A psychologist is an expert in mental health. They have undertaken highly specialised training in the assessment, diagnosis, formulation, and psychological treatment of mental health, behavioural, and emotional disorders across the lifespan. 

Sessions with Sandra go for approximately 50 minutes.

No, you do not need a referral to see a Psychologist. You are welcome to refer into Tranquil Thyme Psychology privately if this suits you best. However, by obtaining a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate of $98.95 per session, for 10 sessions per calendar year.

Psychologists are bound by ethical guidelines, Australian Psychological Society (APS) Code of Ethics, and this includes protecting a client’s privacy by not disclosing the content of therapy. There are some limits to confidentiality though, which means that the psychologist will need to breach your privacy in situations where:
> Your information is subpoenaed by a court of law
> There are concerns about your immediate safety or the safety of others

Payment of services will be invoiced to you through e-mail using HICAPS Digital to send an electronic invoice, which you can approve and pay immediately.

HICAPS Digital is an online, cloud-based platform for Australian healthcare providers to submit invoices and process insurance or government claims instantly via web or tablet, rather than using a physical terminal.

It offers instant patient eligibility checks, faster payments (often within 24 hours), and streamlines invoicing for schemes like NDIS and TAC.

At Tranquil Thyme Psychology, we use HICAPS which means your rebate can be processed immediately after your appointment should you bring with you your Medicare card. Please allow a few hours to see this rebate appear back into your bank account.
**Please note, your current bank details need to be lodged with Medicare in order for your rebate to be deposited in a timely manner**

In cases where your MHCP has been fulfilled for the calendar year, GP’s can also prepare Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) or Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plans for those who require access to a number of different therapy services. These referrals can be used to access Allied Health Services, including but not limited to: Psychology, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy services. An EPC referral allows a person to access up to five therapy sessions over a 12-month period. Medicare pays a rebate for the cost of these sessions of $61.80, where the remainder of the session will be an out-of-pocket cost to the client.

If you have Private Health Insurance, you may be able to claim your session with a Clinical Psychologist under your Health Fund.

If you are under a Mental Health Care Plan please ensure you e-mail this to Tranquil Thyme Psychology beforehand.

Firstly, you will receive a Consent Form which outlines confidentiality, fees, session availability and limits to our service.

Once the administrative side is complete and you feel Tranquil Thyme Psychology suits your needs, your first session will be arranged.

Your first session will largely involve establishing rapport and to assess if you and your psychologist are the right fit for one another, as well as explore what brought you to therapy, what difficulties you are currently experiencing, and what you are hoping to gain by engaging in therapy.

In order to have a comprehensive understanding of what may be contributing to your difficulties, it may include gathering a comprehensive history that includes family history, educational history, relationship history, previous counselling, and identifying presenting concerns.

Through this, your psychologist can individualise their treatment plan that is developed to best assist you throughout your journey in therapy.

Remember it’s okay if you find Tranquil Thyme Psychology is not the right fit for you. If this is the case, feel free to discuss this with your psychologist and they can help explore alternative options for referral that best suits your needs.