We understand that seeing a psychologist for the first time can raise many questions. To help you feel more informed and at ease, we’ve created this page to answer some of the most common questions our clients ask.
Do I need a referral from my GP to see a psychologist?
You do not need a referral to see one of our psychologists however such appointments would not attract a Medicare rebate.
How much do sessions cost?
Session prices vary depending on which psychologist you see. If you are after specific pricing please call us on 02 6262 6157 or you can view our fees page.
Will I receive a rebate from Medicare?
If you have been referred by your GP under a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you will be eligible to claim approximately $98.95 for a registered psychologist and approximately $145.25 for a clinical psychologist per consultation for up to 10 sessions per calendar year.
Note: Relationship counselling sessions are not eligible for Medicare rebates. Up to two Medicare-subsidised services per calendar year are available to be used by carers or family members of clients, as long as the service is part of the client’s treatment plan and the client has given their consent. Sessions with a provisional psychologist are also not eligible for Medicare rebates.
Sessions for Assessment appointments are not generally funded by Medicare. For more information, please refer to the Assessments page.
What is the cancellation policy?
There is a 48-hour cancellation policy for appointments that cannot be attended (business hours only). You can cancel or reschedule without charge by emailing support@strategicpsychology.com.au at least 48 business hours prior to your scheduled appointment.
Please note that we do not accept cancellations or rescheduling by phone.
Cancellations or rescheduling within 48 business hours of your consultation will be charged the full fee unless a medical certificate is provided. Cancellation fees cannot be claimed through Medicare. Please note that refunds can take up to 10 business days.
Can I claim a private health rebate?
Many private health insurers provide rebates for psychology services, but coverage and rebate amounts vary widely between funds. It’s best to contact your insurance provider directly to confirm whether your policy includes psychology and to understand exactly what you’re entitled to claim. Please note you cannot claim a rebate from both Medicare and your private health fund for the same session. If you’re using a Medicare rebate, you won’t be able to also claim through your private health insurance for that appointment.
If you have further questions, we recommend discussing your options with your insurer to ensure you get the most from your cover.
How much do sessions cost?
Session prices vary depending on which psychologist you see. If you are after specific pricing please call us on 02 6262 6157 or you can view our fees page.
How long will my appointment be?
Your initial therapy appointment will be 80 minutes in length. Subsequent appointments will be 50 minutes in length.
For assessment appointments, more information about sessions and length can be found on the assessments page.
How many sessions will I need?
Research suggests that there is a strong relationship between the number and frequency of appointments attended and positive therapeutic gains over time. For example, for some clinical presentations, weekly appointments produce better psychological outcomes on average than attending less frequent appointments such as fortnightly or monthly.
This finding also applies to the number of appointments attended. For example, attending 12 therapy sessions has been shown to lead to better mental health outcomes on average when compared to attending 6 therapy sessions.
Although this might be true on average, we suggest speaking with your psychologist following your initial appointment to discuss what might be best for you.
Do you offer psychological assessments?
At Strategic Psychology, we offer comprehensive psychological assessments to help individuals gain a deeper understanding of their cognitive, academic, and behavioural strengths and challenges. For more information, please visit our assessments page.
Booking future appointments
As we have high demand for appointments, we encourage you to book multiple follow-up sessions after your initial appointment to ensure continuity of care.
If you’ve already scheduled your first appointment and would like to arrange future sessions now, please refer to your booking confirmation email — you’ll find a link there to make additional bookings. Just ensure these are scheduled after your initial appointment date.
Most clients choose to see their psychologist on a weekly or fortnightly basis.
What kind of counselling does Strategic Psychology provide?
We offer counselling for a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, eating disorders, phobias, addictions, anger management, pain management, and more. We also provide counselling for children, couples and families. For more specific information, please contact us to speak with one of our friendly team members.
We understand that finding the right psychologist is a personal and sometimes complex process. The suitability of a clinician’s experience and approach will vary depending on your individual circumstances and history. Our team is happy to discuss your needs and goals before booking, though we cannot guarantee a perfect match.
