Frequently asked questions

 
 

  • No. At Insightful Minds we provide psychological assessment and treatment to anyone 10 years or older. Our team of psychologists have a broad range of experience and offer psychological intervention to adults who presents with a range of mental health issues including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, perfectionism, low self-esteem, body image disturbances, childhood trauma and personality disorders.

  • No, you do not need a referral. Referrals from a General Practitioner (GP), or psychiatrist are only required if you wish to claim a Medicare rebate. We do encourage GP involvement in your mental health care, as this ensures you receive holistic support and can address any possible physical issues that may contribute or exacerbate your mental health difficulties.

    One of the beauties of seeing a Provisional Psychologist is that no referral is required. Take a look at our team, to see which psychologist may be the best fit for you.

  • A psychologist is someone who has completed an undergraduate degree with honours in psychology, and a two year registration period. In addition to these qualifications, clinical psychologists complete a masters or doctorate studies to obtain specialised training in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues.

  • A provisional psychologist is someone has completed an undergraduate degree with honours in psychology, and a master degree in professional psychology.

    Our Insightful Minds team includes provisional psychologists because we feel very passionate about supporting, teaching, and investing in the next generation of psychologists. All psychologists at our practice are selected for their competence and skills, and we do not compromise on standard of care, regardless of the type of psychologist you see. There are a lot of great reasons to see a provisional psychologist, and here are some of our favourite reasons:

    Five years of education

    Provisional psychologists have completed 5 years of training at university and are in the final stage of their training before they register as a psychologist. This is the time when they take everything that they have learned and put it into action under the guidance of supervising, clinical psychologist.

    Current knowledge

    Having just completed their university training, provisional psychologists are very up to date on current research and clinical information. This is wonderful for clients and for the team, because they connect us all the most exciting and evidence-based practice.

    Passionate about therapy

    Provisional psychologists have spent 5 years working hard to reach this point in their training and have a drive for their work that is hard to replicate. Provisional psychologists dedicate themselves to fine tuning their therapeutic skills using the most up to date information and bring excitement and joy to their work.

    Shorter wait times

    Due to start in mid January 2024, our provisional psychologist has immediate capacity take new clients. This means that you will often be able to get an appointment within a few weeks, which can be very hard to find.

    No referral is required

    Because provisional psychologists can’t offer Medicare rebates you do not need a referral from your GP or Psychiatrist. If you are working with your GP or another specialist on your mental health however, we would be very glad to receive a letter of introduction to inform you practitioner’s work. They aren’t limited in the number of sessions they can provide either.

    Sessions can be NDIS funded

    If you have funding for therapeutic supports under ‘Improved Daily Living’, our provisional psychologists will be able to bill under item 15_043_0128_1_3 Counselling, currently $156.16.

    Reduced costs

    Since sessions with a provisional psychologist are not eligible for Medicare or private health insurance rebates, we offer them at a substantially reduced fee of $110 per 50-minute session. Once your provisional psychologist is generally registered their fee will increase to our standard fee and you will be eligible for a Medicare rebate.

    Take a look at our psychologists to see who is best suited to meet your needs.

  • If you have a mental health referral from your treating doctor you may be eligible to receive a Medicare rebate of $141.85 for a clinical psychologist and $96.65 for a registered psychologist per session. Sessions last for 50 minutes in total and usually up to 10 sessions per calendar year. Sessions are often face to face, but are also available via telehealth (video call). She further information here.

  • Our psychologists are registered as providers with private health funds. Some funds will provide rebates for psychological services, however it is advisable to check with your specific fund as to whether your 'extras cover' includes psychological services and the amount of repayment.

    If you are eligible, you can choose to claim a rebate from either your private health insurance or Medicare for the psychological service you receive. However, you can only use one form of rebate for each session.

  • Your treating psychologist will need to collect and record personal information from you that is relevant to your current situation. This information is gathered as part of your assessment, diagnosis and treatment and is kept highly confidential. The information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions, and enables our psychologists to provide relevant and informed clinical services.

    All personal information gathered by our psychologists will remain confidential and secure except when:

    It is subpoenaed by a court, or

    Failure to disclose information would place you or another person at risk, or

    Your prior approval has been obtained to:

    Provide a written report to another professional agency e.g. a General Practitioner or a lawyer, or

    Discuss the material with another person, e.g., a parent.

  • Unfortunately, our psychologists often have wait lists. This is because we are committed to provide you with the regular care you require and will not commence seeing you unless we can offer you the consistency of weekly, fortnightly or monthly appointments, depending on your care needs.
    For support whilst on the waitlist see our helpful links here

    Alternatively, our Danielle and Kathryn are welcoming new clients.

  • Yes we definitely are! We support many young people with various gender identities and sexual preferences. Everyone is welcome regardless of gender, race or sexuality.

  • The first appointment lasts for 50 minutes. It is important in this appointment to meet your treating psychologist and make sure you feel comfortable. The psychologist will complete a comprehensive assessment, to develop a shared understanding of the current concerns, and your goals for treatment.

    We know that first appointments can often be difficult for all of our clients. With this understanding we generally ask lots of questions during the first appointment to encourage you to share your story.

    There can be lots of questions that come up when you’re trying to make a decision about whether to see a psychologist. If you have a question that we haven’t answered here, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, either by email admin@insightfulminds.com.au or call or SMS on 0411 854 694.

  • ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) affects about one in twenty Australians (that’s about 1 million people), but is frequently misunderstood and under-diagnosed. The key features of ADHD are inattention, distractibility, hyperactivity and impulsivity, and it often cooccurs with other mental health conditions. Untreated ADHD can cause lifetime impairment, however, with proper diagnosis and evidence-based treatment, people with ADHD can embrace their strengths and interests, learn to manage their challenges and live a full and rewarding life.

    How is ADHD Diagnosed?

    ADHD is diagnosed using the criteria outlined in the 'Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition' (DSM-5). To be diagnosed with ADHD the symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity:

    • Need to be outside of what is considered normal for their development stage

    • Need to be present before the age of 12 years

    • Must have persisted for longer than 6 months

    • Must cause impairment in multiple settings i.e. home, school, childcare, work, etc.

    If you are worried that either yourself or your adolescent has ADHD, we suggest you start by visiting your GP to discuss these concerns. Otherwise, you can give us a call on 0411 854 694 and book in for an initial appointment to get started straight away.

    What does an assessment look like?

    Our diagnostic team conduct a comprehensive evidence-based assessment for adolescents and adults. It typically looks like:

    1. Completion of relevant intake forms and screening tools. To ensure the diagnostic process is accurate, we will ask for you to complete self-rated screening tools, and seek collaborative information from others. For teens, we might ask for parents and/ or teachers to complete forms about possible symptoms, whilst for adults an informed friend or partner may be of assistance.

    2. Assessment Part 1: A face to face assessment is then offered, including a biopsychosocial and history taking for approximately 1.5 hours with the psychologist.

    3. Assessment Part 2: The psychologist will then complete a further face to face assessment of symptoms of attentional difficulties and hyperactivity/ impulsivity. This assessment appointment takes 1.5 hrs approximately. For teens we ask that a parent is present for this session.

    4. Results from all measures are collected and collated. A report is then completed and provided to you. A further feedback session can be arranged to discuss these findings with you.

    We accept self-referral, and referrals from GP, Paediatrician, school and Psychiatrists.

    Assessment Fees:

    Please contact us to discuss associated fees for ADHD assessment. Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover formal psychological assessment such as cognitive, educational or neuropsychological assessment.