website at www.elementapsychology.com.au and click on the Telehealth Waiting Room link in the menu.

No you do not. Referrals are transferrable and can be used with any psychologist. Even if they are addressed to a different person or practice name.

Generally, we like new clients to attend weekly or fortnightly to begin with so that momentum isn’t lost and the relationship can be built upon. Sessions can be spread out once the symptoms have settled down to a manageable level. However, your psychologist will discuss this with you at your first appointment and a plan will be implemented to suit you and your needs.

Contact our intake team via email info@elementapsychology.com.au or by calling 1300 737 251.

The treatment cycle and frequency of sessions is a collaborative process determined by you and your psychologist. This will be discussed in your initial and/or subsequent sessions.

Our psychologist charge varying fees that depending on their qualifications, and years of experience. The fee is discussed with the intake team member during the booking process. The APS recommends $311 per session, however; only our most experienced psychologists bill this amount and only for afterhours appointments.

We process the rebate online for you. Very occasionally rebates fail, if we are unable to rectify the issue at our end due to an issue with Medicare or with the referral, we will contact you and let you know that you will be required to talk to Medicare directly. 

The current Medicare rebates are:

• $145.25 per session for a clinical psychologist
• $98.97 per session for a generalist psychologist/clinical psychology registrar

You are welcome to send a message to info@elementapsychology.com.au or call the office on 1300 73 72 51 and we will pass on a message, however; the psychologists are generally in session with clients for the whole day so they cannot respond with any urgency and the query may be addressed at your next appointment. N.B: If you require urgent attention, please contact your GP or the emergency services.

We send a reminder SMS a few days prior to your appointment. This is as a courtesy only to help remind you of your upcoming appointment. Technology can fail so this is not to be relied upon. All clients are to track their own appointments. If you think you have an appointment but you didn’t receive an SMS, please contact reception to confirm. Failure to attend an appointment could lead to a late cancellation fee.