Frequently Asked Questions

It’s completely normal to feel uncertain about opening up to someone new. Creating a safe, trusting environment is one of our main priorities, and we’ll move at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Many people who feel nervous before their first appointment tell us that by the end of the session they feel much more at ease and relieved they took the step. If you’d like, you can speak with our Intake Team beforehand. They’re happy to answer questions and offer reassurance before you come in.

It’s not uncommon to feel stuck or uncertain about whether change is possible. In our experience, talking to a psychologist can make a genuine and substantial difference. Psychologists are equipped with strategies designed to promote change and healing. We’ll work with you to build a plan and take steps towards greater peace and contentment. Sometimes it really just helps to share your situation with a skilful, caring person who is giving you their full attention.

It’s natural to want to look away from difficult issues. However, taking the brave step to explore a problem, understand it, express the feelings and plan a way through it often leads to positive change. By giving attention to our problems, we can make significant changes that increase wellbeing and improve mental health. Positive changes are much more likely to come from facing challenges than from avoiding them.

If you’re referred by a GP under a Mental Health Care Plan, you’ll be eligible to receive Medicare rebates for up to 20 appointments per calendar year. Medicare rebates are $141.85 for a Clinical Psychologist and $96.65 for a Generalist Psychologist. Note that our fees are structured so the out-of-pocket cost is consistent across all our psychologists.

After-hours appointments are available where needed. You can call us to make an appointment at a time that suits you. Please note that after-hours appointments attract a higher cost.

Counselling is ultimately about moving into the future with greater peace and happiness. At Laburnum Psychology, we believe the past is only relevant in the ways it impacts us today. Sometimes we need to look back to understand where we are now and how best to move forward. In other cases, it helps to work through painful life events to adapt and adjust. Our greatest focus will always be on forward movement and your wellbeing as you take steps towards your goals.

Each session runs for 50 minutes.

Please feel welcome to click our appointment button, call us or send us an email. One of our team members will get in touch with you during business hours to discuss an appointment or answer any questions you might have.

If you have private health insurance with extras cover, you may be entitled to a rebate. It’s worth enquiring with your private health insurance provider to determine your rebate entitlements.

This is something your psychologist can plan with you at the outset of counselling. Normally, we recommend you commence with weekly sessions, with the aim to transition to less frequent appointments depending on your progress and situation.

Generally yes, unless a legal document (e.g. a Family Court or Parenting Order) specifies otherwise. Both parents with parental responsibility must provide written consent before a child’s first appointment. In some circumstances, it may not be practicable or in the best interest of the child to contact the other parent. This will be considered by the psychologist on an individual basis.

Laburnum Psychology will assess whether it is practicable to obtain both consents and whether proceeding is in the child’s best interest. This is guided by ethical obligations and the APS (Australian Psychological Society) decision tree.

Any documents relevant to parental responsibility, such as Family Court Orders, Parenting Plans or Intervention Orders, must be provided before the child begins therapy. These help us understand who has legal authority for decision-making.

Where there are no court orders or legal documents, it is assumed that both parents hold parental responsibility for health-related decisions, including access to psychology. Therefore, the default is that consent would need to be sought from both parents, and both parents would be equally entitled to information about their child’s treatment and/or assessment.

Unless legal documents exclude a parent from parental responsibility or decision-making, both parents are believed to have equal rights and authority regarding decision-making and access to information. Where individual circumstances mean there is limited contact with a parent or contacting that parent would not be appropriate, the psychologist will decide what is in the best interests of the child regarding whether the parent is contacted. Even if the parent is not contacted, they maintain the right to information. Should they reach out to the practice, services may be ceased if they refuse consent. This parent is also entitled to any and all information regarding their child.

Laburnum Psychology is vigilant about maintaining privacy and confidentiality. We will confirm the parent’s rights to information before disclosing anything, including confirming whether the child is a client of the practice. We will work with the referring parent initially to determine the parental circumstances and who is authorised to access information.

Unless limited by a legal order, both parents have equal rights to access their child’s psychological records and be involved in decision-making, even if only one parent initiated services. Laburnum Psychology employs a policy whereby the parent who schedules the appointment for the child holds responsibility for attending and/or cancelling this appointment. The other parent cannot cancel or reschedule appointments made unless authorisation is given.

We will discuss the family situation with the parent who makes first contact to understand the dynamics and whether the other parent should be contacted. This step helps us determine consent requirements and maintain transparency where appropriate.

Only if a legal document specifically restricts this. Otherwise, both parents have a right to access information about their child’s treatment.

We follow the APS decision tree, a professional tool used by psychologists to ethically and legally determine whether consent from both parents is required and to what extent information can be shared.

Where parents cannot agree and there is no legal resolution, we may delay or decline to provide ongoing services until the matter is resolved or a clear best-interest determination can be made.

There is no clearly defined point or age at which responsibility for decision-making transfers from parents to a young person who is still under 18. The psychologist may determine that a young person under 18 years of age is a mature minor, able to make their own informed choices and therefore can provide their own consent to treatment, with parent consent not needed. This will occur on a case-by-case basis. Unless the psychologist or a court determines that the young person is a mature minor or that only one parent is responsible for health decisions, both parents are assumed to have an equal right to make decisions about their child’s treatment, including whether to give consent.

Unless a court has deemed that only one parent is responsible for the child or has access to the child’s health records, it is assumed that both parents have the right to access their child’s health record, including psychology case notes and assessment results. Therefore, anything written in the child’s file can be accessed by both parents, including notes from sessions in which only one parent was present, even if this information is about the other parent and given in confidence.

If the psychologist believes the sharing of information would impact the individual’s wellbeing, they can refuse to share information. However, this can be disputed in court. The psychologist will work where practicable to protect the confidentiality of information as appropriate, but parents should be aware that anything disclosed to and documented by the psychologist can be accessed by both parties.