Accessing Affordable Psychological Services at Allied Health for Wellness
Are you seeking affordable psychological services and wondering about the referral process? At Allied Health for Wellness, we strive to make mental health support accessible to all individuals. We accept Medicare referrals through the Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP with medicare rebates available (if eligible) or enquire about alternative options to ensure you receive the care you need.
If you have a referral, we kindly ask you to email a copy of it to connect@ahwellness.com.au. Our dedicated team will promptly review your referral and reach out to you to schedule an appointment. We value the importance of a collaborative approach, and your referral helps us better understand your needs and provide tailored support.
Alternatively, if you have Private Health Insurance, you may be eligible to access subsidised counselling services through your policy. Our team can assist you in navigating the process and determining the coverage available to you. We understand the financial aspect of seeking therapy, and we aim to make it as affordable as possible for you.
Please note that we do charge a gap fee based on the specific service required. We are committed to transparency and will discuss any associated costs with you upfront, ensuring there are no surprises. Your wellbeing is our priority, and we believe that investing in your mental health is invaluable.
Let us be your trusted partner in your mental health journey.
There is no rebate on the assessment itself, however, if you have a current GP referral via a mental health treatment plan (GPMHTP) you may be able to claim a rebate on our initial consultation and follow-up consultation. This could reduce your overall costs by approx $193.30*
Under a GPMHTP you are entitled to claim Medicare rebate for 6 sessions of psychology services. The consultation fee payable on the day is $200 and the Medicare claim is submitted on the same day of appointment, with a Medicare rebate of approx $96.65* (GAP fee $103.35)
If you have not already accessed your treatment plan two sessions can be utilised as part of the ADHD assessment process, with the remaining four sessions accessed post assessment towards counselling and psychoeducation.
*Medicare rebate and GAP fee subject to change, per Australian Government Medicare Benefits Schedule. Rebates may be higher for those who have reached the safety net threshold. Please make your own enquiries for your circumstance and to confirm eligibility.
No, a referral is not necessary.
If you do have a referral from your GP or Psychiatrist, please email to our Intake team before your appointment.
*Referral via GP mental health treatment plan may allow you to claim a Medicare rebate on consultations with our psychologist, reducing the overall cost of your ADHD assessment service.
Yes, most of our services including adult ADHD assessment can be conducted entirely by telehealth using our secure video call service. Or you can attend our office conveniently located in Cockburn Central. Our office is a five minute stroll from the Cockburn train station or off the Beeliar Drive exit from the freeway.
Download a copy of these T&C’s for your records HERE
Introduction
Thank you for scheduling an appointment with Allied Health for Wellness. This document provides important information about the services you will receive at Allied Health for Wellness, including our approach to treatment, our business practices, fees, and other information relating to confidentiality. Please take a few moments to read through these and if you have any questions, please do let us know. You will be required indicate your acceptance when completing our Client Intake Information Form.
Appointments and Fees
Professional Fees
There are standard fees for our services, most sessions are 50min sessions unless otherwise indicated for a specific or more complex service. You will be provided a quote at time of booking and are responsible for paying a deposit if applicable, with the remainder of the fee payable by direct deposit 2 business days prior to your appointment or by providing Stripe Payment Authority for us to securely store your credit card details so that payment can be processed electronically at commencement of your appointment, unless prior arrangements have been made. Payment must be made by direct deposit or credit/debit card, we are unable to accept cash unless by prior arrangement.
In addition to scheduled appointments the practice may charge an amount on a prorated basis for other professional services that you may require such as report writing, telephone conversations that last longer than 15 minutes, attendance at meetings or consultations which you have requested, or the time required to perform any other service which you may request of me. These costs will be discussed with you prior to provision of services.
Appointment Management & Cancellation Policy
Definitions
Cancellation is considered an appointment cancelled when notice of cancellation is given more than 2 business days prior to the appointment.
Late Cancellation is considered an appointment cancelled when notice of cancellation is given within business day of the scheduled appointment.
No-Show is considered an appointment that has not been cancelled and the client did not show up to the appointment.
- You must provide 2 business days notice prior to the scheduled appointment if you wish to cancel
- You will be charged 50% of the fee if cancelled within 1 business day of the appointment.
- You will be charged the full fee if you provide less than 24 hours notice or do not show for your appointment.
- In the event of a late cancellation, cancellation fees must be paid prior to the next scheduled appointment.
It is important to note that Third Party funders may not pay late cancellation or missed appointment fees. These are your responsibility even if your treatment is normally funded by a Third Party. All accounts payable remain the responsibility of the individual engaged in the service. Disputes of payment with third parties are your sole responsibility and you will remain responsible for settlement of unpaid fees.
