Fees and Rebates

I endeavour to offer an affordable counselling service, and have listed fees, rebates and other sources of financial support below.

Concession rates are available for pension or health care card holders.

If you have special circumstances that are not covered here, please contact me to discuss other payment or funding options.

UPDATE:

Medicare/Telehealth for Covid-19 [Coronavirus]:

To prevent unneccessary travel and exposure, people with a GP referral for any of the issues listed below can access Medicare funding for telehealth (telephone or video) consultations until 30/09/2020. There are various other funding options listed below that can also be used for Telehealth services.

Additional 10 sessions:

From 7 August 2020 - 31 March 2021 patients with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from their GP who are living in an area facing additional restrictions, e.g. Metropolitan Melbourne, can access 10 additional sessions per calendar year
(i.e. 20 sessions per calendar year).

Counselling:

Full fee................................$160

Concession.........................$120

Walk & Talk Therapy:

Full fee................................$180

Concession.........................$140

Supervision and Coaching:

Consultation.......................$160 (+GST)

(tax deductable)

Cancellation Policy:

There are costs associated with every booking, making cancellation fees a necessity. As I base most of my practice on regular sessions, e.g. every 1, 2, or 4 weeks, I am usually unable to refill the appointment by offering the time to another client or supervisee. For these reasons, I request 7 days notice of cancellation, otherwise a fee will be charged as follows:

Full fee..................................$80

Concession...........................$40

Please note: Medicare/private insurance does not cover cancellation fees.

Rebates

Medicare:

(NB: rebates are higher if you have reached the Medicare safety net threshold).

General Counselling

Medicare rebates of $75.95 for up to 10 sessions per calendar year if a referral is made by a GP under a Mental Health Care Plan.
Walk & Talk Therapy rebate $97.90 under the Mental Health Care Plan.

Bushfire Response Services

New Medicare rebates of $75.95 for up to 10 sessions per calendar year are available until 31 December 2021 (this is in addition to any other rebates).
Eligibility: any emergency personnel/volunteers, individuals and communities whose mental health has been adversely affected by bushfire between 1/07/2019 and 30/06/2020 are eligible.
If you feel you have been affected, you can directly request this service, you are not required to have a diagnosed mental health condition, GP referral or be living in areas directly affected by bushfire; you can access support via telephone/video without having to fulfil the usual distance criteria.

Telehealth – Online Counselling

[currently superseded by Covid-19 telehealth rebates]

Based on Mental Health Care Plan.
For people living in an eligible remote location in Australia.
(search on locator map: zones 4-7 are eligible).
Requirements:
> Both a video and audio connection.
> One of the first 4 consultations, and 3 out of 10, must be face-to-face.

Eating Disorders

Medicare rebates of $75.95 for up to 40 sessions per calendar year if the service is recommended in an eating disorder treatment & management plan.
Walk & Talk Therapy rebate $97.90 under the same plan.

Chronic Disease/GP Management Plan

Available to people living with a chronic medical condition.
Rebate of $53.80 for up to 5 sessions per calendar year.
Requires a GP referral to a 'mental health worker'.

Pregnancy Support Counselling

Women concerned about a current or previous pregnancy (within 12 months).
Medicare rebate of $63.20 available when referred by a GP.
Rebates are available for up to 3 counselling sessions per pregnancy.

Private Health Insurance

Teachers Health Fund; UniHealth; Nurses and Midwives Health

(check with insurer if Telehealth available)

Cover counselling services under: Top Extras Cover.
Benefit: Initial assessment $100; Standard consultation $70.
Limit: $600 per year.

Other Financial Support Options:

Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

I am a counsellor for:

Access EAP (incl. SupportAct for performing artists);
Converge International;
D'Accord;
Max Solutions.

You might be eligible to receive free counselling with me if your employer uses one of these providers. Free counselling might also be available via your partner or family member's EAP.

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