Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Who We See and What We Do (and don’t do!)
Can Clinical Psychologists prescribe medication?
No. Whilst Clinical Psychologists have had training in psychopharmacology, they cannot prescribe medication.
Do you see children or adolescents?
We do not see children. All of our Clinical Psychologists have expertise in treating adults. We may see late adolescents depending on the issue/s for which they are attending.
My friend or family member needs help! Can I book them a session?
No. As well as the ethical and privacy problems that are involved in booking another adult a session, we have found that approximately 90% of the time, that person does not show up for treatment. Overwhelmingly, therapy works better when people want to be there and want to change.
Can you write a letter or report for court for me?
No. Our clinic does not provide medico-legal or forensic services. In Victoria, the Supreme Court has mandated that treating psychologists only comment on the treatment they provide. All of our psychologists at CCP have a Masters Degree or Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. None of our psychologists have training in forensic psychology. It is crucial for psychologists to not blur the roles of treating psychologist and forensic assessor. We strongly encourage anyone seeking a court report or forensic assessment to go to https://psychology.org.au/find-a-psychologist and select Forensic Psychology under the “Search by Area of Practice” drop down menu. To ensure you are getting the best service and care possible, ensure that the psychologist you find has a Masters Degree or Doctorate in Forensic Psychology. For general medico-legal work, you can select Legal Report in the “Search by Issue” drop down menu.
Can I have a 15 minute chat with a psychologist before booking in?
No. With over 30 new enquiries per week, this is not a viable option for us as a clinic. The Our Team page offers comprehensive information about each Clinical Psychologist’s interest areas, treatment styles, and expertise. The photos also give an approximate indication of age and gender for each practitioner, whilst our reception staff can give prospective clients any additional information they may want to know about each practitioner.
I’m booked in with a Clinical Registrar, does that mean I am seeing a student?
A resounding “no”. We have a strict policy around not having students on staff, as our firm belief is that people who are seeking psychological help from a private practice should only be offered care by appropriately qualified practitioners. A Clinical Registrar is a psychologist who (a) holds full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia, (b) has completed all 6-8 years of university education in psychology, (c) as part of their 6-8 years of university education has completed either a 2 year Masters Degree or a 3.5 Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology, and (d) is now doing 1-2 years of a registrarship program which means they’re working as a highly trained professional whilst at the same time, doing additional professional development activities and extra peer consultation. Only at the end of all of that, can one call themselves a Clinical Psychologist! So, to re-affirm, the Clinical Registrar you have booked in with is definitely not a student.
FAQs about Fees, Referrals and Rebates
How long does the Medicare rebate take?
If your claim is put through before 5pm, then rebates typically go into your account at around 8pm that evening. Sometimes, a rebate can take up to 48 hours.
Do I need a referral to see a psychologist?
Not at all. A referral and Mental Health Care Plan from your GP are only required if you wish to claim a Medicare rebate.
Does the referral need to be addressed directly to the name of my psychologist?
No.
How long does a referral last for?
Referrals do not have an expiry date, so they last indefinitely.
Why has the GP only given me a referral for 4 (or 6 or 10) sessions? Does that mean that's all I need?
No. The Medicare rules dictate that GPs first give you a referral for 6 sessions, then a further 4 sessions. How many sessions you require is typically decided by a discussion between you and you psychologist. Currently, you are entitled to a maximum of Medicare 10 rebates per calendar year.
What happens if I forget my referral and/or Mental Health Care Plan the day of my appointment?
If you forget to bring your referral to your appointment, we cannot process your rebate on the day. It is ideal for us to have a copy of your referral and/or Mental Health Care Plan before your first appointment. This ensures that your psychologist can prepare for your visit, and that we can check that we have all of the details required for a Medicare rebate to be processed. You can send paperwork to us by fax, email, or post. Or you can phone your GP and ask them to send your referral to us.
Does my Mental Health Care Plan mean the session is free?
No. A Mental Health Care Plan means you are entitled to a rebate for your session. This means that you pay the full amount on the day of your appointment and then claim back money from Medicare. For more information on fees and rebates, please click here.
Do you take clients under funding bodies such WorkCover, TAC, DVA or NDIS?
We are a private billing clinic, which means we charge a fee for all of our services. Clients can choose to claim a Medicare rebate (if they have an appropriate referral in place) or private health insurance. We no longer accept WorkCover or TAC clients. We may accept NDIS and DVA clients on a case by case basis.
Can I claim a rebate using my private health insurance?
Yes. So long as your extras cover includes psychology, we should be able to process a claim for you so that you only pay the gap amount. Our TYRO machine can process private health insurance claims for most insurers. Click here to see which insurers offer on-the-spot claims through TYRO (you’ll need to scroll down to the “psychology” section). For private health funds that are not listed, you can claim directly from your insurer (via their app or website, or by post). Please note that you cannot claim private health insurance and the Medicare rebate for the same session.
FAQs about ADHD and ASD Assessments
What takes place in an ADHD assessment?
An ADHD assessment will typically involve a clinical interview and history taking. For ADHD assessments, your Clinical Psychologist will also conduct a semi-structured interview called the DIVA-5, as well administer several questionnaires to you. With your consent, your psychologist may also gather collateral info from family members. Similarly, for ASD assessments, a combination of clinical interview, questionnaires and history taking are used.
How long does an ADHD or ASD assessment take?
Assessments are typically conducted over 2-3 sessions, followed by a feedback session.
How much does an ADHD assessment cost?
We do not offer a set fee for ADHD or Autism assessments, as not everyone will require the same type of assessment, nor the same type of report. ADHD and ASD assessments take approximately 2-3 sessions, followed by a feedback session. If you would like a report of your assessment (e.g., for you university, workplace or the NDIS), then additional fees apply according to the level of detail required in the report. Session and report fees are shown on our Fees and Rebates page.
Does this ADHD assessment mean I can access medication?
If you are seeking medication for ADHD, you will still need to see a psychiatrist. Whilst GPs can apply for a permit to treat a patient with psycho-stimulant medications, the GP must have recent supportive documentation (within the last 24 months) from a psychiatrist that confirms that the treatment and the dose is appropriate.
Can I use this ADHD or ASD assessment to apply for NDIS funding?
If you are applying for NDIS funding, you can request a report from your psychologist. See below for fees for reports. You will also need an additional report from your GP or another specialist. It is common practice in Australia that when accessing funding such as NDIS, reports from multiple healthcare professionals are required.
What is the benefit of getting an ADHD assessment from a Clinical Psychologist (as opposed to a Psychiatrist)?
The process of seeing a Clinical Psychologist for an ADHD assessment is ideal for understanding one's own symptoms and trialling non-pharmacological approaches to ADHD. Whilst we fully support the use of psycho-stimulants to treat ADHD (indeed, these can be life changing for many people), we find that the ideal situation is often a combination of medication and CBT. Rather than aiming to treat the core symptoms of ADHD (i.e., inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity), CBT aims to help clients with classic ADHD-related problems such as procrastination, time management, emotional regulation, stress management, impulse control, and poor self-esteem.
Can I attend the ADHD or ASD assessment via telehealth?
Yes, assessments can be done via telehealth.
I’m still in high school, can I book an ADHD or ASD assessment and get a report for my school?
No. Our Psychologists who conduct the assessments have expertise and training in conducting ADHD and ASD assessments for adults. Should you wish to find a practitioner who conducts assessments for those still in secondary school, please search the Find a Clinical Psychologist register.
How much does it cost to get a report written on my assessment?
Our report fees are in line with the recommendations of the Australian Psychological Society and outlined on our Fees and Rebates page.