FAQ / FEES

INDIVIDUAL THERAPY

The standard fee for a General Psychologist for individual therapy consultations is $175. If the client is referred by their GP under the Better Access program on a Mental Health Care Plan they are able to receive a Medicare rebate. The rebate for a General Psychology appointment is $92.20. Clients with a Mental Health Care Plan may access 10 Medicare subsidised sessions per calendar year.

INDIVIDUAL THERAPY – PENSION OR HEALTH CARE CARD HOLDERS

Clients with a Health Care Card or Pension Card are offered a reduced rate. The cost of a 50 to 60 minute consultation for individual sessions with a Generalist Psychologist is $145 per hour (with a rebate of $92.20 if a Mental Health Care Plan is in place).
If the client is referred by their GP under the Better Access program, the GP will conduct a short assessment to determine what your primary concerns are and will then complete a Mental Health Care Plan so you can make your first appointment. The care plan will be given to you to bring to your first session or it will be faxed to us. Clients with a Care Plan may access 10 reduced rate sessions per calendar year.

COUPLE THERAPY AND RELATIONSHIP COUNSELLING

Relationship Counselling costs $195 per session. Couples may also attend therapy outside standard business hours (i.e., Thursday evenings until 8pm) and these sessions are charged at $215 per session. Under current arrangements GP’s cannot refer couples for Medicare funded Relationship Counselling sessions.

OPEN ARMS – VETERANS & FAMILIES COUNSELLING

Ex and Serving members of the Australian Defence Force may be referred through Open Arms for individual therapy or couples counselling. Open Arms is billed directly for therapy and there are no out of pocket expenses for clients referred by this service. Ex and Serving members of the Australian Defence Force should contact Open Arms directly to enquire about a referral. Clients referred by Open Arms initially attend for three sessions; a short report is then prepared by the psychologist together with a request for funding for further sessions if required. Typically, Open Arms clients are eligible for up to 15 sessions (more under extenuating circumstances). More information can be found here.

PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE

You may also be able to claim a rebate for therapy if you have private health insurance. Each insurer has different rebates available, however these rebates are dependent on the level of cover requested when the insurance was commenced. Contact your health insurer directly for details on your cover.

WORKCOVER

It may be possible to provide psychological counselling through WorkCover – typically through ‘Return to Work’ plans. These services are fully funded by Workcover and more information on how to access this support can be provided on request - allowing us to seek authorisation through your insurer. More information can be found here.

HOW CAN I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT? (DO I NEED A REFERRAL?)

Appointments can be made by calling 1300 232 028. Please leave a message with your contact details and we will get back to you to make an appointment. Alternatively you can use the Contact Us form.

Clients do not need a referral and may pay privately for consultations. However, most clients initially speak with their GP about a referral under the Better Access program and get a mental health care plan in place which allows them to claim a rebate.

HOW DO I PAY?

As part of the registration process we will capture your credit / debit card, bank account and your medicare details
This information is held securely and payment is authorised at the end of each session
If a Medicare rebate is applicable, this will automatically be processed at the end of each session and credited to your nominated bank account.

DO YOU HAVE A CANCELLATION OR MISSED APPOINTMENT FEE?

Yes. Two business days’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule an appointment without accruing a missed appointment fee. The missed appointment fee is currently $92.90 and must be paid before another session can be booked. Please Note: If a missed appointment fee is incurred, all future appointments will also be cancelled until the outstanding fee has been attended to. Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover missed appointment fees and hence this must be paid privately by the client.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A TYPICAL SESSION?

A typical therapy session is 50 minutes long. The first two or three sessions involve a general exploration of your concerns. Sometimes this is a discussion about how you feel emotionally or about the sorts of challenges you are trying to manage. If you’re not sure where to start that’s ok, your psychologist will be curious about a range of areas and can ‘lead the way’ in the course of the discussion, at least in the early stages of counselling to get things going.

HOW MANY SESSIONS DO PEOPLE TYPICALLY HAVE?

Individuals working through personal challenges like anxiety or depression typically need between six to twelve sessions. Some clients have one or two areas in which they need help and hence up to ten sessions is enough. Other people may have a range of difficulties to work through and in these cases, therapy can be conducted for a long period of time, from several months to a few years.

HOW REGULARLY DO YOU SEE CLIENTS?

Couples and individuals are typically seen on a weekly basis for the first few sessions and on a fortnightly basis thereafter. Each client is different however and weekly or monthly sessions are available on an ongoing basis.

CAN I BRING SOMEONE ALONG FOR SUPPORT?

Yes. If you are feeling unsure or anxious about speaking with a psychologist for the first time, then bringing a trusted friend or family member along can make things a little easier to start. Once you have an idea of what to expect from counselling it is then a good idea to attend alone to ensure you have a confidential opportunity to work through your concerns.

MY PARTNER AND I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND COUPLES COUNSELLING BUT ONE OF US ALSO HAS SOME ISSUES TO WORK ON INDIVIDUALLY, CAN I/WE DO INDIVIDUAL AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPY AT THE SAME TIME?

Yes. Generally however, if one person would like to attend therapy for individual issues at the same time as attending couple’s therapy then this would typically be conducted with a separate therapist to avoid potential conflicts of interest (i.e., one therapist would conduct the relationship counselling and a different therapist would work with the client with issues to be addressed individually). Conflicts of interest for example may involve material an individual needs to discuss with their therapist that they would like to keep private from their partner.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PSYCHOLOGIST AND A PSYCHIATRIST?

A psychologist has completed a four-year undergraduate degree in psychology together with a further two to three years of post-graduate study. Psychologists do not prescribe medication; their expertise lies in the management of mental illness and other life concerns through psychotherapy. Psychiatrists are medically trained doctors with degrees in medicine and surgery together with five years’ post-graduate training in psychiatry (psychiatry is a specialist area of medical practice). Psychiatrists are specialists in the management of mental illness through the prescription of appropriate medications and some psychiatrists also practice psychotherapy.

ARE YOUR SERVICES CONFIDENTIAL?

Yes. Psychologists are medico-legally obliged to provide confidential counselling that includes secure storage of any notes taken or reports and letters produced. Very rare exceptions exist with regards to confidentiality. If a person is at serious and immediate risk of suicide, of harming others or if the psychologist is subpoenaed to a court of law then information about a person’s counselling may need to be released to other parties. Necessary breaches of therapy confidentiality are generally very rare.

IS THERE LOCAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT OR PARKING AVAILABLE?

Yes, There is on street parking outside the practice and additional parking across the road next to BCF on Tamar Street.
There are numerous bus routes servicing Ballina to and from local towns. The Ballina Coach Stop on Tamar Street is opposite the practice

IS THERE DISABLED ACCESS?

Yes. Caroline Binns Psychology is wheelchair accessible.

DO YOU CONDUCT TELE AND VIDEO HEALTH SESSIONS?

Caroline Binns Psychology also provides online relationship counselling or individual therapy through Skype/Zoom / Whats App or Facetime. We also offer Telehealth sessions. Please contact us on 1300 232 028 or use the Contact Us form and we will contact you to confirm your details and appointment time.

We will also request your credit card details and we will forward a receipt of payment via email after each session is conducted.

FAQ / Fees: FAQ