No, you do not need a referral to see a Psychologist.

However, there are certain situations in which a referral might be necessary or helpful:

Medicare Rebates: To be eligible for Medicare rebates for psychological services, you need a referral from a general practitioner (GP) or a medical specialist. This referral is usually made under the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative. With this referral, you can access a 10 subsidised sessions each calendar year with a Psychologist.

Specialist Services: If you're seeking specialised psychological services or assessments, a referral from a relevant specialist (e.g., a paediatrician for child psychology services) may be beneficial.

It's important to note that while a referral might be required for certain types of financial assistance or specific programs, you can always choose to see a psychologist privately without a referral.

In your first session, it is an opportunity to discuss your concerns, goals, and any questions you may have about the therapy process. We understand that attending therapy may feel daunting for some - so your Psychologist will work with you at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

• The duration of a standard assessment session is 50 minutes.

• The duration of a standard consultation session is 50 minutes.

The frequency of therapy sessions can vary. It's typically weekly to start, but you will work with you Psychologist to determine a schedule that suits your needs and goals.

The duration of therapy depends on your individual goals and needs. Some clients benefit from short-term therapy, while others may require longer-term support.

You may benefit from seeing a clinical psychologist if you are experiencing emotional distress, struggling with personal or relationship issues, or dealing with symptoms of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or stress. If you're unsure, an initial consultation can help determine if therapy is right for you.

So we can provide the best support to our community, we ask for advanced notice for cancellations. Please read our full cancellation policy below before cancelling an appointment.

After your initial session has been scheduled, you can manage your appointments using the online booking portal. Please be aware that if you cancel or reschedule an appointment within 1 business day of your appointment you may incur a charge of the full cancellation fee. See below for the cancellation policy.

The Joyful Psych uses Zanda’s secure payment software, Stripe. Your stored credit card will be charged on the day of your appointment. See Stripe’s security policy here

There are two ways you can claim a rebate for psychological services:

1. Obtain a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP or Psychiatrist. If you provide your referral letter and plan before your first appointment, your rebate will be processed automatically the same day. Once successful, Medicare will deposit the rebate into your nominated bank account.

2. Contact your Private Health Fund to see if you are covered for psychological services. You will be sent an invoice after each session, and you can submit this to your health fund.

3. The Joyful Psych is not a NDIS registered provider. This means we are only able to accept self-managed NDIS clients who will be required to pay the full fee at the time of your appointment. You will then independently follow up with your NDIS management with a copy of your receipt in order to be reimbursed.

The Joyful Psych can offer both video and phone appointments when necessary for therapy sessions only. Please note that this can be more challenging with children as they work best with face to face contact.

• If it is a phone appointment, your Psychologist will call you at the time of the appointment.

• If it is a video appointment, your Psychologist will send you an email with the secure link to your virtual appointment.

The Joyful Psych operates a waitlist for existing clients. This means that clients can request to be waitlisted for an appointment for specific dates, day and times. If that appointment timeslot becomes available, waitlisted clients will be contacted via sms.

If you receive an sms regarding an appointment opening, you will be able to check to see if it is still available by logging onto the online booking portal. If the appointment is still available, you are able to book the appointment online.

In order to make it fair to all clients, our waitlist operates on a first come first serve basis.*

Our cancellation policy applies for our waitlist appointments, so please be mindful of your own schedule before accepting an appointment. The best way to notify your Psychologist that you would like to be placed on the waitlist is via email or during your appointment.

*The Joyful Psych is not a crisis service. However, as part of a Psychologist's Code of Ethics, there is some level of mental health triage that need to take precedence when offering appointments.