Face-to-Face Counselling

Psychology Melbourne is opened for face-to-face appointments. Not all psychologists can be available.  If you are a current client and face-to-face sessions are important to you, please mention this to your psychologist. 

As our main concern is to keep you, the psychologists and our staff safe, the following conditions will apply for all face-to- face consultations:

• If you are experiencing any Covid19 symptoms, please advise reception and the appointment will be converted to telehealth as according to the Covid19 Govt guidelines.
• A surgical or N95 or KF94 face mask is required, but no cloth masks! (You can wear a cloth mask over the surgical mask).
• A rapid antigen test on the day before your session is preferred with a photo of the result on your phone.

Meanwhile, appointments will continue to be available via phone and secure online video.

Please note that for face-to face appointments you will need to be fully vaccinated (with both jabs) when attending sessions at any of our locations. If you have a medical exemption, you will be required to do online or phone sessions until further notice.

Please email your vaccination certificate to info@psychologymelbourne.com.au one week prior to your first face-to-face appointment.

Please advise reception when making a face-to-face appointment if you have been feeling unwell, have any symptoms of fever, coughing, sneezing, and headache and/or breathing difficulty, or if you or anyone close to you have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19. In those cases, we ask clients to use our online or phone counselling sessions until you are well again.

Precautions

As an essential service, we fully comply with the Department of Health’s hygiene and self-isolation guidelines at our CBD clinic and other locations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

• We have increased the air flow in our air conditioning system to ensure your utmost protection.
• We have transparent screens at each reception station
• We have alcohol-based hand-sanitiser stands outside the entrance and exit of the clinic. 
• We have extra hand sanitizers and alcohol wipes in every room and your chair arms will be wiped down after each session.
• We may request to take your temperature using a no-touch digital infrared thermometer if required.

We ask you to protect yourself and others around you by being aware of the health authority advice and taking appropriate precautions. 

• We ask you to clean your hands with the hand-sanitizer before you enter the clinic. 
• Face masks must be worn at all times during your visit. 
• We ask you to observe physical distancing at all times in the waiting room and consulting rooms.
• We ask you to cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or a tissue if you cough or sneeze.
• We ask that you do not attend face-to-face counselling if you have not been vaccinated.

Where can I do Face-To-Face Counselling?

We have several locations where we offer face-to-face counselling. These vary according to the state of the pandemic.

• Melbourne CBD
• Richmond
• Port Melbourne
• Albert Park
• East Doncaster
• Balwyn
• Brunswick
• Highett
• Sandringham

For further information, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au

What can we help with?

We have a large team of psychologists who work online with a wide range of problems including anxiety, depression and relationship problems. You can even do couples counselling online with each partner in different locations.

Fees & rebates

Fees for face-to-face counselling are slightly higher than for online and phone counselling. They are paid by credit card before the session to secure your appointment. Half or full consultations are available for individuals, couples and families.

You can claim Medicare rebates for up to ten (10) face-to-face counselling sessions in a calendar year if you have a Mental Health Care Plan. Check with our reception if you are eligible on 1300 161 639.

The Federal Government will also provide an extra ten (10) counselling session rebates (to a maximum of 20) during the pandemic for Victorians until March 31, 2021.

Clients will be required to:

• have a new Mental Health Treatment Plan
• have used all of their 10 sessions in the calendar year, and
• to undertake a review with their GP after their 10th session.

Once approved, you will be able to continue to access treatment even if public health orders are lifted. 

For those with a Mental Health Plan our fees are as follows:

Other rebates available

Fully funded employee assistant consultations (EAP) are immediately available for employees of companies with a Psychology Melbourne EAP program. Check if your company has a program with us and if they don’t, you can refer them to our Accounts Manager at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au.

Other medical insurers are offering rebates for phone counselling such as Private Health insurance, WorkCover, TAC and others shown below.

• Private Health insurance - all private health companies have approved online and phone consultations. You don’t need the GP referral for this.
• WorkCover - fully funded and immediately available
• TAC - fully funded and immediately available
• VOCAT - fully funded and immediately available
• NDIS - fully funded and immediately available
• DVA - fully funded and immediately available
• Other - please contact Psychology Melbourne for the latest organisations who have approved online and phone sessions.

If you have specific questions about insurance, please get in touch with our reception team on 1300 161 639 or at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au