Therapy and Coaching FAQs

A standard 50-60 minute consultation is $275 (includes processing fees and GST, where applicable).

No, you do not need a referral to book therapy sessions. Many people choose to pay privately for a variety of reasons. 

However, if you would like to access Medicare rebates, you will need a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral from your GP (or psychiatrist). 

If you’re unsure which option is best for you, we can clarify this before your first appointment.

 Contact your private health insurance provider to find out if they offer rebates for psychological consultations. 

Step-by-step guide

Here’s how it works in practice:

1. See your GP (or psychiatrist).
Book an appointment and ask for a Mental Health Treatment Plan (or Eating Disorder Treatment Plan, if relevant) and a referral to a psychologist.

2. Get a valid referral.
If your GP thinks psychological support would help, they’ll prepare the plan and referral — this is essential before you attend the psychology session(s) that you want to claim rebates for.

Occasionally, GPs may be uncertain about the specific wording required for a Medicare-compliant referral. To avoid delays in claiming your rebate, we encourage you to double-check that your referral meets Services Australia requirements.

There is no standard referral form, but the referral must be a signed and dated letter (an electronic signature is acceptable).

It should include:

• Your full name
• Date of birth
• Address
• Your symptoms or diagnosis
• Any current medications
• The number of treatment services being referred (maximum of 6)
• A statement confirming that a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) has been prepared 

If any of this information is missing, Medicare may not process the rebate.

3. Book psychology sessions.
Ensure your psychologist has a copy of your valid referral so Medicare rebates can be claimed for eligible sessions.

4. Claim the rebate.
Medicare rebates are usually processed on your behalf automatically after each session and returned to your nominated bank account. 

How many sessions can be claimed?

• Up to 10 Medicare-rebated individual therapy sessions per calendar year under a standard Mental Health Treatment Plan. 
• If you have a Medicare Eating Disorder Treatment Plan, eligible adults may access up to 40 rebated psychology sessions per year.  

Medicare rebates do not automatically roll over — the limit resets in January each year. 

How much is the rebate?

• Clinical Psychologist (50-minute session): ~ $145.25 rebate per session. 
• Rebates for other professions (e.g., general psychologists or social workers) are typically lower.
   

Your out-of-pocket cost will be the difference between your session fee and the rebate.

Extra info:

• Medicare rebates don’t cover the full cost of therapy, and rebates only apply if your referral and treatment plan are in place before the psychology session(s) you want to claim. Your out-of-pocket expense per session is $129.75. 
• To access more sessions after the first 6, your psychologist provides a progress report and your GP can issue an updated referral for up to 4 more (total 10 annually).
• Find more information on Medicare claiming for psychology here.

 Cancellation fees are not personal — and we understand that sometimes life happens.

When you book an appointment, that time is reserved specifically for you. Late cancellations can’t usually be offered to another client at short notice, and your psychologist has already prepared for the session and committed overhead costs for that hour.

Clear cancellation policies help maintain fairness for all clients and support the sustainability of a small private practice.

We require a minimum of 48 hours (2 business days) notice to reschedule or cancel an appointment.

• 25–48 hours (1–2 business days) notice: 50% of the session fee
• Less than 24 hours (1 business day) notice: 100% of the session fee 

Please note that Medicare, DVA, and most private health insurers do not cover late cancellation or non-attendance fees. These charges remain the client’s responsibility.

 If you’re running late, please let us know as soon as possible.

Sessions will still finish at the scheduled time so that other clients are not impacted. If you arrive late, your appointment will be shortened accordingly.

If you are 20 or more minutes late without notice, the appointment will be considered a non-attendance.

If you notify us in advance, we may be able to proceed with a shorter session (minimum 30 minutes). Please note that Medicare rebates are lower for shorter sessions.

The same fee applies for the time that was reserved.

We understand that delays can happen. Clear communication helps us manage the day fairly for everyone.

 There isn’t a fixed number.

It’s difficult to estimate the length of therapy before we’ve had at least one or two sessions to clarify your goals and understand the broader context of your life.

Some people prefer brief, focused blocks of therapy. Others benefit from regular sessions over several months or longer. The frequency and duration of therapy will depend on factors such as:

• Your goals and priorities.
• The complexity of what you’re navigating.
• ADHD, Autism, trauma, or other mental health factors. 
• Previous therapy experiences. 
• Your preferred therapeutic approach. 
• Practical considerations such as time and funding. 

We will review these factors together and make decisions collaboratively. You will always have informed choice about how we proceed.

It’s also completely okay to begin with one approach and adjust over time. If at any point you feel that I’m not the right fit, I will support you in transitioning to another psychologist. Finding the right therapeutic relationship matters.

Yes.

Some people prefer brief, focused blocks of therapy. Others benefit from longer-term work — particularly when exploring longstanding relational patterns, trauma, identity development, or neurodevelopmental differences.

The frequency and duration of therapy are not arbitrary. They are guided by your goals, the complexity of what you’re navigating, and evidence-informed models of care. 

We will review progress regularly and adjust as needed.

Long-term therapy is not about dependency — it’s about depth, integration, and sustainable change.

 Frequency depends on your goals, the complexity of what you’re navigating, and evidence-informed treatment models.

Some people attend weekly or fortnightly, particularly in the early stages. Others prefer less frequent sessions once momentum is established.

We will review this collaboratively and adjust over time.

Welcome back! 

Some people move in and out of therapy at different life stages. There is no expectation that therapy must be continuous. 

