Services

The Mindful Spot draws upon several evidence-based methods, including:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
• Schema Therapy and
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E)

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) recommends a fee of $300 for a 50 minute session. We have set out fees under the recommendation to make them more affordable.

The session fee at The Mindful Spot is $255.

Exceptional circumstances, such as referrals from domestic violence services, refuges, and homelessness services, as well as some situations of financial vulnerability, may have their fees re-assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Fees for other related services, such as extended sessions, psychology report or letter writing, are charged at other rates, and can be discussed with your psychologist when required.

Fees are reviewed each July.

Fees for all psychological services are payable at the time of the session through our healthcare management system.

Payments by bank transfer, debit card, or credit card (VISA or Mastercard) are accepted. We do not have EFTPOS.

For a 50-minute appointment, a Medicare rebate of $93.35 applies if you have a Mental Health Care Plan and referral from your doctor.

You need to pay the full fee on the day and our healthcare management system will process the rebate for you, which is received in your bank account within a few days.

You can claim up to 10 Medicare rebated sessions per calendar year.

To access psychology services through Medicare you must be referred by your GP or a psychiatrist. If your GP is referring you, they will prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan which you will need before attending your psychology appointment. Remember to book a longer appointment with your GP to allow time to complete this.

The Mental Health Treatment Plan is valid for 12 months from the date it was created, and Medicare allows for 10 sessions per calendar year. If accessing Medicare you need to obtain a referral prior to the first session, and attend your GP for a mental health care plan review after the sixth session.

A Mental Health Care Plan gives you access to Medicare rebates of up to 10 sessions per calendar year. After six sessions, you will require a review from your GP in order to access a further four sessions under your care plan.

An Eating Disorder Plan gives you access to 40 psychological sessions and 20 dietetic sessions. After each 10 sessions you will require a review from the GP to access a further 10 sessions until 40 sessions have been reached. At or before 20 sessions, a review is needed by a psychiatrist to activate access to more than 20 sessions. You can see if you are eligible for an Eating Disorder Plan through your GP.

You can refer to the Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) website for more information.

Both plans will be lodged by your GP and we will require a copy of both the care plan and a referral letter stating that this has been processed. The rebates remain the same on both care plans.

Some private health insurers will provide a rebate with receipt of payment. Please check with your health fund.

We are committed to supporting the mental health of our community and take physical distancing seriously. If you are unwell, unable to attend your appointment in person, or live in a rural or remote community, you may choose to access a Telehealth session instead of attending the practice in person. These are online sessions conducted via video or phone conferencing.

You may feel apprehensive about accessing an online session, however there are benefits of accessing therapy online or by phone to consider:

- Continue psychology appointments when there is a barrier to attending in person.

- Flexibility in scheduling appointments around work, study, and family commitments.

- Improved accessibility for sessions, reducing external stressors like travel, traffic, parking.

Telehealth sessions are now eligible for Medicare rebates under a referral from your GP.

A Medicare rebate of $93.35 applies if you have a Mental Health Care Plan and referral from your doctor. You can claim up to 10 Medicare rebated sessions per calendar year.

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please provide at least 24 hours notice to avoid any cancellation fees.

Cancellations require 24 hours notice, otherwise a cancellation fee of $100 is charged. Non-attendance will also incur the $100 cancellation fee.

If you cannot attend, would like to reschedule, or need to cancel your appointment, you need to give a minimum notice of 24 hours by phone, text, or email. If you don’t you will be required to pay a $100 cancellation fee for the missed appointment. No rebates are paid by Medicare for missed appointments.