Frequently Asked Questions
We know starting therapy can seem daunting, and you are likely to have many questions. Our FAQ includes the answers to the most common questions.
General Questions
No you do not need a referral to book a psychology appointment, however if you wish to utilise the Medicare rebate then you will need to speak to your GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist first and get a Mental Health Care Plan.
Waiting times vary from practitioner to practitioner. When you make your first appointment, the admin team will advise you of the waiting time (if any) for the therapist that most suits your needs. We recommend that you book several follow-up appointments when making your initial appointment so that there is consistency.
Sessions are of 50 minute duration, except for:
- Trauma-specific Therapy (90-100 minutes)
- Couples Therapy (90 minutes)
- Assessments (times vary, individual plan provided)
To make your first appointment, please call us on (02) 4363 6600 and speak to our Client Care Team who will be able to pair you up with the most appropriate practitioner.
Follow-up appointments can be booked online via our website.
At the READ Clinic we recognise the strain that can be placed on families, parents and children when parents are in the process of, or have completed separation, or have divorced. Assessment and therapy can be very helpful for children and parents adjusting to all the changes that can occur at these times.
Unfortunately, there are many times when therapy no longer provides a safe space for children but rather becomes another place for conflict to be maintained and where children are caught between two parents who can’t agree on what the children need or require.
To ensure your child’s time at the READ Clinic does not become an extension of other conflict, we have a “separated family” document that requires signing by both parents in order that we are sure that attendance is focused on the emotional health and safety of your children.
Download a copy of our Separated Family Policy (including Divorce Rules)
Upon intake, we will generally book your initial appointment and fortnightly follow-up appointments. At your first appointment, your therapist will discuss with you how often they recommend you attend, and the frequency of appointments may change during your therapy journey.
Everyone’s journey through therapy is different, so the number of sessions that your therapist will suggest will depend on your individual situation. If you have any concerns, please discuss them with your therapist.
To change or cancel an appointment you can click on the link in your appointment confirmation SMS or email and change it online. Alternatively please call us on (02) 4363 6600, or email support@thereadclinic.com.
Note changes and cancellations less than 48 hours business hours before your appointment are subject to our cancellation policy, and are not able to be changed or cancelled via your online appointment link.
As registered health professionals, our practitioners are regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA). AHPRA has put in place strict advertising guidelines which include a prohibition on using “testimonials or purported testimonials about the service or business”.
Yes. Our practice management software, Halaxy, is a healthcare industry leader in data and privacy protection. For more information about how Halaxy keeps your personal information safe, visit their website: halaxy.com
Feedback about Client Care Team, intake forms and procedures, rooms or facilities at the READ Clinic:
If you have feedback or a concern regarding the Client Care Team, intake forms, rooms or facilities at the READ Clinic, please email feedback@thereadclinic.com with the subject heading Feedback. If you would like a response to the feedback you are providing, please make a note in your email that you would appreciate a response.
Feedback about an Independent Practitioner who works from the READ Clinic premises:
If you have feedback regarding your Practitioner, please email the specific details to feedback@thereadclinic.com with the Subject Heading Feedback – Attention to (Name of Practitioner). This will be forwarded directly to the named Practitioner. If you would like a response to the feedback you are providing, please make a note in your email that you would appreciate a response.
Feedback about an employed Practitioner who works for the READ Clinic:
If you have feedback regarding a Practitioner who is employed by the READ Clinic (a provisional or intern psychologist), please email feedback@thereadclinic.com with the Subject Heading Feedback – Attention to (Name of Practitioner). This will be forwarded directly to the named Practitioner as well as their direct supervisor. If you would like a response to the feedback you are providing, please make a note in your email that you would appreciate a response.
Complaint about Client Care Team, intake forms and procedures, rooms or facilities at the READ Clinic:
If you have a complaint or a concern regarding the Client Care Team, intake forms, rooms or facilities at the READ Clinic, please email feedback@thereadclinic.com with the subject heading Complaint. If you are not satisfied with the outcome you may ask for a phone – mediation session with the Practice Manager. If this does not provide resolution, then you may escalate this and ask that the complaint be forwarded to one of the Directors of the READ Clinic.
Complaint about an Independent Practitioner who works from the READ Clinic premises:
If you have a complaint or a concern regarding your Practitioner, please email the specific details to feedback@thereadclinic.com with the Subject Heading Complaint – Attention to (Name of Practitioner). This will be forwarded directly to the named Practitioner. As the READ Clinic is not responsible for the treatment and care provided by individual Practitioners, it is the responsibility of the Practitioner to manage and resolve the concern or complaint. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint, we suggest you provide a further email or communicate directly with the Practitioner to find a resolution. If the matter remains unresolved you may make a formal complaint through AHPRA to the Health Care Complaints Commission.
