FAQ

Do I need a doctor's referral to see a psychologist?

No, you do not need a referral to see Lorren. You are welcome to contact her and make an appointment at any time you feel psychological services would be helpful for you. However to be able to claim the Medicare rebate, you will need a current Mental Health Plan and Referral through your GP or a Referral from a Psychiatrist or Paediatrician.

You will need to have this prior to any session you wish to claim for, as Medicare will not backdate.

If I have a referral from my GP, are Medicare rebates available?

Yes. Clients referred by their GP under a Mental Health Care Plan are able to receive a Medicare rebate. The rebate for Clinical Psychologists is currently $141.85 for a 50 minute session, with a maximum of 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year.

Can I do sessions on line?

Yes, on line sessions are still available and claimable under Medicare. Not all sessions are appropriate to be undertaken in this way however. If you would like to talk further about your circumstances, please call the clinic and talk with our receptionist who will be able to help you.

Can I do phone sessions?

No Lorren does not offer sessions via phone, as she feels it does not provide enough information to adequately assess for clinical risk.

What is a Mental Health Care Plan?

A Mental Health Care Plan and Referral letter is prepared by your GP following a Mental Health Assessment. In order to prepare your Plan and Referral, your GP will most likely ask you to complete a questionnaire about how you have been feeling lately and will also speak with you about your concerns. Mental Health Care Plans are generally provided for issues such as depression, anxiety and stress and outline proposed treatment options and goals to improve your psychological health. GPs generally like clients to access the services and supports they need to cope with life, so talk to your GP if you feel you would benefit from accessing psychological services.

How many Medicare sessions can I receive?

When your GP refers you under a Mental Health Care Plan, you are eligible to receive a Medicare rebate for a maximum of 10 individual psychology sessions within a calendar year. Lorren will provide a report back to your GP at the completion of 6 sessions and again at the end of the 10 sessions. Your GP will review and monitor if the further four sessions are required but generally they want you to have access to the help you need, so will be guided by what the psychologist is recommending.

I already have a GP Mental Health Plan and Referral, but I want to see a different psychologist to the one previously listed. Is that possible?

Yes. You can see any psychologist as part of your plan, but generally it is good to ask your GP to write a new Referral Letter.  Bring  this along with you when you come. However you will still only be able to access a total of 10 sessions per calendar year.

I already have a GP Mental Health Plan and Referral from a previous year that I did not use all the sessions for. Can I still use that to access the Medicare Rebate?

Yes. It does not matter when the plan started, however you will still only be able to access a maximum of 10 sessions per calendar year. If your old plan and referral was already partially used, you can start with this and then get a new referral when you need one in order to access the full 10 sessions for that calendar year.

Can I claim through my Health Fund?

Depending on your Health Fund and your level of extra’s cover, you may be eligible to claim a rebate for psychological services. However, you will not be able to receive both a Medicare and Health Fund rebate for the same session. We recommend you contact your Health Fund to find out more about what you may be covered for.

Do you see children and adolescents as well as adults?

Yes. Lorren has experience with children of all ages and also adults.

Do you see adults wanting to deal with their childhood trauma?

Yes we do. Lorren is experienced in working with childhood trauma, whether they present as children or later in life as adults.

What about confidentiality?
As a registered Clinical Psychologist, Lorren is required to maintain confidentiality of all personal information gathered as part of the provision of the psychological service.  This means she is required to store all personal information securely and also not disclose it to other parties. The only exceptions to this are:
      • If you have given prior consent for the information to be shared (e.g. with a partner or other family members or with other professionals or stakeholders).
      • If not disclosing information would place you or another person at risk of harm,
      • If it is subpoenaed by a court.
How long does a session last?

Standard sessions are 50 minutes (maximum of 60 minutes). Generally this is sufficient, however if you feel you need longer you are free to request a double appointment. Please note however that you will only be able to claim the Medicare rebate on one of these sessions.

Do you bulk bill?

Sorry, we do not bulk bill.

Can I just pay the difference (the gap)?

No. With Medicare rebates, you will need to pay the full amount. After payment, the claim can then be submitted to Medicare.

Do you have a concession rate?

Not as a rule. However if you are currently experiencing financial difficulties, please talk to us and we will see what we are able to do to ensure you still have access to the support you need.

Are you a Clinical Psychologist?

Yes. Lorren has an endorsement with the Psychology Board of Australia as a Clinical Psychologist. She is also a member of the Australian Psychological Society and an accredited Practitioner and Consultant in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP). Lorren has also been trained in the Circle of Security (COS) Parenting intervention framework.

Whats the difference between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist?
Both Psychologists and Psychiatrists work in the area of mental health, however there are some differences between the two professions. 
      • A Psychiatrist is required to complete a medical degree prior to specialising in mental health.
      • A Psychiatrist can prescribe medication but a Psychologist cannot.
      • Psychologists work with a range of people with emotional and psychological difficulties including people who may not have mental health difficulties but who just want to improve their overall functioning and wellbeing.  
      • Psychologists receive specialist training in a range of non-medical interventions however will work closely with GPs and other medical specialists.