| Do I need a referral to book an appointment? No, you do not need a referral to book in a session with us. However, many people see their General Practitioner prior to their first appointment to obtain a Mental Health Treatment Plan which allows you to obtain a Medicare rebate for 10 sessions per calendar year. What payment options are accepted by Bee Psyched? We utilise online credit card facilities at our practice. Therefore, payments via credit card or debit card are preferred. Please contact us if you would like to pay via Direct Deposit or cash (if face-to-face) so we can discuss this process with you. Do you have after hour / weekend appointments available? Bianca’s working hours are 9am to 5pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Due to having two young children, Bianca is no longer seeing clients after hours or on weekends. What options do I have to get a rebate for session fees? After you pay the session fee, there are a number of rebate options you may be eligible for: Medicare rebates: Under the Better Access Scheme, clients can speak with their GP at any time to obtain a Mental Health Treatment Plan which entitles you to a rebate ($141.85 for Clinical Psychologists in 2024-2025 financial year) for 10 appointments per calendar year. With your consent, Bee Psyched can submit a claim to Medicare on your behalf after each session. Private Health Fund: Please contact your private health fund to enquire whether your specific health cover includes psychological treatment. Each fund differs in the amount of rebate provided. Bee Psyched is not able to enquire with your private health fund nor process private health fund rebates on your behalf. Please note: Clients cannot claim a Medicare rebate and private health fund rebate for the same appointment. Some private health funds require all Medicare rebates to be utilised before they will agree to provide funding towards psychological treatment. NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme): Bee Psyched is not a registered NDIS provider, however, clients whose NDIS support is managed by them or a third party are welcome to choose Bee Psyched to provide psychological treatment. At the time of writing, NDIS will provide a rebate of $214.14 per session. DVA (Department of Veteran Affairs): Individuals with a DVA White or Gold card, who have received approval to receive psychological treatment, are also entitled to a rebate of approximately $234 for Clinical Psychologists per 50-minute session. I haven’t experienced any trauma- is Bee Psyched still suitable for me? Yes! We provide effective treatment for a variety of disorders and mental health difficulties. Please visit our What We Do page for a list of the conditions we treat. We believe that all people, regardless of whether they have experienced trauma or not, will benefit from receiving trauma-informed care. Please visit the Trauma-Informed Care section to learn more about how we implement this approach at our practice. What can I expect from my first appointment? Your first session will primarily be focused on your psychologist getting to know you, and gathering information about your current situation, your reasons for attending sessions, and what you hope to achieve during treatment. In turn, you will also have the opportunity to learn about your psychologist, their experience, and the way they work. If relevant and you feel ready to do so, your psychologist may also ask about your childhood and past experiences to develop a more in-depth understanding of your present difficulties. Your psychologist will typically finish your first session by discussing your treatment plan and providing recommendations regarding the number and frequency of future sessions. In our experience, the first session usually focuses on assessment, and the provision of strategies and skills are often introduced during the 2nd appointment onwards. Consequently, some clients opt for a 90-minute or 120-minute initial appointment. However, please note that only 50-minutes’ worth of rebate can be claimed per appointment irrespective of duration. Generally, our clients prefer to share their struggles and experiences during the first session and are content to wait until the 2nd appointment to learn strategies to assist with their symptoms. However, if you would like to prioritise psychoeducation and/or learning a skill in your first session, please let your psychologist know at the beginning of your appointment. How many sessions should I book in? And how long does treatment take? We recommend booking in at least 6 sessions on a weekly or fortnightly basis at the start of treatment as this will give your psychologist enough time to complete their initial assessment, discuss their treatment plan and clinical understanding of your difficulties, begin to build rapport and trust, and provide psychoeducation and a few strategies. Having regular sessions at the start of treatment is essential for progress and it is rare for someone to receive lasting benefit from fewer than 6 sessions. The number of sessions typically required differs depending on a variety of factors, such as the severity of your symptoms, your history, and goals for treatment. We therefore suggest asking your psychologist for an approximate guideline as they are best equipped to provide you with a tailor-made treatment plan and the approximate number of sessions required. Clinical research indicates that the average client (excluding complex/developmental trauma) requires 10 to 20 sessions. When will your office be ready to accept face-to-face clients? We are on-track to welcome our clients to our newly-renovated practice in February 2025. How long will Telehealth sessions be available? The Australian Government have said they will support Medicare rebates for telehealth sessions until at least 2026, with the intention of such support being provided indefinitely. If you are receiving psychological support via a third party organisation, we require written approval from them to provide telehealth sessions. If you are paying for your own treatment and are not obtaining a rebate or financial contribution from a third party, you are welcome to receive treatment via telehealth irrespective of decisions made by Medicare/Australian Government. What if I live far away or in another state or country? Can I still book in an appointment? Yes! If you live in Australia, you are most welcome to book in a telehealth appointment with us. If you live overseas, please contact us with your location, and we will let you know whether we can provide treatment in your country. If you are receiving psychological support through a third party organisation, written approval is required from said organisation if you live outside of NSW. |
We are always happy to assist, so if you have any other questions or would like further information, please Contact Us