info@psychologymelbourne.com.au
1300 161 639
Psychologists Online across Australia for counselling, testing and groups - Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth and Canberra
How can we help?
We all experience anxiety from time to time and worry about our health, money, or loved ones but anxiety disorders are different: they persist and do not go away easily and can get worse over time. If symptoms persist for more than 7 days, it is time to seek help.
Psychology Melbourne provides you with comprehensive treatment services for adults and adolescents suffering from anxiety.
This may include one or more of the following:
- One-on-one counselling
- Psychological testing
- Group therapy
One-On-One Counselling
Individual psychologist counselling provides people with a safe place to work through their personal or psychological problems, knowing that everything they say is confidential. It includes a series of 1-hour online or face-to-face individual consultations with an experienced psychologist.
Our team of experienced psychologists are skilled in working with a range of anxiety disorders and use a variety of treatment approaches, which you can read about below.
Psychological Testing
Before your first session you will receive an initial psychological assessment to identify the type of anxiety you may have and guide your psychologist in developing a treatment plan for you.
This may include any of the following: Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), phobias, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and Social Anxiety.
Depending on your results, further testing may be required.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is an alternative, effective treatment for anxiety disorders that includes working with others with similar challenges.
People often feel alone and like they are the only ones struggling with anxiety. It can be a huge relief to hear others discuss what you are going through.
You can join a group on completion of your one-on-one counselling or as a stand-alone treatment.
For more information about our Anxiety groups or on any of the above, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.
How does an Anxiety assessment work?
We begin with a screening test called the PsychProfiler to identify what sort of anxiety you are experiencing. The PsychProfiler is an online assessment that screens for anxiety disorders in adults and adolescents, including generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and specific phobias.
Further screening tests or full tests may be administered to confirm the type and severity of Anxiety you are experiencing.
These tests include:
- The Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) used to measure symptoms of anxiety based on the DSM criteria.
- The Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) to identify the severity of panic attacks and panic disorder symptoms.
- The Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS) can measure aspects of social anxiety including distress, discomfort, fear and avoidance.
- The Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) measures OCD symptoms across 6 subscales including checking, washing, neutralising, ordering, obsessing and hoarding.
There are often overlaps between the various anxiety-related disorders and our screening tests will assist your psychologist to identify the right treatment plan for you.
After reviewing your tests results, your psychologist may recommend:
- further testing if the results are not clear enough;
- a series of one-on-one counselling sessions
- an Anxiety group.
The main treatments for anxiety disorders are psychological counselling medication, and group therapy.
How does One-on-One Counselling work?
Individual counselling is conducted by an experienced psychologist, who will review the results of your screening tests and conduct a full clinical history to try to understand the possible sources of your anxiety.
During your individual sessions, your psychologist may provide exercises for you to do and recommend various resources and apps to help you manage your anxiety.
We have a large team of male and female psychologists who provide in-person and online counselling for anxiety. They are available six days a week, both before and after working hours and on Saturdays.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the most effective form of therapy for anxiety disorders and all our psychologists are trained in this approach. They will teach you skills to manage your symptoms and help you return to normal life.
CBT can include exposure therapy, which is effective for phobias caused by objects or situations that create anxiety. You will learn to build your confidence so that you can manage the situation and your anxiety better.
Other therapies, such as Mindfulness training, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy, Systematic De-sensitisation, and Biofeedback are also effective.
A combination of counselling and medication is often recommended. However, your psychologist will work together with you to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the medication pathway.
Medication
Psychologists are currently not able to prescribe psychiatric medication and if you decide to pursue medication, our psychologists will provide your GP with a report on your situation so they can be fully informed when prescribing medication.
There are several types of psychiatric medication used to relieve symptoms of anxiety. These include anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medication, sedatives, (benzodiazepines) or beta blockers, which block the release of the stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline.
These medications are generally used as a short-term relief from anxiety symptoms and are not intended to be used long term to avoid side effects. For a more permanent solution, therapeutic behavioural strategies are a safer solution.
Our psychologists can discuss with you some of the benefits, risks, and possible side effects of medications to help you make your own decision.
For more information, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.
How does Group Therapy work?
Our Anxiety Skills groups are clinically effective and extremely rewarding. They provide opportunities to work with other people with similar issues in a structured, safe environment. You will learn how to apply useful strategies to manage anxiety prior leaving the therapeutic environment.
These online groups are led by experienced psychologists for 6–8 people weekly for 4-6 weeks. Group work can provide benefits that individual therapy cannot. Seeing other people tackle problems and make positive changes can motivate you to face your own concerns. It can put your own problems in perspective..
