Frequently Asked

You can self-refer to a psychologist without a GP referral. However, without a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP, Medicare rebates do not apply. You'll pay the full session fee. If you'd like to access rebates, we recommend seeing your GP first and requesting a Mental Health Care Plan and a referral to a psychologist. The GP appointment itself is typically bulk-billed. If you're unsure, contact our team and we can guide you through the process.

That's completely fine, and more common than you might think. You don't need to have it all figured out before your first session. Your psychologist will gently help you explore what's brought you in and what might be most useful to focus on. Some people just know something doesn't feel right, and that's enough to start.

This varies depending on what you're working on and your goals. Some people make meaningful progress in 6–8 sessions; others benefit from longer-term support. Your psychologist will regularly review your progress with you, and you're always in control of how long you continue.

The therapeutic relationship matters enormously. And it's completely okay if it's not quite right. Please tell us. We can arrange a different clinician within our team, and you're under no obligation to continue with someone if it doesn't feel like a good fit. Finding the right match is part of our job, not an inconvenience.

A good friendship is valuable. But it's different. Your psychologist has no stake in your decisions, won't be affected by what you share, and brings clinical training to understand patterns and apply evidence-based techniques. Sessions are also confidential and structured around your goals, not conversation that drifts based on what's happening in both people's lives.

We process your Medicare rebate on your behalf using our HICAPS or Medicare terminal at the time of your appointment. You'll pay the full session fee and we'll submit the rebate claim immediately. The rebate is deposited into the bank account registered with Medicare, usually within 24–48 hours. To ensure we can claim on your behalf, please bring your Medicare card and have your bank account details registered with Medicare before your first appointment.

You cannot claim both Medicare and private health insurance for the same consultation. It's one or the other per session. However, you can use Medicare for your first 10 sessions and then switch to claiming through your private health extras once your Medicare limit is reached. Some clients also choose to use private health insurance instead of Medicare depending on their policy benefits. We recommend checking your policy for psychology coverage before making a decision. Our admin team can also help you work out what makes sense for your situation.

We don't currently offer a formal concession rate, but we genuinely don't want cost to be a barrier to accessing care. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, we encourage you to speak with our reception team. We'll do our best to discuss your options, including payment plans where possible. We also recommend exploring whether you qualify for the Medicare Extended Safety Net, which can significantly increase your rebate once you've reached a certain out-of-pocket threshold in a calendar year.

You can absolutely continue seeing your psychologist beyond your 10 rebated sessions. Many clients do. After your Medicare sessions are used for the calendar year, you'll pay the full session fee until the calendar year resets on 1 January. Some clients use their private health insurance extras for sessions beyond the Medicare limit. Your psychologist can also discuss pacing sessions or spacing them across calendar years depending on your clinical needs. Medicare does not limit your total number of sessions, only the number eligible for a rebate per year.

Yes, our fees are the same regardless of whether you attend in person or via telehealth. Medicare rebates also apply equally to telehealth psychology sessions, so your out-of-pocket cost will be the same either way. If you're unsure whether telehealth is right for your situation, have a read of our Online Therapy page or contact us to chat it through.

For most presentations and most people, yes. The research on telehealth psychology consistently shows equivalent outcomes to in-person therapy for anxiety, depression, stress, grief, and many other presentations. The therapeutic relationship, which is central to outcomes, transfers well to video. Some approaches (particularly somatic or play-based work with young children) are better suited to in-person. We'll tell you if that's the case for you.

Yes. We use a HIPAA-compliant, end-to-end encrypted video platform. Sessions are not recorded and cannot be accessed by third parties. Your confidentiality is protected by exactly the same ethical and legal standards as in-person sessions. We recommend you attend from a private space where you won't be overheard. But beyond that, the platform itself is fully secure.

Absolutely. Many of our clients mix in-person and telehealth depending on their schedule and circumstances. There's no need to choose one permanently. Just let us know how you'd like to attend when you book each appointment.

Yes. To see a psychiatrist, a referral from your GP that includes the psychiatrist's name and details is required. Your GP can also share relevant history with your psychiatrist to ensure your assessment is as thorough as possible. Please call us on 03 9989 3380 if you have any questions about this process.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication and provide a medical diagnosis. Psychologists have a psychology degree and specialise in talk-based therapies like CBT, ACT, and others. Many people benefit from both. At Pre-Emptive, our psychiatrists and psychologists work closely together so you get the best of both worlds under one roof.

Not necessarily. Medication is one tool among many, and it's always your choice. Your psychiatrist will discuss all available options (including therapy, lifestyle changes, and other interventions) and will only recommend medication if they believe it's genuinely likely to benefit you. You'll always be involved in every decision.

Your first appointment is a conversation, not a test. Your psychiatrist will ask about your current difficulties, your background, and your goals. They'll listen without judgment and work with you to understand what's happening. By the end, you'll have a clear sense of next steps, whether that's further assessment, a treatment plan, or a referral within our team.

Signs to look for include: persistent changes in mood or behaviour, withdrawal from activities they used to enjoy, difficulty at school, sleep disturbances, increased conflict, or statements suggesting they're struggling with their thoughts or feelings. If you're concerned, trust your instincts. An assessment can help clarify what's happening and whether intervention is needed.

This depends on the child's age. For younger children, parents are more directly involved. For teenagers, confidentiality is important to the therapeutic relationship. We discuss the limits of confidentiality clearly from the start (e.g. safety concerns are always disclosed). We'll keep you informed about themes and progress without breaching your child's trust.

For couples therapy to be most effective, both people ideally participate. However, if your partner isn't ready, individual therapy focused on relationship dynamics can still be very useful, and sometimes one person's change creates a shift in the whole relationship. We're happy to talk through your options.

Medicare rebates apply to the individual, not the couple. If one person in the couple has a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP), that person may be eligible for a rebate for joint sessions, depending on how sessions are structured. Speak with your GP and ask us about current arrangements when you book.

Absolutely. Many people reach adulthood without ever receiving a diagnosis, particularly women and gender-diverse individuals, who are often missed or misdiagnosed. Late diagnosis can be incredibly validating and opens doors to supports that weren't previously accessible. There is no age limit for assessment.

Significantly. Online checklists are screening tools. They can indicate whether an assessment is warranted, but they don't diagnose. A formal assessment uses validated instruments normed against population data, accounts for multiple sources of information (not just self-report), and results in a diagnostic report that is clinically and legally meaningful.

Yes. ADHD and autism frequently co-occur, and many features overlap, so a comprehensive assessment considers both possibilities. We'll discuss the scope of the assessment with you during your initial enquiry and tailor it to your specific concerns.

No referral is needed to book with our dietitian. However, if you have a chronic condition (including some mental health conditions), a GP referral and a Chronic Disease Management Plan may entitle you to Medicare rebates for up to 5 dietetic sessions per calendar year. Ask your GP or call our reception and we'll help you work out what applies.

The evidence is clear and growing. The field of nutritional psychiatry has demonstrated strong links between diet quality and depression, anxiety, ADHD, and cognitive function. The gut-brain axis, the connection between your digestive system and your brain, is now understood to play a significant role in mood regulation. Diet is not a replacement for therapy or medication, but it can meaningfully support your recovery alongside them.

No. We see both NDIS and non-NDIS clients. If you don't have an NDIS plan yet and are considering applying, we can help by providing the psychometric assessment reports often required to support access requests. Many clients also access services through Medicare or as private patients.