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Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I need to see a psychologist?
All sorts of individuals consult with a psychologist for a range of different issues.
How many sessions will I need?
The number of sessions required will vary depending upon your issue or individual needs and circumstances.
What should I expect when I see a psychologist?
It is understandable to feel uncomfortable or anxious about talking to new person, particularly about sensitive information.
Broulee Psychologist provides a relaxed and supportive approach to assist you to feel comfortable to share your concerns. The focus is on providing an open and collaborative approach to helping you address your difficulties.
All psychologists work differently so if you have seen a psychologist before you can expect things to be slightly different. In your first session, you will be asked to talk about your current presenting problem as well as providing a comprehensive background in order to gain a full picture of your current concerns and circumstances. We will also speak about how we work and establish some guidelines for subsequent sessions together, including frequency of sessions, fees, confidentiality and treatment goals.
You will have an opportunity to ask any questions that you may have and you should be expected to get some feedback about how many sessions may be required and the recommended treatment approach to be taken.
How often do I need to attend sessions?
When seeing a psychologist, it is helpful to have sessions close together initially in order to begin working together to address current issues. For this reason, we prefer to schedule a block of three initial sessions on a weekly basis at the start.
How long are sessions?
Sessions for individual clients are usually 50 minutes long. The final 5-10 minutes of the scheduled appointment is dedicated to arranging payment and organising subsequent appointments.
How do I make an appointment?
Broulee Psychology is open from Monday to Friday during business hours.
Please call on 0490 340 021 or send an email to info@brouleepsychology.com.au to discuss making an appointment.
How long do I have to wait for an appointment?
Wait times can fluctuate based on the time of year. However, if you are flexible with your times then we can usually find an appointment time depending upon psychologist capacity.
Some appointment times have a higher demand, such as those first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon. You may have to wait longer for these times.
We do keep a cancellation list so it may be possible to get an earlier appointment depending upon cancellations.
What if I am in crisis or need to see someone immediately?
Broulee Psychology is not able to provide crisis appointments. If you need to speak with someone immediately, we recommend calling the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.
If you are not safe or there an emergency, you should attend your local emergency department or dial 000 for immediate assistance.
Do I need a referral?
Individuals do not have to have a referral to access our service.
GP referrals provide individuals with Medicare rebates that can cover a portion of your service fee for up to 10 sessions within a calendar year. A GP referral is not necessary to claim rebates from Private Health Insurance.
Are sessions confidential?
It is natural to be concerned about your confidentiality when you are sharing intimate details about yourself with a psychologist. This is particularly important for individuals living in a small town.
Information obtained during sessions is confidential and cannot be disclosed without your consent. There are some legal limitations to confidentiality which will be discussed with you in your first session.
You will be required to sign a consent form before any information can be shared. This will necessary for information sharing with the referring GP.
Can I claim a rebate for sessions through Medicare?
Medicare offers rebates for up to 10 sessions per calendar year for eligible clients with a GP referral. For more information, see Fees and Rebates on our apppointment page.
Do you provide a bulk billing (free) service?
Broulee Psychology is a private billing practice so consultation fees need to be paid in full and the rebates can be claimed directly by Medicare. When you pay your account, we can lodge a claim to Medicare on your behalf. This rebate should be returned to you within 48 hours.
Clients may discuss reduced rates or bulk billing in certain circumstances, such as severe financial hardship. However, given that Broulee Psychologist is a small, privately owned business, there are only a certain number of bulk billing sessions available. When these are full, bulk billing clients will have to wait on a bulk billing waitlist.
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Psychologists and Psychiatrists both work in the area of mental health and often refer to each other. However, there are significant differences between these two professionals.
Psychiatrists are medically trained doctors who have gone on to specialise in the field of psychiatry. Psychiatrists are able to prescribe medications to treatment mental illness.
Psychologists generally have at least six years of training in the field of psychological treatments for mental health issues. Psychologists use treatments (sometimes called “talk therapies”) that are focused on improving a person’s mental health without the use of medication or alongside medication that is prescribed by a GP or psychiatrist.
What is the difference between a psychologist and a counsellor?
Psychologists usually have a minimum of six years of university training and are required to be registered with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency). Psychologists practice according to a Code of Ethics outlined by the Australian Psychological Society. This code sets out standards of professional conduct for psychologists in order to ensure that clients are receiving a high level of professional care.
In Australia, counsellors and psychotherapists are not regulated by a specific government body. This means that anyone can call themselves a counsellor or psychotherapist whether or not they have undertaken professional training in treating mental health issues. It is for this reason that counsellors are not eligible to claim Medicare rebates when working with clients.
If you are planning to work with a counsellor or psychotherapist, it may be wise to enquire about their qualifications, the professional organisations that they belong to, and whether they practice according to a professional code of ethics.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - Online Psychological Therapy
What is online psychological therapy?
Online psychological therapy is psychological therapy provided via videoconference.
This means that the psychologist and the client can see each other online via their laptops or smartphones during the session.
Alternatively, psychological therapy sessions may be conducted over the telephone if you prefer.
What is a telehealth session?
Telehealth simply means health services provided online or via telephone. Telehealth sessions are the same as online psychological therapy sessions.
How do I access my online psychological therapy session?
Online sessions are easy to access. All you will need a device with a microphone, camera and an internet connection.
Are online psychological therapy sessions safe and secure?
All psychological therapy sessions, whether conducted online or face to face, are confidential between you and your psychologist.
At Broulee Psychology, we use secure video conferencing software that meets the strict requirements set out in the Australian Privacy Principles.
How much is online therapy and can I claim a rebate from Medicare?
Our standard sessions fees apply to online psychological therapy.
Medicare and private health fund rebates are available for online psychological therapy sessions.
Will an online session be different from a face to face sessions?
If you are used to seeing your psychologist face to face sessions in the clinic, then online therapy sessions will feel a little different in the beginning. But don’t worry, you will soon adapt to the new format.
Some clients now report preferring online therapy sessions over face to face sessions.
Is online therapy effective?
Research has consistently found that online therapy can be equally as effective as face to face counselling, particularly when focusing on short-term goals and reducing symptom severity.
In fact, some studies have shown that online therapy can be more effective than face to face therapy, especially when it involves the use of cognitive-behavioural strategies in certain circumstances.
Can I wear my pyjamas?
We recommend you wear something comfortable and appropriate for an online therapy session. This may be your pyjamas or even your favourite onesie! We will be in the clinic so it will be normal work attire for us.