Providing Better Access To Clinical Psychology Through Therapy Services in Newcastle
At ELD Psychology, we believe mental health care services should be affordable and readily available for all people who need therapy services In Newcastle. That’s why we are registered with Medicare to provide clinical health psychology services under the Better Access initiative. This initiative enables you to receive a rebate for up to 10 psychology sessions per calendar, when seeking treatment for a mental health issue.
Click here for more information on our team of Newcastle-based therapists.
What is the Better Access initiative for people?
The Better Access initiative makes mental health care more affordable through Medicare rebates. Under this scheme, you may be able to access up to 10 individual sessions with clinical psychologists per year.
What mental health services do ELD Psychology provide?
We aim to help people address their difficulties, and obtain a sense of balance and wellbeing. We use a collaborative approach to help you build the skills required to overcome challenges you face and improve your life.
Our team of qualified clinical psychologists use evidence-based treatment to assist people with a range of psychological concerns including:
worry and anxiety
low mood and depression
stress
perfectionism
eating disorders
trauma
relationship issues.
Visit our Services page to find out more about the clinical psychology treatments we provide.
How can psychology services be accessed under the initiative?
Generally, a referral is not required to access ELD Psychology services. However, a referral is required to access our services under the Better Access initiative – follow these steps:
Book an appointment with your psychiatrist or GP to discuss your mental health concerns.
If seeking a referral for therapy from your GP, book a longer-than-usual session. This will ensure there is time for your GP to assess whether you require the services of a psychologist, and to prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan if appropriate.
Once you have your Mental Health Treatment Plan in place, get in touch with us to book an appointment.
If your GP has developed a Mental Health Treatment Plan, they will initially refer you for a maximum of six sessions. You will then need to book an appointment with your GP to review your progress and determine whether further sessions are needed. Your psychologist will be able to talk more about this process with you, when needed.
All our sessions run for approximately 50 minutes, except the first consultation which may take up to 1 hour. In addition to our in-practice sessions, we also offer telehealth consultations. This can be a good option if you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, or are unable to attend in person for any other reason. Rest assured, we follow government health advice closely; your health and that of our team members is a high priority.
Visit our What to expect page for more information about booking an appointment and how our sessions run.
How much do therapy sessions cost?
Our fees are:
● $250 for an initial appointment
● $220 for ongoing appointments
● $240 for ongoing appointments after 5pm.
With a Mental Health Treatment Plan, the Medicare rebate available for each consultation is $136.35, leaving a gap payment of $83.65 ($103.65 after 5pm, $113.65 for initial appointment).
Note, we do not bulk bill, and you cannot pay for therapy services using private health insurance under the Better Access initiative. However, you may be able to make a claim with your private health insurance provider if your session is not covered by the Better Access initiative.
Visit our Fees page for more information about what you can expect to pay.
Our area of service and how to contact us
We provide clinical psychology services to people over the age of 18 in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter area. Our office is located in Newcastle West.
Visit our Contact us page for more information about how to get in touch.