If you are late for an appointment your session duration will be reduced. Please note you will need to pay the full amount in these circumstances, however your insurance rebate (if any) may be reduced.
If you provide us with a mobile number or email address a reminder message will be sent 3 days before your appointment. This is a courtesy reminder only. If for any reason you did not receive a reminder message and missed your appointment you will still need to pay the late missed appointment fee. If ever in doubt please feel free to telephone to confirm an appointment.
Coordination of Appointments and Information Exchange
You acknowledge that your appointed practitioner with Allied Health for Wellness may provide services from multiple locations and therefore when you are referred by or attending one of those locations this may necessitate the exchange of personal information, such as name, date of birth, and contact details, to facilitate scheduling and communication of appointments. Your clinical information will otherwise remain confidential to Allied Health for Wellness and will not be shared without your explicit permission per your signed Consent to Release and Obtain information form.
Please note that rescheduling and cancellation of appointments is to be managed directly with Allied Health for Wellness per the above cancellation policy. Please ensure you contact our practice directly by email (connect@ahwellness.com.au), phone (0492 800 314) or respond to our SMS appointment reminder within the required time frames.
Frequency of Appointments
The number and frequency of appointments will be discussed with you by your practitioner. This will be based on their professional opinion once they have had an opportunity to understand your needs and goals. In many circumstances it can be difficult to predict a person’s response to an intervention unless we are providing a fixed session service and therefore the number of sessions they may require. Your practitioner will discuss this with you prior to commencing your service.
Confidentiality, Privacy and Record Management
Confidentiality and Privacy
Your treatment with Allied Health for Wellness is confidential and private. This means we will not disclose the information you provide to us to third parties unless you consent for us to do so. It is important to note that there are limits to confidentiality in exceptional circumstances including when there is a risk to you or others, or if we are responding to a subpoena or warrant. Your practitioner will discuss this with you during your first appointment and answer any questions you might have.
You can find full information about our approach to confidentiality, and the limits to this in our Privacy Policy which can be provided upon request.
Health Record Management
We will create and keep a Health Record for you which will record all relevant information relating to the treatment provided to you. We may also collect and store health information about you from third parties such as your doctor. Your health records are managed and protected in accordance with the applicable state and federal laws. Health records are legally required to be stored for a number of years following the conclusion of your treatment with us.
You are also able to request access to a copy of your Health Record. Please discuss this with your practitioner or our practice manager should you wish to do this at any time.
Disclaimer
By indicating your agreement to the terms and conditions, you acknowledge that any letters or reports prepared by your practitioner are intended exclusively for clinical management purposes and are not suitable for use in legal proceedings. The information provided is sensitive, confidential, and should be interpreted in its proper context. It must not be altered or misconstrued. Written consent from the Author/Practitioner is required before sharing any reports or letters with third parties, other than the intended recipients.
Financial Consent
By signing the authority, I agree and understand the terms of payment:
- I understand that my practitioner is entitled to set the professional fee as published on the website or booking form.
- I understand and accept that it is my responsibility to pay my practitioner the upfront professional fee as documented in the Terms and Conditions or website booking form and it is my responsibility to claim back any rebates I may be entitled to (where possible you can request that we do this on your behalf)
- I understand and agree to pay the deposit fee (if applicable) at the time of booking and understand that this amount will be deducted from the total amount which I am required to pay via direct deposit or debit/credit card PRIOR to the provision of the service to be provided.
- I understand and accept that this form will remain in force until at least 12 months post the date of signing or upon the conclusion of the service.
- I understand that I can ask questions and discuss concerns about the professional fees with my practitioner at any time.
- I understand that if I do not provide my practitioner with at least 2 business days notice of the cancellation of a scheduled service (booked appointment) then the practitioner reserves the right to charge a late cancellation fee up to the full cost of the service (including GST if applicable).
- I understand that, the practitioner may at their discretion increase the professional fee and that I will be informed of any fee change by the practice prior to the next scheduled appointment.
I have nominated one of the following payment methods:
Stripe Payment Authority
By securely storing your credit card details we can process your payment and submit your claim for Medicare rebate (if applicable) immediately after your appointment.
- At the time of my booking I will be issued an invoice for services and may be required to pay a deposit.
- I have elected to authorise the financial data relating to my credit or debit card details to be stored on Allied health for Wellness’ private and confidential practice management system which is integrated with Stripe.
