Clinical Consultations

I offer individual counseling and clinical therapy consultations, utilising a range of evidence based therapy approaches. I have particular clinical expertise working with people with serious and enduring mental health issues, including C-PTSD, Major Depression, Schizophrenia and severe anxiety disorders including OCD. I also have considerable experience working with people living with a chronic health issue (e.g. Fibromyalgia, CFS/ME, Multiple Sclerosis, Type 1 Diabetes, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Cystic Fibrosis, chronic pain) and associated struggles with their mental health.

I have a particular interest in helping individuals struggling in their pursuit of healthy lifestyle changes (e.g., diet, exercise, sleep habits, weight management), and the work I do often involves helping people to find ways to pursue improvements in these areas as part of their overall treatment program. I have developed a clinical approach to such goals that takes into account the impacts of living with chronic and enduring physical and/or mental health issues.

While I work with people on all sorts of lifestyle goals, I specialize in working with people who are interested in the role that exercise can play and the importance of living an active life. I have developed a somewhat unique approach that uses the pursuit of exercise related goals as the pathway for people to learn, practice and develop the psychological tools that will assist them in better managing their mental health and physical well being.

In all instances the focus is on providing support and guidance to help you set and achieve your goals in order to assist you to maximize your physical and emotional health and well being.

Sessions are tailored to your needs, drawing from broad range of Cognitive Behavior Therapy approaches in a way that helps you to better understand and overcome your own unique set of personal obstacles and challenges.

If you’re in Australia with a diagnosed mental health condition, you may be eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan rebate, reducing your out of pocket costs. I provide online telehealth consultations Australia wide, and I am also available for in-home/in-community consultations for people in the Adelaide western suburbs (e.g. for anxiety exposure therapy and ‘walk and talk’ therapy sessions).

Please get in contact if you have any questions or would like to book a FREE 15 minute phone call where we can discuss your needs and whether I am the right person to support you in your goals. Call 0872003426 or email via the link below.

Original Medicare Safety Net (OMSN)

Once you reach the annual Threshold for the OMSN, you will be able to claim 100% of the Medicare Scheduled fee for services. For example, for a 60 minute Clinical Psychology consultation, this means you receive a rebate of $166.85, further reducing your out of pocket costs. Furthermore, when your annual Medicare out of pocket costs reach the Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) threshold, Medicare will cover 80% of your out of pocket costs for eligible services. For more information visit;

https://www.health.gov.au/topics/medicare/about/safety-nets

Potential sources of Funding/rebates for your sessions

Medicare (Better Access Initiative)

To be eligible for rebates under the Medicare Better Access Scheme you will need to consult with your GP. If eligible you can obtain a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral which allows for a Medicare rebate for up to 10 counselling sessions per calendar year. You will also need to get a referral letter from your GP which states, the reason for referral and the number of sessions you are being referred for (up to 6 in the first instance). Rebates are only applicable to consultations on or after the date of the referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan.

You can find out more about the Better Access Iniative here… medicare-faqs-for-the-public

Private health funds

Private health funds often provide a rebate for counselling services. The item code may be different for your health fund so you will need to contact your health fund to make sure psychology is covered and find out what codes your health funds use. The most common codes are P100/100 initial psychology consultation and P200/200 subsequent psychology consultation.

We are unable to process private health rebates on your behalf. We will require full payment and provide you with an invoice that you can lodge with your health fund to receive the relevant rebate. Please enquire with your health fund to confirm eligibility for rebates and the amount you are entitled to.

NDIS

Counselling and therapy can sometimes be funded under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). I offer specialized coaching consultations to NDIS participants, that focus on assisting them in their pursuit of healthy lifestyle changes. This can be either self-managed (you pay the invoice/fees and submit them for reimbursement yourself) or plan-managed (we submit the invoice to your plan manager who pays for the services on your behalf). If you intend to use NDIS funding, we will need to know whether you are self or plan-managed, and if plan managed we will need the contact details for your plan manager. You will also need to make sure that psychology has been approved as a service in your NDIS plan. Fees are set as per the current NDIS Schedule of Fees.

We can provide consultations at your own home, in the community or via telehealth depending on your preferences. Travel fees apply for in home and in community consultations. Contact us for details.