Consultations

Consultations with Rhona take 50-60 minutes although the first appointment may be a little longer. Where necessary, Rhona can see patients out of office hours and in locations other than her Wahroonga office, including home visits,  for those who are unable to access her office ie, elderly, disabled or mums with small children. Telehealth or phone appointments are also available.

office-photo Rhona’s consultation room in Wahroonga                          

Video/telephone consultations
In some circumstances video or telephone consultations are preferable. While a simple telephone requires no set up or technology a video call provides a better experience. I use Coviu. It is free for clients and meets privacy requirements for Telehealth as outlined by our professional bodies. You will need either:

  • A computer connected to the internet, or
  • A mobile smart phone with mobile data (Chrome will not support it but Safari does).

You receive an email with a link from me prior to your session. You can launch it directly from your computers internet browser.

Information about privacy and security of data for Coviu can be found here
Information about data usage for Coviu can be found here

Consultation Fees
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) and The Australian Association of Psychologists Inc recommends standard consultation fees for psychologists. Rhona’s fees are below this guideline. Please make contact to discuss the fee schedule. Rhona accepts credit cards, direct deposit to bank account or cash. Rebates are often available, either via Medicare – Better Access to Mental Health, or Access +. Your health fund may also cover some costs. Rhona can process Medicare rebates for you.

Medicare – Better Access to Mental Health Care
Medicare initiative that provides rebates for mental health services with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional approved by Medicare. Your GP will assess your mental health needs and refer you to an appropriate professional. You may receive up to 10 sessions of individual therapy, and up to 8 sessions of group therapy in a calendar year. Rebates are currently $96.55 per individual session or more if the Medicare threshold has been exceeded . The mental health professional provides feedback to your GP and makes further recommendations if needed.

Access + (Formally ATAPS)
Access + is funded by Primary Health Networks – Rhona is an Access + provider through Northern Sydney. This program is similar to the Better Access to Mental Health Care funded by Medicare however you will be referred to a mental health professional contracted by the Primary Health Networks. If you are referred through the Access + program you will not need to pay a gap for services. Once again speak to your GP about a referral.

Private
Rhona is happy to see clients without a referral from a GP. If you belong to a private health fund please check with them about what is required for a rebate.

SMS Reminders and Cancellation Policy
Most clients opt to receive an SMS reminder 48 hours before the appointment; please respond to that SMS to confirm your appointment. Should you need to cancel or change your booked session please contact Rhona by phone as soon as possible. Depending on how much notice is given and your specific circumstance, the cancellation fee may be reduced at Rhona’s discretion.

In the event of a genuine emergency, the cancellation fee may be waived.

For clarity, the following are considered examples of emergencies:

  • Hospitalisation
  • Car accident
  • Robbery or assault
  • Death of a relative
  • Sudden onset illness, although a telehealth or phone appointment may be requested

Cancellations within 24 hours of the session start will still be charged. As frustrating as it is to pay a cancellation fee, Rhona genuinely don’t like enforcing it. The reason for having a 24-hour cancellation policy is because:

  • We are generally unable to fill appointment spaces that are cancelled at short notice
  • Time and care has already been taken into session planning and preparation
  • Rescheduling appointments tie up future appointments, minimising availability for others
  • To be fair to other clients who would have taken up the appointment time instead
  • Rhona needs to make an income and late cancellations impact on this

Note: Rhona does not provide written reports for legal matters including family court nor workers compensation claims