- Stripe is a highly trusted payment processing platform that employs advanced security measures to protect your data. By authorising this, we can automatically process your payment and Medicare claim on the day of your appointment, saving you the need to wait at reception to settle the account. Stripe’s robust encryption and compliance with industry security standards ensure your information remains protected at all times. You can view more details on their website via this link – STRIPE
- Only authorised and trained persons will be able to access my stored financial details for the purpose of processing agreed payments.
- The purpose of storing my credit or debit card details is for taking authorised payments for their services being provided to me by Allied Health for Wellness this includes any cancellation fees / deposits or full fees should I not cancel or notify Allied Health for Wellness of a cancellation within the required timeframes.
- I authorise Allied Health for Wellness to electronically debit my account and, if necessary, electronically credit my account to correct erroneous debits.
Advanced Direct Deposit
- At the time of my booking I will be issued an invoice for services and may be required to pay a deposit.
- I agree to settle the balance of the account at least 2 business days prior to my appointment via direct deposit and will email a copy of the remittance to the practice via connect@ahwellness.com.au
Nature of Services Provided and Emergencies
Nature of Services
All practitioners are fully qualified and registered with their professional bodies. We use a combination of contemporary evidence-based treatments and assessments including Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT); Solution Focused Brief Therapy; Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Prior to commencing treatment your practitioner will discuss their proposed treatment approach with you and ensure you understand the rationale for the approach, including any identified risks.
Limitation to Services
Allied Health for Wellness is a private provider of Allied Health services. Services are provided via prearranged, scheduled appointments. Practitioners have limited availability for contact outside of schedule appointments. Practitioners may not have an opportunity to respond to you between session contact prior to your next appointment so this should not be relied upon for emergency matters. For emergency matters please contact the appropriate agencies using the details below.
Allied Health for Wellness practitioners will only provide services that are within their professional capabilities, competence and role as a allied health professional services. If treatment needs are identified that are outside of this scope your practitioner will endeavour to assist you identify alternative suitable providers.
In case of Emergency
Allied Health for Wellness is not an emergency service. We are not able to respond to urgent or emergency matters and our communication channels (Phone, SMS, Fax, Email) are not monitored outside of standard business hours.
For urgent concerns relating the mental health or other emergencies please contact the appropriate emergency services:
Police, Fire, Ambulance (Emergency): 000
Mental Health Services (Intake): 1300 555 788 (Perth) or 1800 676 822 (Peel region) or 1800 552 002 (Country / Rurallink)
Lifeline Crisis Text Service: 0477 131 114
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Suicide call back service: 1300 659 467
Agreement & Consent
By indicating your acceptance and signing you agree that you have read, understood and accept the information contained in the Terms and Conditions of Service. You may withdraw this consent at any time in the future however please note that some components are irrevocable; for example, we are legally required to keep a copy of your health record even if you withdraw consent and cease treatment.
Fees
At Allied Health for Wellness our current fee for an appointment with an experienced Registered Psychologist is $200.00
Medicare rebates of $93.35 are available initially for 6 sessions per calendar year if you have a referral from your GP for Mental Health Care Plan or a referral from your psychiatrist. (GAP Fee payable $106.65)
Private billing is also available and depending on your private health fund you may be eligible for a rebate.
Deposit
Fees are charged on a per session basis, with a 50% deposit required at the time of booking and the remainder of payment required at the time of the appointment.
Our admin team can assist with the processing of your payment and Medicare claim.
Late cancellation fees
Late cancellation (less than 24 hours) or non-attendance fees will incur a 50% charge of your fee. (There is no Medicare rebate available on any cancellation fees)
We understand that sometimes you are unable to keep your appointment due to an unforeseen illness or emergency, please contact our admin team as soon as possible to discuss fee waiver.
We currently only offer individual sessions.
- Your completed ADHD Assessment Intake form is reviewed, and following this several online questionnaires are emailed for you to complete at home, these will need to be completed 1 week prior to your initial consultation.
- We will schedule an Initial Consultation which will take between 60-90 minutes with a healthcare professional, such as a psychologist. During this consultation, you will discuss your concerns, symptoms, and any relevant medical or psychological history. The healthcare professional may ask questions about your childhood, education, work, relationships, and overall functioning. Symptom Assessment: To assess ADHD symptoms, our healthcare professional may use various standardised questionnaires or rating scales. These assessments typically involve questions about inattentiveness, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and how these symptoms affect different areas of your life. Psychological Evaluation: A psychological evaluation may involve interviews and psychological tests to assess your cognitive functioning, emotional wellbeing, and overall mental health. This evaluation can help identify any coexisting conditions or determine if the symptoms are primarily related to ADHD. Our healthcare professional will compare your symptoms and functional impairment to the diagnostic criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) published by the American Psychiatric Association. ADHD diagnosis typically requires the presence of specific symptoms and evidence of impairment in multiple settings.
