Our lives are busy and varied, and not always predictable. It’s worthwhile remembering that you are not alone with any challenges you experience in life.

Speaking with a psychologist may be a useful step if you are not thinking or feeling yourself, or feel a little “off” or unsure. If it’s your child you’re concerned about, they may have told you that they’re “fine” however you’re left with a nagging feeling that perhaps they’re not. In most cases, early intervention is a useful first step in helping people to feel more like their best self again, and sooner.

Reassuringly, many people see a psychologist regularly, and find that having someone neutral (and qualified) to speak with every so often is one of the most valuable things they can do for their health. Our best advice? Try not to defer or ride out mental health challenges alone.

Yes, you can visit us in person at our South Perth practice at 11 Hardy Street in South Perth, near the Perth Zoo. Our rooms are designed to be a space for calm, comfort and connection, and for you to have the best possible experience in your sessions.

Yes, parking is available at the rear of our premises (enter via the driveway), as well as free 2 hour parking right outside on Hardy Street.

We’ve been working with many clients by telehealth exclusively for the last 5 years. Our clients tell us that it’s just as effective as being in person, largely because getting support from the comfort of your own home (wherever in the world that is) makes for a relaxed and enjoyable session. On top of that, eliminating the need for travel, traffic, parking and taking time off work makes it even more convenient.

Yes. Following the changes to our world during Covid, psychology and many other health services transitioned to online channels. You may hear these types of appointments referred to as “online”, “virtual” and “telehealth” appointments or consults.

Our telehealth sessions are via Zoom. We’ll send you an email with a link to join the call via the Zoom app or your website browser, meaning you can speak with us from the privacy of your own home (in comfy clothes!), work, the car, or wherever you feel most comfortable, using a device of your preference, be it a laptop, desktop computer, tablet or smart phone.

Your time is precious, as is ours, and we want you to get the most out of each session. We suggest you schedule your session for a time when you can give it your attention, and from a quiet, comfortable space that is as free as possible from distractions. We find a larger screen type is best (like a laptop or tablet). If using a smart phone, it’s a useful idea to place the phone on a stand or in a position that means you don’t need to hold it the whole time.

Yes, of course. Some people have a preference for one or the other type of consult, and others enjoy a combination of both. We’re pleased to be able to offer you the option to choose the type of consult you have depending on your needs and availability, which may change from time to time.

Quite possibly. We’re happy to chat about whether this would best suit your circumstances and needs.

Advance bookings are recommended (1 month in advance is best), however most weeks we will have a small pocket of availability to help at shorter notice. Please email us and we can find a time that suits you best.

Email us at hello@combinedmindspsychology.com.au or click the “Book” button here and we’ll get back to you to agree a time.

If you’re a new client, after your appointment time is agreed, we’ll email to you a link to complete a “New Client Intake Form”, via our secure online portal “Halaxy”. The intake form is used to collect your contact information, details for your preferred method of invoice payment (eg a debit or credit card), and to seek your consent to the provision of psychological services.

Two days before your appointment, you will receive an SMS reminder of your appointment time.

For telehealth appointments, you will receive the Zoom link for your appointment time the day before your appointment.

Any questions about appointments or changing appointments should be emailed to hello@combinedmindspsychology.com.au

Appointments are for 50 to 60 minutes.  For a first appointment, please allow 60 minutes. For different types of appointments, such as assessments, the duration will vary depending on the age of the person and the type of assessment/s being completed.  We will give you an indication of the timings before your appointment.

If you’re visiting us for an in person session and you have time, it’s helpful to arrive ten minutes early and try to enjoy a few quiet moments in our waiting room before your sessions starts.

This depends on the age of the child and the situation. Before we speak with your child, we’ll have a parent / carer session to help with understanding the background to you seeking support, and to understand what you’d like to achieve. In some cases, we can share parenting strategies that mean we won’t need to see your child straight away, if at all. If we do meet your child, you will attend with them for ages 4 – 6. For kids aged 7 and upwards, you will likely attend for some or all of the session eg an initial hello and then to agree plans moving forward at the end of the session. If for instance it’s a telehealth consult, you might be in the background at home. If you’re in clinic, you’ll likely be in the session the whole time.

