Types of psychologist referrals in Wollongong

Mental health care plans

A common type of referral to our practice is the Mental Health Care Plan. A care plan is completed with your GP and gives you access to an initial six individual sessions and ten group sessions. After completing six individual sessions a re-referral from your GP is required to access a further four sessions (you are able to use ten individual and ten group sessions per calendar year).

With a MHCP you can claim a Medicare rebate towards the consultation fee. You will need to bring your plan and Medicare card to the first consultation. Payment is required at the appointment and Medicare claims can be processed on your behalf.

Private clients

Clients are welcome to come to counselling privately, meaning a referral is not required, from any source.

There is no limit to the number of sessions if you choose this option. However, Medicare rebate items are not available.

PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE

Some health funds will provide rebates for psychology services and counselling. Your health fund will pay a set benefit or percentage of the cost of the service, and you pay the rest.

The waiting periods, benefits and limits to claiming vary from fund to fund. For more information, you can review policies on www.privatehealth.gov.au or contact health funds directly.

Rebates from Medicare and private health care cover cannot be claimed concurrently. For example, you may choose to use 10 sessions under a MHCP and then claim for further sessions under you private health care cover.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Often workplaces offer employees and their immediate family members access to a psychologist with no cost to you. Sessions are limited and vary from each EAP provider.

ICARE (FORMERLY KNOWN AS WORKCOVER)

Some of our therapists are registered iCare (formerly known as Workcover) provider psychologists. If you have an iCare (formerly WorkCover) claim, and it is recommended that you receive psychological therapy as part of your rehabilitation package, there is no out-of-pocket expense for therapy.

You may be eligible to receive up to 22 hours of free counselling from our therapists who are Approved Counsellor with Victims NSW. Counselling under this scheme is auspiced by the Attorney General’s Department and run by Victims of Crime, NSW.

You may be eligible to receive free counselling from an Approved Counsellor if you are psychologically, emotionally and/or have been physically injured:

  • as a result of an act of violence (assault) in NSW; or

  • as a result of witnessing an act of violence; or

  • as a result of learning of the act of violence and you are the parent or guardian of a primary victim who was under the age of 18 years at the time of the act of violence; or

  • preventing someone from committing an act of violence in NSW, or

  • arresting someone who is committing, or has just committed an act of violence, or

  • helping or rescuing someone against whom an act of violence is being committed, or has just been committed.

Once the allocation of hours is used, further hours can be approved where the victim and counsellor agree to this course and exceptional reasons are evident.

If this option is available to you our Approved Counsellors will discuss this possibility with you.

Victims of Crime

clinical supervision

Dr. Sue Leicester is available for Clinical Supervision and/or mentoring for other mental health professionals working.

Supervision provides a confidential space for clinicians to share, reflect and explore s all aspects of their clinical work with an experienced practitioner. The focus of supervision is to support the clinician to continue to develop as a professional. Further, supervision aims to help the clinician to continue to provide a safe, ethical, sustainable and highly competent service where the welfare of the client and the quality of the service they receive is paramount.