Fees
Full fees for sessions are:
$230 for a standard 50mins session
If you have a Medicare card + letter from a GP or Psychiatrist (for example a Mental Health Care Plan or a Chronic Disease Management Plan) you are eligible for a refund/rebate from the full fee cost (currently this rebate is $98.95).
If you have reached the Medicare Safety Net Threshold, this rebate increases significantly.
Fees may also be covered by Private Health Insurance Providers or NDIS. Clients are responsible for making their own claims with Private Health Insurance Providers or NDIS.
How do I get a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)?
Book a double appointment with a doctor (GP) (you can call and tell the reception that you need a MHCP and they will know to book in a longer appointment).
Tell your GP you would like to get a MHCP to see a Psychologist
The GP will complete a short questionnaire with you and print out the letter for you to give to the Psychologist. You can ask for a copy to be emailed or securely sent to either yourself, or the Psychologist( a good idea). Please note that Sophie Georgeson is able to receive letters and other correspondence securely via the software Medical Objects, and that this method is preferred over email. GPs and other professionals are welcome to send MHCPs, referral letters, or other documents via Medical Objects.
The GP will usually ask you if you have a particular psychologist that you would like to see. You can give the name of any Psychologist. You can use the MHCP with any Psychologist, regardless of the name of the original Psychologist the GP names on the MHCP. The plan can also be used with more than one Psychologist.
Once you have your MHCP, contact your Psychologist to book an initial call or appointment. If your GP has not sent a copy of your MHCP directly to the Psychologist, make sure you email a copy of the MHCP before or during your first appointment. Refunds/rebates for sessions can’t be processed until the psychologist has a copy of the MHCP. Rebates can only be claimed for sessions after the date of the MHCP, and can’t be claimed retrospectively.
Cancellation
We understand that unforeseen circumstances, sickness, or emergencies can affect everyone, and lead to clients needing to cancel or reschedule appointments. If you do need to cancel an appointment, please provide as much notice as possible so that you don’t incur the fee, and we can offer your appointment time to other clients on the waitlist.
If you don’t attend an appointment without telling us in advance, or you cancel within 24 hours, the standard appointment fee of $230 applies.
This is because it is difficult to fill appointments cancelled with 24 hours or less notice, and there are very limited appointments available and often a long waitlist.
Fees are due within 5 business days of the appointment. If your fee is not paid within 5 business days, any future appointments you have booked will be cancelled until outstanding payment is settled. Clients are encouraged to activate autopayment by credit or debit card to avoid this happening.
Medicare or Private Health Insurance rebates cannot cover fees for appointments that you did not attend or cancelled.
What happens in the first session?
In initial sessions your Psychologist will listen to your needs, become clearer on what’s going on for you, and develop collaborative goals guided by what you want, and what evidence-based and affirming psychological therapies might be most appropriate. In later sessions you and your Psychologist will monitor if therapy is working and use feedback to adapt your treatment plan.
I think I might be autistic, ADHDer, or otherwise neurodivergent, but I’m not sure whether to get assessed/diagnosed.
Sophie Georgeson is trained in the assessment of neurodivergence and can provide information around processes of assessment and diagnosis for autism and ADHD and what factors to consider when deciding whether to pursue formal assessment or diagnosis.
Can I contact you before booking in?
Yes! Sophie offers an introductory call with all new clients wanting to book in. It’s free and lasts about 10 minutes.
It can be via telehealth video call or regular phone call.
You can use the call to ask any questions, or share doubts or concerns about deciding whether to see a psychologist, or just to see if I might be a good fit for you.
You can book in for this introductory call by clocking the “Book Here” link below, but are also most welcome to contact us with any further questions at admin@sophiegpsych.com