Frequently asked questions

We are located within the heart of Melbourne's inner north,  in Brunswick. Please see the 'Contact' page for the address.

We operate strictly by appointment only. 

Telehealth / Online

You can opt for online therapy for its convenience, if you live too far away (e.g. regional / rural Victoria or interstate), or when you just aren't up to having a face-to-face session. Studies indicate that online therapy can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy. Therefore, it is a matter of preference whether you wish to attend face-to-face or online. 

You will need to indicate your preference at the time of each booking, and advise of any change to your session preference (e.g. from face-to-face to online) when you receive your appointment reminder 3 days prior to your scheduled session. Last minute changes from face-to-face to online are possible, however, last minute changes from online to face-to-face are not possible. 

For online therapy, you will require a stable internet connection and a confidential space where you can talk openly and feel safe. If you have an online session booked but are unable to proceed due to unstable internet connection or lack of privacy in your preferred setting, sessions may proceed via telephone. You will need to ensure, similarly to online sessions, that you can have your telephone session in a confidential space and that you aren't driving during the session.

For specific fees, please see the Fees and Rebates tab. 

If you are interested in obtaining a Medicare rebate for your psychology sessions, the first step is to speak with your GP to determine your eligibility for a Mental Health Treatment Plan, under the Better Access Initiative. If you are eligible, your GP can arrange a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral for you. Once you have your Mental Health Treatment Plan you are entitled to a maximum of 10 Medicare rebated psychology sessions per calendar year. You can find more information here: https://psychology.org.au/psychology/medicare-rebates-psychological-services/medicare-faqs-for-the-public

The current Medicare rebate is $96.65. 

You do not need a Mental Health Treatment Plan to see a psychologist. You can self refer. In this case, however, please be aware that you will not be eligible for a Medicare rebate and you will need to pay the full session fee.

Some private health insurers offer a partial rebate for psychology sessions and you will need to check with your insurer to determine your level of cover. Some clients find it helpful to utilise private health insurance when their Medicare rebates have been exhausted for the year, whilst others prefer to pay the full fee themselves. Please be aware that you cannot claim both a Medicare rebate and a private health rebate for the same session.

For information about supervision fees, please send your enquiry via the 'Contact' page or to: info@epiphanypsychologyservices.com.au

It depends. It is highly unlikely that cancellations made within 48 hours of a scheduled session will be able to be filled by another client. Therefore we request any cancellations or rescheduling requests are made more than 48 hours before your booked session.

You will receive a text message and/or email reminder 3 days prior to your scheduled session time, giving you plenty of time to advise us if you cannot make your scheduled session. 

If you are unable to make your appointment, you are requested to contact us as soon as possible to let us know. There are limited circumstances under which a cancellation fee may be waived because we understand that unexpected events happen such as illness or accident/emergencies. Additionally, where cancelled session time slots are able to be filled, you will not be charged a cancellation fee.

Cancellation fees are applied as follows:

- more than 48 hours notice - no cancellation fee.

- less than 48 hours, but more than 24 hours notice - 50 % of the session fee

- less than 24 hours notice or non attendance without advice  - 100% of the session fee 

*Medicare rebates are not possible for fees payable due to cancellation.

Why are cancellation fees charged?

When you book an appointment, we reserve that time slot for you. Cancellations with insufficient notice result in other clients missing out. Cancellation fees also cover the cost of the work your psychologist has put into preparing for your session.

Your first session is an opportunity for your psychologist to get an overview of what has been happening for you. This involves your psychologist asking you questions about how long you have been experiencing your presenting concerns, any previous mental health treatment, relevant background information and your expectations and goals. This forms part of the initial assessment, and depending on the reason or reasons you have decided to see a psychologist the initial assessment may take a few sessions. 

During the assessment phase, your psychologist will also provide psychoeducation (education and information relevant to your presenting concerns) and may also start to incorporate skills-building to assist in getting on top of current symptoms or distress. Some clients prefer to book an extended (90 minute) consultation for their initial session if they have multiple or complex concerns. It's up to the individual. Please note that the Medicare rebate of $93.35 is the same regardless of whether the session exceeds the standard 50 minutes.

The first session is also an opportunity for you to start to get a sense of whether your psychologist will be a good fit for you. Please note that I offer a free confidential 15 minute phone consultation prior to booking a first session which also assists client and psychologist to determine whether Epiphany Psychology Services is the most appropriate service to meet your needs. It is very important that you get the service you want and need.

A standard session runs for a duration of 50 minutes.

I offer the option of a 90 minute session for clients who prefer longer sessions. A 90 minute session is 1.5 x full session fee. It is important to keep in mind that the rebate of $96.65 remains the same.

The therapy journey can last anywhere from a once-off support session, to several months and in some cases, longer. There are many factors that determine length of therapy, not least of which is what you want and need. This will be discussed in your first session.

As a small practice, we are unable to provide services for acute mental health crises or emergencies. 

If you or someone you know Is experiencing a mental health crisis, please consider contacting one of the services below:

• Lifeline:   13 11 14
• Suicide Call Back Service:   1 300 659 467
• 13YARN (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters to yarn to): 13 92 76 
• Q-life (LGBTIQ+ support):   1 800 184 527
• Sexual Assault Crisis Line (Victoria):   1 800 806 292
• 1 800 Respect (domestic, family and sexual violence - Australia-wide):   1 800 737 732

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, or if you or someone you know is at risk of harming themselves or others, please call Triple Zero (000) immediately.