- Second appointment may be required in some circumstances, this will take approximately 1 hour. Our healthcare professional may further assess the functional impairment caused by ADHD symptoms. This may involve additional testing.
- We will provide feedback either via consultation or telehealth session approximately 2-3 weeks following your assessment.
- Detailed written report will be provided approximately 6 weeks from your assessment consultation appointment, outlining the assessment results and recommendations for interventions, this will need to be provided to your GP and Psychiatrist to explore formal diagnosis and treatment options.
- Diagnosis and Treatment Plan: Based on the assessment findings, the psychiatrist may provide a diagnosis or, if appropriate, discuss other possible explanations for your symptoms. They will then develop a treatment plan, which may include a combination of medication, psychoeducation, therapy, behavioural interventions, and lifestyle changes.
- In addition if you were referred to Allied Health for Wellness under a mental health care plan via your GP you may continue to use these sessions to provide support, counselling and psychoeducation.
This assessment does not guarantee a diagnosis of ADHD. Our psychologists can only recommend a diagnosis of ADHD if all the required diagnostic criteria are met. The summary letter provided can be helpful when requesting study related or workplace accommodations.
Please note, psychologists are not medical practitioners and do not prescribe medication. You will need to see a psychiatrist if you wish to explore medication options and formal diagnosis, a further assessment may be required at the discretion of the psychiatrist.
Post-diagnosis support and therapy can be incredibly valuable for individuals with ADHD, particularly those diagnosed in adulthood who may have experienced challenges and difficulties throughout their lives without understanding the reasons behind them. Focusing on neuro-affirming therapy sessions and helps our clients understand their strengths and struggles, is a holistic and empowering way to address ADHD.
Here are some key aspects of post-diagnosis support and therapy for ADHD that we offer:
Education and Psychoeducation: Providing clients with accurate information about ADHD, its symptoms, and its impact can help them gain a better understanding of their neurotype. Psychoeducation can also involve exploring the common challenges faced by individuals with ADHD and discussing strategies to manage symptoms effectively.
Self-Identity and Self-Advocacy: Helping clients develop a positive self-identity and self-advocacy skills can be crucial for their overall well-being. By understanding their unique strengths and challenges, individuals can develop a sense of self-acceptance and learn how to effectively communicate their needs and advocate for themselves in various contexts.
Developing Coping Strategies: Therapy can focus on identifying and developing coping strategies and life hacks that work well for individuals with ADHD. This may involve exploring organization techniques, time management skills, and tools to improve focus and attention.
Emotional Support and Healing: Addressing the emotional impact of living with undiagnosed ADHD or past difficulties is important. Therapy can help individuals process any trauma, shame, or negative experiences associated with their ADHD diagnosis and support them in healing and moving forward.
Executive Functioning Skills: Executive functioning skills such as planning, organizing, prioritizing, and initiating tasks can be challenging for individuals with ADHD. Therapy can focus on developing strategies and techniques to improve executive functioning, which can positively impact daily functioning and overall well-being.
Behavioural and Cognitive Interventions: Therapeutic interventions, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), can be beneficial for managing ADHD symptoms. CBT can help individuals identify and modify unhelpful thinking patterns, develop problem-solving skills, and implement behaviour change strategies.
Supportive Environment: Creating an environment that is supportive and accommodating to the needs of individuals with ADHD is important. Therapy can involve discussions about communication strategies with family members, partners, and colleagues to promote understanding and collaboration.
By providing a comprehensive approach that addresses the various aspects of ADHD and its impact, therapy can significantly enhance the well-being and quality of life for individuals diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood.
People living with a disability can access support through the NDIS. To determine individual eligibility, specific criteria are outlined within the NDIS.
To view your eligibility with the NDIS, check the information page on the NDIS website about your eligibility.
The NDIS will often provide individuals with a combination of services and supports. The Scheme recognises that each participant will need an individualised approach, and so each participant is assessed on a case by case basis.
Initial planning meetings are held to identify what assistance is appropriate. Participants often require support at planning meetings either by family members, guardians, support coordinators, carers or medical professionals. Documentation from health professionals such as GPs, specialists, Occupational Therapists or Physiotherapists is often used to help compose a suitable plan to support new participants or those undergoing a plan review.
Therapy with our psychologists or counsellors will help you to embrace uncertainty, build resilience, provide support, and be adaptable, we can help you can navigate unpredictable situations with strength and grace.