Group work also gives you valuable access to experienced psychologists at a reduced cost compared to individual counselling. It can follow individual counselling or be a first port of call.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a general term that is used for a variety of anxiety-related disorders that induce feelings of nervousness, worry or fear. The effects of anxiety are not just limited to the mind but can also cause physical symptoms.
The most common diverse types of anxiety are:
Generalised Anxiety Disorder - Someone with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) feels anxious on most days and about lots of different things, for an extended period of time.
Specific Phobias - A person with a specific phobia has intense fear about a particular situation or thing and will go to an extreme extent to avoid them. Common phobias are a fear of animals, heights, flying, and injections.
Panic Disorder - Panic Disorder Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear or heightened anxiety with associated physiological symptoms. People can feel they are dying or having a heart attack. Repeated panic attacks are attributed to Panic Attack Disorder.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive behaviours (compulsions). These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress. (OCD has historically been recognized as an anxiety disorder in the DSM but more recently has been placed in a category of its own.)
Separation anxiety disorder - This condition involves intense anxiety about being separated from people you feel close to. This can affect both children and adults.
Social Anxiety - It is a type of anxiety involving the fear of being judged and evaluated negatively by other people, leading to feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, self- consciousness, embarrassment, humiliation, and depression.
How much does it cost?
Psychology Melbourne’s fees for Anxiety treatment are as follows:
1. Individual Counselling
We have a large team of male and female psychologists who provide in-person and online Anxiety counselling. They are available six days a week, for sessions both before and after regular working hours, as well as all day on Saturdays.
- Consultations with a clinical psychologist start from $275 and a Medicare rebate of $141.85 may apply for each session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $133.15 per session.
- Consultations with a registered psychologist start from $230 and a Medicare rebate of $96.65 may apply for every session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $133.35 per session.
- The fees for consultations differ between in-person and online sessions. There is an additional fee of $10 for appointments scheduled before 9 am and after 5 pm weekdays, as well as, for appointments throughout the day on Saturdays.
- Medicare rebates are available for 10 one-on-one counselling sessions per calendar year if you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP.
- To access funded services from a third party, such as Workcover or NDIS, you must provide approved claim details 48 hours before your first session. If, for any reason, approval is not provided, you will be responsible for full payment, or appointments may be cancelled. A gap fee of $20 per session may apply.
- A reduced fee is considered on request for clients under financial hardship with a letter from your GP confirming your financial situation.
- Fees can be paid by EFTPOS, VISA, or MasterCard. Please note that we do not accept American Express or Diners Club.
- Bulk Billing is not available at our clinic.
For more information, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.
2. Anxiety Groups
The cost of the Anxiety Skills Group for all 4-6 sessions is approximately $50 per session. Groups are held online at various times but usually in the evenings.
- Groups run by a clinical psychologist cost $510 and a Medicare rebate of $36.00 may apply for every session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $294.00.
- Groups run by a registered psychologist cost $450 and a Medicare rebate of $24.65 may apply for every session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $302.10.
- Medicare rebates are available for 10 1-hour group sessions per year if you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP and are located in a telehealth eligible area.
- After pay is available for the initial cost of the group and rebates are sent to your nominated account after each session.
- Some private health funds offer refunds for one-on-one counselling sessions. Please contact your private health provider to find out more about your policy.
For more information, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.
How to make an appointment
Counselling appointments
For individual counselling appointments you can book online or call our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.
Reception will find an appointment time that suits you best and will reserve 3 future appointments in the diary so that you can keep your place in your psychologist’s diary. Appointments after that will be made between you and your consultant.
We understand that changes to your appointments are sometimes necessary, but we urge you to notify us as soon as possible to avoid cancellation fees. You will be sent an SMS reminder four (4) days before your appointment.
For in-person appointments we have strict precautions in place at all our locations for your safety. If you are feeling unwell, have any symptoms of fever, or have tested positive for COVID-19, we ask you to use our online counselling services until you are well again.
Please bring your Mental Health Care Plan to your first session or email it to us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au. Alternatively, you can ask your GP to fax this through to us on 03 9957 8122.
Group appointments
We require prepayment of all groups prior to the start date. You can purchase the group on our website or call our Reception team for assistance on 1300 161 639 or email them info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.
Once you have enrolled in the group, you will be sent several forms to complete before the group starts. If you have any questions about forms, please speak to our helpful Reception team. The forms are required to be completed 24 hours before the group starts.
You will need to join the online group 10 minutes before it starts to ensure there are no IT problems. Assistance on the night is only available for 10 minutes before and after the start time.
Alternatively, we can show you how to join on the day prior to the group starting.
If you have any IT problems, please check your audio and video are working properly as well as your Wi-Fi connection. Refresh your browser if you are still experiencing problems.