Conflict of Interest
When booking an appointment with one of our psychologists for the first time, we ask that you consider any potential conflicts of interest, such as a family member or close friend already seeing the same psychologist. This helps maintain clear professional boundaries and supports the best possible care for all clients.
If you’re unsure, please contact our team for guidance. Where a conflict of interest is identified, your psychologist may be required to discontinue therapy with you.
What if I would like to change my Psychologist?
If at any stage you would like to change psychologists, please contact our admin team (support@strategicpsychology.com.au) to arrange your clinical handover. Please note that your initial appointment with your new psychologist will be an 80-minute consultation with subsequent appointments returning to 50 minutes thereafter.
Where is the closest place to park? Is the practice wheelchair accessible?
There is ample parking available directly across the road from our clinic, with entry via London Circuit. Please allow an extra 15 minutes for parking and finding our office. Strategic Psychology is located on the first floor and is accessible only by stairs; unfortunately, there is no elevator. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
What is the exact location of your practice?
Our location is Level 1, 121 London Circuit (Sydney Building), Canberra City ACT 2601 (Corner of London Circuit & East Row). Click here for map. Strategic Psychology’s clinic is on the first floor, accessible only by stairs with no elevator, we apologise for the inconvenience.
Does Strategic Psychology provide after hours consultations?
Yes. Days and times may vary depending on the availability of our psychologists so please contact us on 02 6262 6157 to enquire about what times we have available at present.
Will my psychologist review my referral?
Psychologists commonly abstain from reviewing client information provided through referral letters or other documentation prior to the initial session. This practice is employed to mitigate the potential for preconceived biases, thereby ensuring an objective and impartial foundation for the therapeutic process.
Does Strategic Psychology have a privacy policy
As part of providing a psychological service (i.e., counselling, assessment, report writing), Strategic Psychology needs to collect and record personal information such as your name, contact information, medical history, personal circumstances and other relevant information. This collection of personal information is a necessary part of the assessment and treatment process. You can view Strategic Psychology’s full Privacy Policy here.
Does Strategic Psychology use AI assisted technology?
As part of our ongoing efforts to provide the highest quality care, with your consent, we may use AI-assisted technology to support clinicians with note-taking during your sessions. This process may involve the recording of your appointment for the following purposes:
- To assist your clinician in accurately documenting your session.
- To ensure the completeness and quality of the notes taken during your session.
Please note the following important details regarding this process:
- Session recordings are strictly confidential and will only be accessible to the clinician providing your care.
- Recordings are temporary and will be permanently deleted after the clinician has completed and verified the notes for your session. No recording will be retained beyond that point.
- The recordings are not used for any other purposes beyond note-taking and will not be shared with any third parties.
- Your participation in this process is entirely voluntary, and you may request that your session not be recorded. This will in no way affect the care you receive.
- Data security measures are in place to ensure that any recordings are stored in a secure and encrypted manner during the short period they are retained.
- You have the right to revoke your consent at any time and request that no further recordings be made.
Does Strategic Psychology have a consent policy?
Yes. Upon booking your first appointment, you will be asked to sign our consent policy, which is available here.
What can you expect from your psychologist?
You can expect confidentiality regarding your privacy, to be treated with respect, dignity, and understanding at all times, and a safe environment where you can speak openly about any concerns.
Is there any specific information in relation to appointments for children?
If the initial therapy appointment is for a child under the age of 13, the appointment is for the parent or caregiver only.
If the therapy appointment is for an adolescent between the ages of 13 and 16, the initial appointment is for both the caregiver and the adolescent. As every situation is different and privacy is of most importance, we may at times ask for either the caregiver or adolescent to sit in the waiting room to allow the other party to speak openly about any concerns.
These arrangements will be negotiated with your psychologist at the time of your appointment. Please contact us if you have any concerns so we can make alternate arrangements.
Is there specific information regarding Consent for Children?
For parents booking an appointment for their child, please be aware that your clinician will likely need consent from both parents before providing support. This is to ensure compliance with legal and ethical requirements.