First contact
Prior to your first session at Forest for the Trees Perinatal Psychology, Newcastle, we offer a brief phone consultation to make sure we’re the right fit for you and to obtain further details about your situation. Should you decide to proceed, we will then match you with an appropriate practitioner and also provide you with information relating to practice policies, including our current fees and cancellation policy.
Counselling session length and fees
Individual initial sessions under Medicare are 60 minutes in length, and subsequent sessions are 50 minutes.
Fees:
- initial appointment with a clinical psychologist (Medicare rebate of $137.05) – $230
- ongoing treatment with a clinical psychologist (Medicare rebate of $137.05) – $220
- initial appointment with a clinical psychology registrar (Medicare rebate of $93.35)- $190
- ongoing treatment with a clinical psychology registrar (Medicare rebate of $93.35) – $180
Adjunctive perinatal focused couples therapy may also be offered, and these sessions are 90 minutes in length and cost $260 per appointment.
EMDR sessions / trauma focused therapy are 90 minutes in length and cost $260 per appointment (Medicare rebate of $137.05).
Payment is required on the day and can be made by credit card, direct debit or cash. The Australian Psychological Society’s recommended fee for a consultation lasting 45-60 minutes is $280.
Psychology rebates and insurance
With a valid referral and a mental health care plan from your GP, you will initially be able to obtain Medicare rebates for up to 10 sessions.
Some private health insurers provide a partial rebate for psychological treatment. If you have private health insurance, we recommend that you contact your insurer to enquire as to whether you have any benefits covering psychological treatment.
The first session
Forest for the Trees Perinatal Psychology is located in Suite 16, Level 1, 235 Darby Street, Cooks Hill. Please take a seat at reception, where your psychologist will meet you for your appointment. Please bring your mental health care plan if you are intending to claim a Medicare rebate.
Appointment cancellations
Forest for the Trees Perinatal Psychology has a 24 hour cancellation policy. Should you need to cancel your appointment please contact us with at least 24 hours notice. We ask this so that we have sufficient notice to offer cancelled appointments to others who may be waiting to be seen and in need of care. If you cancel your appointment with less than 24 hours notice you will be charged a cancellation fee, and in these circumstances you will not be eligible for a Medicare rebate (due to non-attendance).