Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOUR THERAPY?

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy or DBT for short, is a specific therapy developed to help treat individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Research has shown that DBT is effective for a range of mental health presentations, including:

Suicidal ideation
Self-harming
Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder
Anxiety
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Substance use
Eating disorders (via Radically Open [RO] DBT)

DO YOU ONLY OFFER DBT?

I have a special interest in offering DBT to those who need it. However, I am trained in other approaches beyond DBT, and can work with you to create a plan based on your goals and presenting concerns.

DO YOU BULK-BILL?

Unfortunately, this is not a bulk billing service. I charge $170 per 50-minute session for individuals with a valid Mental Health Care Plan. Self or plan-managed NDIS participants are charged according to the NDIS Pricing Arrangements at a rate of $170 per 55-minute session. This price has been decided after careful consideration of my accrediting bodies fee recommendations (recommended $240/50-minute session), and a desire to make counselling more affordable.

DO I NEED A REFERRAL FROM MY DOCTOR TO ACCESS THIS SERVICE?

The short answer - no. If you are comfortable paying full-fee, you are more than welcome to self-refer without a doctor's referral. However, if money is tight a doctor's referral through Medicare can help cover a portion of accessing counselling, with a gap-fee to be paid by you. I do my best to keep costs down as I know how expensive counselling can be.

DO YOU OFFER PAYMENT PLANS?

All fees for counselling must be paid upfront. As part of my booking policy, if a session is not paid, future sessions will not be scheduled until the previous session is paid in full.

HOW MANY SESSIONS AM I ELIGIBLE FOR?

The number of sessions you are eligible for depends largely on how you are accessing the service.

Self-referral - no specific limit as this would be negotiated based on funds, therapeutic goals and availability of the clinician.

Medicare (Mental Health Care Plan) referrals - Medicare currently only offers rebates for a maximum of 10 individual counseling sessions per calendar year. There is also a maximum of 10 group counseling sessions available per calendar year, with a valid referral. If further sessions are required beyond this, the fee will be full rate for self-referrals.

NDIS Self-Managed or Plan-Managed - If you are self- or plan-managed through the NDIS, the number of sessions depends on the amount of funding allocated for therapeutic supports and goals associated with your NDIS plan.

ARE THERE EXTRA CHARGES I NEED TO BE AWARE OF?

In some circumstances, clients require clinicians to write therapeutic letters or reports. If additional support is required beyond the counselling session, additional costs (separate to the counselling session fee) will apply. Costs associated with this will depend largely on the purpose, detail required and time.