Frequently Asked Questions

Your Psychologist will ask you various questions throughout this session to gather comprehensive information about you, your history and current situation, in order to gain a well-rounded understanding of how they can best help you. Your Psychologist will also discuss "goals/what you want to achieve from therapy", and provide you an opportunity to ask any questions you might have. ​ Sometimes this initial assessment phase may span over a few sessions, depending on the detail of information shared and discussed.

This really depends on the individual, what they are hoping to achieve from therapy, and what their presenting issue is/diagnosis. Generally, you would start to see some progress between 6-10 sessions.

Typically, sessions last for approximately 50-60 minutes.

This again depends on the individual - what they can afford, what their goals are for therapy, and their presenting issue. We usually suggest beginning sessions on a weekly basis (for approx. 3-4 sessions), before spacing sessions out to fortnightly attendance. Once you are feeling ready to so do, we can then either space sessions out to every 3 weeks, or try monthly sessions. ​ Longer term, clients may only attend once every few months, or get in touch when they feel the need for a check in.

Your attendance is completely up to you. At Opening Doors Psychology, it is very important to us that you feel connected, safe and comfortable with your Psychologist. If you do not feel this, it is absolutely ok to request a referral to another Psychologist. If you'd prefer to seek out your own new Psychologist, that is also completely ok. We appreciate any feedback you might also have for us.

Please ensure you have a private and confidential space to attend your session in. You receive a link in your appointment reminder email a few days prior to your appointment, so you can attend via video-conference. If for any reason you do not receive your telehealth link, please let us know as soon as possible (either via email to Leah, or calling reception) and we can email you the link. Alternately, if you'd prefer a phone call, please let us know as soon as possible, and your Psychologist will call you on a private number at the time of your session. ​ Although frustrating at times, its normal to expect some delays, connection issues, and technical difficulties during Telehealth sessions. We have a back up Zoom account if for any reason our "Cliniko Telehealth" system fails to work.

A "MHCP" allows you and your GP to create a plan of action, to identify what kinds of supports or healthcare you need, what your treatment goals are, and what the best options for treatment might be. Additionally, this allows you to receive a rebate for up to 10 Psychology sessions per year. Please see "Fees & Rebates" section for further information.

You can obtain a MHCP from your GP, or alternatively from a Paediatrician. Your doctor will ask you various questions about your mental health concerns, what your goals are for treatment, and ask you to complete a questionnaire. You may then be provided with a hard copy of your MHCP to pass onto your Psychologist, or your doctor may directly send the documents to your Psychologist.

Once you've paid for your session in full, and attended, we can submit a claim for you online to medicare (with your permission). Alternatively, you are welcome to take your invoices to your nearest medicare office and lodge claims yourself. You should receive your rebates within 48-hours via bank transfer.

No, you don't have to have a referral from your GP to attend sessions. If you don't have a referral/MHCP, this just means that you will not receive a medicare rebate for your session, and will instead be out of pocket the full session fee.

No, MHCP's are intended for individual use only.

If you have Private Health Insurance, we can provide you with your invoices to make claims with your health fund. Otherwise, once you've used all 10 sessions of your MHCP for the year, you wont be able to receive any further rebates until the new year, and will pay the full cost of sessions until then.

You can either: - Give reception a call on (03) 9589 5305 to book in an appointment/s. - Use our online booking system which can be found here on our website.

Payment of sessions is required on the day of your appointment. ​ If attending in person, we prefer card payment where possible. If attending via Telehealth, reception will either attempt calling you to collect payment before or after your session. We also securely store credit card details on your file, and with your permission can automatically charge your card on file once your session attendance has been confirmed. ​ If for any reason you are unable to make payment on the day of your appointment, please raise this with your Psychologist and alternative arrangements can be made; a "payment plan" may also be negotiated with your Psychologist.

We require 48-hours (2-days notice) prior to your appointment. Please see "Fees & Rebates" section for further details on our cancellation policy.

Yes, we have a waiting list for NEW clients. Unfortunately, our books are currently full over the next few months. We do not have immediate availability for new clients. What you can do is: > Book in a session for the next available openings; reception will be able to assist you with this, and tell you when we've got openings again for new clients (this can vary between a 2-4 month wait). > Not book a session in advance, and just pop yourself on the "new client waitlist" for any cancellations or new spots that next become available. Sometimes we have cancellations and/or sudden spot openings which we can offer to new clients on the waitlist, so please keep an eye out for a message or call if you've opted for this option. We apologies in advance for the long wait times, and really appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. We are well aware many Psychology Clinics are full at the moment and not accepting any new clients, and can empathise with how frustrating this is.