The Australian Psychological Society (APS) recommends a standard rate of $315 for a psychology session. Our fee is set at $249 per session for a 50 minute consultation with a clinical psychologist, with an out-of-pocket expense of $107.15 with a valid referral under a Mental Health Care Plan. After-hour sessions (i.e. at or after 5pm, or on weekends) incur an additional $20 fee.

To secure your initial appointment, a $50 deposit is required. This deposit will be applied toward your appointment fee. While deposits are non-refundable, they can be transferred to a future booking if adequate notice is provided in line with our cancellation policy (at least two full business days' notice, excluding the day of your appointment). Please note that deposits expire 90 days after the date of the initial appointment booking. This deposit helps cover administrative costs and ensures we can manage our psychologists’ time effectively to support all clients.

Please note that a referral is not required to book a session. Many clients attend without a referral out of preference, to explore general life concerns, or simply to improve their wellbeing.

Our clinical psychologists are registered to provide psychological services under Medicare's Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative. This means that if you are referred by your GP under this Scheme, you’ll receive a rebate of $141.85 per session from Medicare for up to 10 sessions in a calendar year (1 January to 31 December). You will need to be assessed by your GP as having an eligible mental health problem, and receive a referral from your GP under the Better Access Scheme. Some doctors require you book a long appointment for this assessment and referral. Please email a copy of this prior to your first appointment, and we will be able to process the claim for you.

Alternatively, most health funds offer rebates for psychological services depending on your level of cover. Please contact your health fund to check if you are eligible.

We understand that life can be unpredictable, and sometimes plans change. However, when an appointment is scheduled, that time is dedicated exclusively to you with one of our clinicians. Last-minute cancellations or missed sessions mean that other clients in need may miss out, and the clinician cannot use that hour to provide support or earn an income. Unlike medical appointments, our sessions are 50 minutes long, and it is difficult to rebook these times at short notice.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, we ask for at least two full business days' notice before your scheduled appointment. "Business days" are weekdays (Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm), excluding NSW public holidays and office closures. The day of your appointment does not count as a business day.

• If an appointment is cancelled with more than 2 business days prior to the day of the appointment: no fee 

• If an appointment is cancelled within 2 business days prior to the day of the appointment: 50% of the session fee will apply

• If an appointment is cancelled within 1 business day prior to the day of the appointment: 100% of the session fee will apply

Specific examples are provided at the end of this section for additional clarity.

Our cancellation policy is provided to you at several points:

• When booking your initial consultation.

• When filling out the New Client Intake Form.

• In reminder emails sent before your appointment.

• On our website.

While we send reminders, this is a courtesy and it is your responsibility to keep track of your upcoming appointments.

Cancellation and No-Show Fees are due on the day of the missed appointment. If we cannot reach you, the fee will be processed using the credit card securely stored on file. Please note that Medicare rebates cannot be claimed on missed appointments.

How to Cancel an Appointment

To cancel, please call us at 0410 168 977. If we are attending to other clients, please leave a voicemail with your cancellation details. You may also email us at admin@innerwellnesspsychology.com.au.

If You’re Feeling Unwell

If you’re not feeling well, please do not come into the clinic. Call or email us to arrange a Telehealth session instead, allowing you to proceed with your appointment without incurring a cancellation fee.

Notice Period Examples

• Monday Appointment: Notify us by 5:00 pm the previous Wednesday (two business days: Thursday and Friday).

• Tuesday Appointment: Notify us by 5:00 pm the previous Thursday (two business days: Friday and Monday).

• Wednesday Appointment: Notify us by 5:00 pm the previous Friday (two business days: Monday and Tuesday).

• Thursday Appointment: Notify us by 5:00 pm the previous Monday (two business days: Tuesday and Wednesday).

• Friday Appointment: Notify us by 5:00 pm the previous Tuesday (two business days: Wednesday and Thursday).

The first session is dedicated to developing a shared understanding of your difficulties and therapy goals. You will be invited to share your story, and your psychologist will ask you questions relating to your history or other relevant contextual information, designed to help with creating a tailored treatment plan. Collaboratively, you and your psychologist will decide on the best therapy approach for you. This paves the way for more active therapy in subsequent sessions.

You can choose to disclose as much or as little as you wish in this session and the psychologist will try and make you as comfortable as possible. It will be a good opportunity to determine if the psychologist and client are a ‘good fit’.

If you’ve been referred under a Mental Health Care Plan, after the session a brief letter will be written back to your referring doctor.

Before your first session, you’ll receive an email with a consent form and a brief questionnaire to complete, which will help track your progress throughout therapy. If your appointment is via telehealth, you’ll a receive a link to access the telehealth appointment on a secure platform.

Please email us any letters, reports or information you think might be relevant to your treatment, if applicable. If you wish to claim a Medicare rebate, please email us your Mental Health Care Plan and referral from your GP, which we can process for you using our software.

A registered psychologist typically holds a bachelor's degree in psychology, while a clinical psychologist completes advanced training, obtaining a master's degree in clinical psychology followed by a two-year registrar program. If you qualify for a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) plan you will be eligible to receive a Medicare rebate of approximately $141 for an appointment with a Clinical Psychologist, or $96 for an appointment with a Psychologist.

• Anyone aged 16 years or younger

• Couples or family therapy

• Anyone seeking cognitive assessments

• Individuals seeking a court report

• Individuals experiencing acute symptoms of psychosis

• Individuals seeking treatment under work cover or NDIS

• Individuals wishing to use a DVA, TAC or health care card

While both telehealth and face-to-face therapy have their advantages, research suggests that telehealth sessions can be just as effective as in-person sessions for many individuals.

There are several benefits of telehealth, including:

• Eliminating the need for travel to your appointment which reduces possible scheduling conflicts. This makes it easier to fit therapy into your busy life, ensuring you receive the support you need when it's most convenient for you

• Accessing therapy from the comfort of your own home can often lead to enhanced openness and self-expression during sessions, as you feel relaxed in your own space

• It ensures continuous access to care, no matter the circumstances, so you can focus on your well-being without interruption

However, it's essential to discuss your specific needs and preferences with your therapist to determine the most suitable option for your mental health journey.

We are not a crisis or emergency service, and are not available outside of business hours.

If you are in acute danger, or are at imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, please dial 000 or head to the nearest hospital Emergency Department. For guidance on managing a mental health crisis, you can reach out to the NSW Mental Health Access Line at 1800 011 511 (available 24/7). If you need immediate counselling support, don't hesitate to call Lifeline at 13 11 14 (also available 24/7).