FAQ's & Location
Are sessions available by video (Telehealth)? | Yes, if the appropriate ethical and safety requirements are met. Brian uses specialised Australian-based telehealth services for secure & confidential consultations. They work from a link that will be sent to you. You do not need to purchase or download any apps or software. Telehealth is suitable for most people and problems, but not all. Confirming suitability for Telehealth will be part of the assessment process. |
Does Medicare cover Clinical Psychology? | Medicare supports eligible people with a rebate for up to a maximum of ten sessions per calendar year (January-December). The rebate is currently $141.85 for the standard 50-minute session for the financial year 2024-25. The list of psychological problems covered by the Medicare scheme includes depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, and psychological distress caused by a stressful life event (Adjustment Disorder) eg., injury, chronic health problem, chronic pain. You will need to ensure that you see your GP for a Mental Health Plan referral and receive the appropriate paperwork (referral letter) BEFORE the first session. |
What is the process if I have a Workers Compensation or CTP Motor Vehicle Accident Claim? |
Obtain approval from your insurance company for a psychology assessment before the first session. |
How long is a psychology session? | Length of Consultations is a standard 50 minutes. |
Fees | ????? Brian is willing to apply a discount for eligible clients, please raise this with Brian when making the first appointment. |
Payment Policy | Payment should be made at the time of the appointment. Payment can be made by: electronic fund transfer, credit card, or cheque. Brian can organise the claim to Medicare directly. However, it may take up to a couple of days for the money to be deposited into your bank account. If your treatment is being funded by a third party (eg., ADF, DVA, or workers compensation/motor vehicle insurance (iCare) then the third party will be billed directly. |
Cancellation Policy | As recommended by the Australian Psychological Society, I may opt to charge for late cancellations at the following rates: 0-24 hours’ notice: 50% of full fee; missed appointments without any notice are charged at full fee. |
How long does treatment take? | The amount of time required to achieve improvement with psychological treatment varies according to many factors. For example the nature, number and severity of the problem(s) you are looking for help with. The Medicare 10 sessions per year may not be sufficient to achieve the amount of change required. Many people and problems can achieve improvement within 12 to 18 sessions. This is something we can discuss further as part of the treatment planning process. It can help if clients mentally commit themselves to attending for six sessions and to work hard in that time. This will usually be long enough to get connected with the therapy relationship, build a shared understanding of the problem, and to start making changes in behaviour, thinking and relating. This will help you to work out whether you want to continue with treatment. |
How do i get to the offices? | St Leonards Parking There’s a commercial car park one block from my office. It is in the basement of the Clemenger building on the corner of the Pacific Highway and Portview Road. The entrance is from Portview Road. There is 2-hour parking on Greenwich Rd and adjacent streets. Buses The following bus routes stop on the Pacific Highway: Trains: According to Google maps my office is an 8-minute walk (600m) from St Leonards train station, and a 15-minute walk (1.1 km ) from Crows Nest Metro Station or a bus ride heading north toward Chatswood (north). Randwick Parking There is an underground commercial car park beneath the POWP building, enter from Barker Street entrance fees apply. For more information and for parking costs please visit the Point Parking website (parking location is titled Randwick campus). Light Rail The L2 light rail service runs between Randwick and Circular Quay, via Central Station and stops outside the Sydney Childrens Hospital on the corner of High Street. Enter via the main entrance of the Childrens Hospital and follow the corridor through to POWP and take a lift to the the seventh floor. Bus Services Buses from Central from Eddy Avenue |