Anyone can see a psychologist without a referral - simply contact us to arrange an appointment by emailing hello@combinedmindspsychology.com.au

If you would like a to claim a Medicare rebate as part of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, you will need a referral from your GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician. For assessments, such as for ADHD or ASD, a referral is needed from your psychiatrist or paediatrician.

The first step is to book an appointment with your GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician and request a “Mental Health Treatment Plan”.  The cost of that appointment may be partly or fully covered by Medicare eg some GPs provide bulk billing services.

Your GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician will need to know a few details from you, including what your concerns are, to be able to make an assessment of your eligibility for a plan. To refer you, your GP will also need to know the name and contact details of the psychologist you’d like to see. Please see the “Contact” page for our details.

Your Mental Health Treatment Plan will include an initial maximum of 6 sessions, depending on your referral and needs. Your GP can then refer you for further sessions up to a maximum of 10 sessions per calendar year.

At the completion of your initial treatment plan, your psychologist must provide a written report to your referring GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician describing your progress, including information on any assessments carried out, treatment provided, and recommendations for future management of your needs. Your referrer will then assess your needs for further support for up to a maximum of 10 sessions per calendar year.

Effective 1 January 2026, a standard session running for 50 – 60 minutes is $230.00. Please note we are a private billing practice and bulk billing is unfortunately not available.

For assessments, such as for ADHD or ASD, there are several steps and appointments involved. Please ask if you’d like more information.

If you are eligible (eg if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan), Medicare will cover part of the cost of your appointment. Effective 1 July 2025, Medicare covers $98.95 per session with a registered psychologist.  All people with a Mental Health Treatment Plan are eligible to claim Medicare rebates for up to 10 general counselling sessions per calendar year. 

Depending on your insurer, your private health insurance, such as “extras” cover, may cover a set benefit or percentage of the cost of your session, and you pay the rest. All insurers are different, and it’s worthwhile checking with your provider, including details on waiting periods, benefits and limits to claiming.  For more information, contact your insurer directly or see www.privatehealth.gov.au

Fees are charged within 24 hours of your appointment via our secure online portal “Halaxy” and using the preferred payment method noted in your Client Intake Form, be it your debit or credit card, meaning there is nothing you need to do after your sessions. When the invoice has been processed, you will receive a copy of the receipt by email, ready for you to claim with Medicare or your private health insurer. If you have NDIS funding and a plan manager in place, we are able to send invoices directly to your plan manager for payment.

Halaxy is the online portal we and many psychologists globally use for administration of client data and payments. Data is backed up daily and protected by bank grade security and encryption here in Australia, meaning that your data is secure at rest and in transit (where they are only accessible via TLS/SSL). Halaxy is hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS), one of the most used and well-regarded hosting services in the world. AWS physical access is controlled using human and video surveillance, intrusion detection systems, world class security protocols, infrastructure defaulting to the strictest configuration levels, and accreditations and certifications:

• PCI DSS Level 1 (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)

• ISO 27001 (Information Security Management System)

• FIPS 140-2 (United States Federal Information Processing Standard)

No. You can only claim rebates for a psychology session once, either through Medicare or your private health insurance provider.

Yes, we have many clients that have NDIS funding and are either self-managed or plan managed. We can send invoices directly to your plan manager and they will arrange payment.

Having an initial appointment with your psychologist is the best way for you to measure this. We hope that you find your rapport and “fit” comfortable and “at ease”, and will take every step to ensure that we provide a comfortable, safe space for you. Rapport is a very personal thing. We want the best for you and if for whatever reason you decide we’re not for you, we will understand, and support you in finding your best fit.

This is unique to your feelings and needs, and is something we encourage you to speak with your psychologist about. For some people, a series of 2 or 3 appointments over the space of 2 months may be a useful first step in identifying some strategies for successful self management. Some people however enjoy great success with a regular rhythm of appointments, such as fortnightly or monthly sessions on an ongoing basis.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (“AHPRA”) ensures that Australia’s registered health practitioners are suitably trained, qualified and safe to practise. A national register is published for each of the 10 health professions regulated by the national scheme. You can check the status of your psychologist by searching the register here Registers of Practitioners.