Yes. For most initial appointments a valid referral from a doctor is necessary. If a doctor sees a patient without a referral a full fee with no Medicare rebate will be charged. If you wish to see a psychologist you will also need a mental health care plan either from your GP or from your Psychiatrist in order to receive the Medicare rebate.

You can request for a partner, a relative or an important other person to be present during the session. There will be sessions where the Psychiatrist must speak with you alone, therefore it is preferred for to inform your psychiatrist and you pre-organise those sessions with additional time to allow relevant discussions.

There are a number of differences between the two types of mental health professionals. Generally, there are two main differences. Psychologists are trained at a university in understanding human behaviour and psychological issues and trained to provide psychological treatment/therapy, while Psychiatrists are Medical Doctors/ Medical Specialists who undertake advanced, specialist training in psychological issues /psychiatric disorders and medications. Only psychiatrists are able to prescribe medications to treat your mental health and they are also trained in providing psychological treatments. Referring GP may decide which professional will best suit your individual needs initially and following a psychiatric assessment, the psychiatrist may also decide to refer you to a psychologist for additional psychological treatment.

Waiting periods for an initial appointment can vary for each clinician due to a number of factors. Periods can range from a week to a few months.

Fees will vary depending on the type of visit and the clinician that you see and will always be discussed with you at the time of booking your initial appointment. Some private health insurance funds will cover some Psychology appointments, but none will cover Psychiatry appointments.