What is counselling?
Counselling involves the development of a relationship between a client and a trained professional (e.g., Psychologist or counsellor) that focuses on the client’s concerns and difficulties. It is a process in which individuals have the opportunity to improve upon their understanding of themselves. This includes understanding people’s patterns of thoughts, behaviours, feelings, and the ways in which these may be problematic in their lives. Counselling also provides individuals with opportunities to examine how to use their existing resources and skills or develop new ones to enhance their lives and relationships. Counselling is a collaborative effort as it involves the client and Psychologist working together to identify goals. At Amherst Psychology & Counselling, counselling is generally short term and focuses on a client’s current difficulties with the aim of identifying solutions and practical strategies which clients can implement.

Who may benefit from counselling?
People from diverse backgrounds seek counselling for many reasons. Psychological counselling may be useful if you:

• Have a persistent feeling of sadness or depression
• Often feel stressed or anxious
• Would like to improve your relationships with others
• Lack self-confidence or assertiveness
• Feel suicidal or have thoughts of harming yourself
• Are struggling to balance work and family commitments
• Are having difficulty making an important decision
• Are worried about the health or wellbeing of someone close to you

What fees are involved?
Each counselling session is approximately 50 minutes in duration and our current fee schedule (from 6 July 2009) is as follows:
Individual Counselling Sessions           $125.00 (50 minutes)
Couple / Family Counselling Session    $125.00 (50 minutes)
Healthcare Card Holder Session          $103.00 (50 minutes)
Payment is requested on the day of your counselling session and payment can be made via cash, credit card or EFTPOS. Please note the above fees are significantly less than the fee of $206 per session currently recommended by the Australian Psychological Society.

Can I claim a rebate from my private health insurance fund?
Many private health insurance funds provide a rebate for services provided by a Registered Psychologist. We encourage you to contact your health insurance fund to find out whether your policy covers services provided by a Registered Psychologist. Our Psychologists are registered as providers with most private health funds. Unfortunately, HBF currently does not provide a rebate for services provided by Registered Psychologists.

Can I claim a rebate from Medicare?
As part of the federal government’s Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative eligible clients can receive a rebate from Medicare for psychological services.

In order to obtain a rebate from Medicare, your General Practitioner or Psychiatrist must complete a Mental Health Care Plan with you and refer you to a Psychologist. Once a Mental Health Care Plan has been completed by your doctor, you will be able to obtain a Medicare rebate of $80.20 per session, for up to 12 sessions in a calendar year.  Our practice offers the Medicare Easyclaim service, which allows clients to claim their Medicare rebates “on the spot” through our EFTPOS terminal. The Easyclaim service is convenient for most clients because they save time by not attending a Medicare office.  If you wish to utilise the Easyclaim service, please bring your current Medicare and EFTPOS cards to each session.

You will not be able to claim any rebate from Medicare unless your doctor has completed a Mental Health Care Plan prior to your counselling appointment. Please note that Medicare rebates are not available for couple/family counselling sessions, even if you have a Mental Health Care Plan.

Do I need a referral from my doctor?
No, you do not need any referral in order to visit a Psychologist. However, if you wish to claim a rebate from Medicare as part of a Mental Health Care Plan you must develop the Mental Health Care Plan with your doctor before attending a counselling appointment.

What can I expect during my first appointment?
When you arrive for your initial appointment, our receptionist will ask you to read & complete a few forms which provide you with information regarding our services and enable us to collect your contact details.  We suggest you arrive 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled time of your first appointment, so as you can complete these forms and maximise the time available for discussion with your Psychologist.  If you have any difficulties or concerns about completing the forms, your Psychologist will be happy to assist you with this during your session.  If you have a referral letter or Mental Health Care Plan from your doctor, please bring these to your appointment, along with your Medicare card and provide this information to our receptionist when you arrive.

During the session, the Psychologist will briefly explain important aspects of our service, such as the privacy and confidentiality of any information discussed in your sessions.  They will then give you an opportunity to discuss why you have decided to attend counselling and what you hope to change or improve upon as a result of your sessions.  The Psychologist will also be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the counselling process.  After discussing your concerns in some detail (which may take more than one session) you can expect the Psychologist to provide you with information about how counselling may assist with the difficulties you are experiencing and what would be involved in any future sessions.  If for some reason the Psychologist believes there is a more appropriate practitioner or organisation to assist you, they will explain this to you and with your permission they will co-ordinate a referral.

What's the difference between a Psychologist, a psychiatrist, and a counsellor or psychotherapist?

A Psychologist
Throughout Australia (and most of the world) Psychologists are registered by the State. In order to use the title 'Psychologist' in Western Australia you must have a minimum of four years' university training in psychology and two years subsequent supervised professional practice. The fact that the Psychologists Board of WA registers all Psychologists provides reassurance for clients, as any concerns regarding the conduct of Psychologists can be directed to the Board and will be investigated.  All the staff at Amherst Psychology & Counselling are Registered Psychologists.

Counsellors and Psychotherapists
The titles 'Counsellor', 'Psychotherapist' or 'Therapist' are not registered. Anyone who wishes to can practice as a Counsellor, Psychotherapist or Therapist.

A Psychiatrist
A Psychiatrist is a medical practitioner who specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of serious mental health disorders. Psychiatrists are able to prescribe medications and often work in conjunction with Psychologists or counsellors.

What questions should I ask potential counsellors?

• Ask about the counsellor’s qualifications and their experience in managing your specific issue/concern.
• Ask about what you can expect in your first counselling session.
• Ask about the appointment times available, to ensure that you will be able to attend appointments at a time that suits you.
• Ask about the session fees and any rebates which may apply.

Do you offer after hours appointments?
Our practice offers appointments during the following times:
Monday: 9am to 5pm
Tuesday: 12noon to 8pm
Wednesday: 9am to 5pm
Thursday: 12noon to 8pm
Friday: closed
Saturday: 9am to 3pm
Sunday: closed