Complaint about an employed Practitioner who works for the READ Clinic:
If you have a complaint or concern regarding a Practitioner, who is employed by the READ Clinic (a provisional or intern psychologist), please email feedback@thereadclinic.com with the Subject Heading Complaint – Attention to (Name of Practitioner). This will be forwarded directly to the named Practitioner as well as their direct supervisor. It is the responsibility of the Practitioner and their direct supervisor who is providing your treatment and care to manage the concern or complaint. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint, we suggest you provide a further email to the intern and their supervisor to find a resolution. If the matter remains unresolved you may make escalate the complaint to one of the Directors of the READ Clinic. If the matter remains unresolved, a formal complaint can be made through AHPRA to the Health Care Complaints Commission.
Costs & Payment
Appointment costs vary according to the service you are seeking and the practitioner you see. For more information see our Fees & Rebates page.
Yes, we have a cancellation policy in place. If you cancel your appointment between 24 and 48 business hours before your appointment, a fee of $150 is charged. If you cancel within 24 business hours of your appointment, or fail to attend your appointment, then the full fee is charged as a cancellation fee.
We accept payment by Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card only. Your card details are securely stored on our practice management system, and appointment fees are automatically charged at the time of your appointment.
Medicare rebates (where applicable) are automatically processed overnight.
When your card details are entered into our practice management system (Halaxy), they are stored and tokenised by Halaxy‘s payments gateway (Braintree Paypal). This means that once initially entered and captured, card details are not visible to anybody at The READ Clinic or at Halaxy and cannot be retrieved by The READ Clinic or Halaxy.
If card details need to be altered or updated, this requires the card to be completely re-entered, as a tokenised card is unable to be edited.
No, we do not bulk bill.
If you are seeing your psychologist under a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, then you will be entitled to claim a Medicare rebate for up to 10 sessions per year.
Where applicable, Medicare rebates are automatically processed.
For more information, see our Fees & Rebates page.
Yes. Currently Medicare offers $89.65 for General Psychologists, $131.65 for Clinical Psychologists and $56.00 for Credentialed Mental Health Nurses.
Medicare rebates do not apply to appointments with Provisional Psychologists and Couples Therapists.
Depending on your unique situation, you may be eligible for a higher rebate when you reach the Extended Medicare Safety Net threshold. That is, once you have paid approximately $2,414 in out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses on eligible Medicare services in the calendar year, you will receive the standard rebate, plus 80% of your OOP expense. I.e., against your Psychology session, you will receive $131.65 or $89.64 or $56.00 (whichever is applicable to you), PLUS 80% of the difference between the full fee and the standard rebate. As an example, for a session with a Senior Clinical psychologist, the higher rebate can be around $226.
Below are some links to publicly available online resources that explain the Safety Net thresholds in greater detail. Everyone’s situation is unique, therefore if you require further information, we recommend you contact Medicare directly to inquire about your individual or family Safety Net to see when you might be approaching the threshold and eligible for a higher rebate.
Services Australia – What are Medicare Safety Net Thresholds
Private health insurance may cover you for psychology sessions. Please check with your insurance company.
Yes. If you do not want to claim from Medicare or your private health fund, you can choose to pay for the sessions without a rebate.
Several practitioners at The READ Clinic accept NDIS clients (plan-managed or self-managed). Please note we no longer accept agency-managed clients.
For more information about NDIS psychology services, click here.
There are practitioners at The READ Clinic who accept WorkCover clients
For more information about WorkCover psychology services, click here.
About Psychology
Psychologists assist people with everyday concerns such as stress and relationship difficulties, as well as mental health issues. Psychologists use “talk therapies” to help people to develop skills to cope with difficulties and to prevent on-going issues.
Psychiatrists have completed a medical degree and further training and study related to the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Psychiatrists specialise in the medical treatment of mental illness and can prescribe medication. Some psychiatrists combine medication with therapy.
In order to become a registered psychologist in Australia, a six year sequence of education and training is required. This is usually an undergraduate degree, honours degree and/or a masters degree, plus 1 to 2 years of supervised practice as a Provisional Psychologist.
Provisional psychologists at The READ Clinic have studied for 4 or 5 years at university before joining us for an additional 1 or 2 years of internship to develop their professional practice under regular supervision from senior psychologists.
The simple answer is yes. Telehealth has been proven to be an effective way to deliver psychology services. Many clients use a combination of telehealth and in-person sessions, while others prefer to attend only via telehealth.
Click here for more information about telehealth psychology sessions at The READ Clinic
Each of the 25+ practitioners at The READ Clinic is trained in a variety of treatment methods (also known as modalities). You can find out more about the different types of therapies here.
Your therapist will discuss the different types of therapies with you and will choose the most appropriate therapy or therapies based on your individual circumstances.
Yes. Therapy is a safe, secure and private interaction between you and your trained therapist.
What you discuss with your therapist is kept strictly confidential. The only exception to this is if your therapist has serious concerns about your safety or the safety of others, in which case your therapist will discuss their concerns with you first.
Counsellors and Psychotherapists vary in their education, training and therapeutic approaches. The titles “counsellor” and “Psychotherapist” are not regulated in Australia.
Book your first appointment with a psychologist
To make your first appointment, please call us on 4363 6600.