However, if you haven’t attended a session within the past three months, please contact admin before booking further appointments. This allows us to confirm current availability and ensure that active clients are able to maintain consistency in their treatment plans.

Depending on the length of time since your last session, we may also need to schedule a review appointment to revisit your goals and update your clinical information.

Jacinta is not registered as an NDIS provider but can see some NDIS participants (not agency-managed clients). 

Participants are required to pay the full rate of $275 per session on the day of service and claim their own reimbursement from NDIS. We are unable to bill third party payers.

 Yes — with your consent, I am happy to collaborate with other professionals involved in your care.

Multidisciplinary communication can be particularly valuable for clients navigating complex presentations, shared-care arrangements, or NDIS capacity-building supports. Coordinated care helps ensure consistency, reduces mixed messaging, and supports clearer therapeutic goals.

In most cases, time spent writing reports, providing letters, attending case conferences, or corresponding with other professionals is billed at the standard clinical rate in 15-minute increments. Although this work occurs outside of direct session time, it involves clinical judgement, formulation, documentation, and professional responsibility. It is considered part of your overall care.

If liaison is likely to be beneficial, we will discuss this together and ensure you have informed consent regarding any associated fees.

 In some cases, yes.

As your treating psychologist, I can provide clinical letters or reports that outline relevant diagnoses, functional impacts, and support needs where appropriate. This may assist with funding reviews (e.g., NDIS), Disability Support Pension applications, university adjustments, workplace accommodations, or other formal processes.

Any documentation must be clinically appropriate and within the scope of my role as a treating psychologist. I do not act as a support coordinator, advocate, or case manager, and I cannot guarantee outcomes from external agencies.

Please note that I do not provide medico-legal reports or documentation for legal proceedings (e.g., court matters, family law, criminal cases, compensation claims, or fitness-for-duty disputes). These require an independent forensic or medico-legal assessment.

Time spent preparing letters, completing forms, attending case conferences, or corresponding with third parties is billed at the standard clinical rate in 15-minute increments. 

If you anticipate needing documentation, we can discuss what is appropriate and plan accordingly.

I’m sorry if that’s been your experience. 

Unfortunately, not every therapeutic relationship is a good fit — and when therapy feels invalidating, rushed, or misunderstood, it can be discouraging.

Different clinicians work in different ways. Therapeutic approaches, communication styles, and levels of structure vary significantly. A poor fit doesn’t mean therapy as a whole isn’t helpful — it may simply mean the match or environment wasn’t right.

If you choose to try again, we can go at a pace that feels safe. You’re welcome to tell me what didn’t work previously so we can avoid repeating those patterns. Open feedback is encouraged.

 I am not a crisis service.

If you are experiencing immediate risk to yourself or others, please contact emergency services (000 in Australia) or Lifeline (13 11 14). For urgent mental health concerns outside of session times, your GP or local hospital may also be appropriate supports.

Therapy with me is structured and planned. If crisis support or acute mental health intervention is a primary need, we can discuss whether additional services would be helpful instead of, or alongside our work.

 Yes.

You do not need to be pursuing a diagnosis — or identify as neurodivergent — to engage in therapy with me. While I have a special interest in ADHD and Autism, I also work with adults navigating burnout, trauma, relationship patterns, anxiety, depression, identity questions, and life transitions.

Therapy is not reserved for a particular label. It’s a space to understand patterns, build flexibility, and move toward more sustainable ways of living — regardless of diagnosis.

 No.

My practice focuses on individual adult therapy and assessment.

If couples or family-based work would be more appropriate, I’m happy to suggest referral options.

 No. 

Psychologists do not prescribe medication in Australia.

If medication assessment is appropriate (for example, for ADHD), I can communicate with your GP or psychiatrist as part of a shared-care approach.

 Executive functioning coaching is practical and present-focused. It helps you to develop skills in areas such as planning, organisation, time management, accountability, task initiation, and productivity.  Coaching does not involve diagnosing or treating a mental health condition. 

Because it is standalone skills-based support, coaching does not attract Medicare rebates.

Therapy, by contrast, is a regulated health service focused on the assessment and treatment of mental health conditions and psychological distress. It involves clinical formulation, evidence-based treatment, and consideration of emotional, developmental, relational, and neurobiological factors.

Therapy may include executive functioning skills development — but this occurs within the context of a broader clinical picture, rather than as isolated performance coaching.

Therapy sessions may be eligible for Medicare rebates when a GP determines that you meet criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition or clinically significant mental health symptoms (for example, anxiety-related difficulties). 

In summary, Medicare rebates apply to clinically indicated psychological treatment, not coaching-only services.

 “Untangling” isn’t about literal rope. It’s a metaphor for understanding the patterns that shape how you think, feel, relate, and respond.

Over time, experiences like loss, criticism, trauma, or repeated disappointment can shape the beliefs we hold about ourselves and the world. In psychology, these patterns are sometimes called schemas — lenses through which we interpret our experiences. When those lenses become rigid or self-limiting, we can feel stuck.

Untangling means slowing down to notice those patterns, understanding where they came from, and deciding which ones still serve you — and which ones don’t.

You don’t have to do this work “now.” Therapy isn’t an emergency mandate. But many people reach a point where coping strategies that once worked no longer feel sustainable. That’s often when untangling becomes worthwhile.

You don’t cut the rope. You learn how it’s woven — and how to move with more freedom.