Common Questions
General Therapy Questions
Therapy uses scientifically validated procedures to help people develop healthier, more effective habits. There are several approaches to therapy—including cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and other kinds of talk therapy—that help individuals work through their problems.
Therapy provides a supportive environment that allows you to talk openly with someone who’s objective, neutral, and nonjudgmental. You and your psychologist will work together to identify and change the thought and behavior patterns that are keeping you from feeling and achieving your best.
First appointments are generally 60-75 minutes long so that there is sufficient time to discuss your issues and concerns. Appointments after this are 50-55 minutes.
The average number of therapy sessions ranges from 6-15. However, everyone’s situation is unique and will depend upon the presenting concerns.
Your therapist will discuss with you their estimate of the number of sessions that you may need in therapy. There is no obligation to continue if you don’t wish.
Initial assessment sessions vary according to the nature of the issue. Please contact our administration to discuss your particular situation.
At the first appointment, we aim to gain a detailed understanding of your concerns and difficulties, how they came about and your goals and expectations of treatment.
Your therapist will then work with you to develop a flexible treatment plan to meet your specific needs, preferences and circumstances.
Referrals
No, you don’t need a referral to see us at Launceston Psychology Clinic.
A GP, Psychiatrist or Paediatrician referral is required if you with to claim a Medicare rebate. Please refer to our section on the Medicare Better Access to Mental Health initiative.
Launceston Psychology Clinic is able to accept self referrals for individuals, parents & families without the need for a referral through a medical practitioner.
Please contact us to discuss your reason for service so that we can allocate the most appropriate clinician to best suit your needs.
Alternatively, please fill in the self referral form, which can be emailed to our admin staff for processing.
Private Health refunds may be available dependent on your specific policy cover.
We are able to accept referrals from schools and colleges to complete cognitive and learning assessments for students.
Please use this referral and consent form or have this information reflected in your own form.
Referrals for therapy for students can be made via the family GP or Paediatrician.
Better Access to Mental Health Initiative
To access mental health treatment under the Medicare Better Health Initiative you must be referred by your GP, a psychiatrist or a paediatrician. If a GP is the referring practitioner, they will need to prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan before referring you. You should book a longer session with your GP to enable time for this.
‘Mental disorder’ is a term used to describe a range of clinically diagnosable disorders that significantly impact on a person’s emotions, thoughts, social skills and decision-making. The Better Access initiative covers people with mental disorders arising from:
- Alcohol use disorder
- Adjustment disorder
- Attention deficit disorder
- Bereavement disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Chronic fatigue
- Conduct disorder
- Co-occurring anxiety and depression
- Depression Dissociative disorder
- Drug use disorder
- Eating disorders
- Enuresis
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Mental disorder, not otherwise specified
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Panic disorder
- Phobic disorder
- Posttraumatic stress disorder
- Psychotic disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Sexual disorders
- Sleep problems
- Unexplained somatic complaints
Under the Better Access initiative, eligible people can receive:
- Up to 10 individual sessions in a calendar year (1 January to 31 December).
- Up to 10 group therapy sessions in a calendar year where such services are available and seen as appropriate by your referring doctor and the psychologist.
Referrals cannot be provided for the full 10 sessions. A referral is for a maximum of six sessions. Your referring doctor will assess your progress after the first six sessions and determine whether further sessions are needed.
After you have reached the maximum number of allowable sessions for the calendar year you will not be eligible for any further Medicare rebates for treatment you receive from a psychologist until the new calendar year.
The cost for a psychological therapy session is greater than the Medicare rebate, so you will need to pay the difference (gap) between our service charges and the Medicare rebate.
Please enquire with our admin staff for further information on the applicable fees.
Confidentiality of Information
Any information and records regarding you are kept strictly confidential, securely locked away in files and only disclosed to additional parties with your prior consent. There are some qualifications to this:
If you were referred by a medical practitioner under the Medicare rebate initiative, we need to send them regular reports of your progress. It may also be appropriate to liaise with them regarding related medical issues and medication.
If the cost of your consultations are covered by an insurance company, regular reports are required to be sent to them. You are welcome to a copy of any report pertaining to you.
If there are particular issues that come up in your therapy that you do not wish to have written about, please indicate this to your therapist.If you are involved in a court case and a clinician appears on your behalf, or if we are subpoenaed to appear in Court, our records have no special legal privilege and we are compelled to provide the Court any information that you have given us.
If there is reason to believe that someone is at serious risk of harm, we are also obliged to divulge that information to the appropriate.