FAQs

A credentialing system was introduced in Australia in 2021 for dieticians and mental health professionals who work with clients with eating disorders, and in 2024 this is being rolled out to GPs. The credential is abbreviated as CEDC. A professional with the CEDC credential has the skills, knowledge and experience to work with people with eating disorders, and they are required to do ongoing training and have supervision from another experienced and credentialed clinician each year. This is a really important step forward in Australia, and means that clients and referrers can feel confident that the clinician has the skills to work in this complex and challenging area. 

We use a range of evidence –based eating disorder therapies, including: cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-E), Schema Therapy,  Supportive Specialist Clinical Management (SSCM) and Family Based Treatment (FBT), for young people with eating disorders.

No, you don’t need a referral from your doctor, however you will only be able to claim a rebate from Medicare if your doctor gives you a specific referral, called a mental health care plan or an eating disorder treatment plan. It is entirely up to you whether you wish to use this system. 

Yes we offer telehealth consults via Zoom. To claim a Medicare rebate for these sessions you must have a care plan referral from your GP. 

Clinical Psychology fees and rebates from 1^st July 2024

We charge two different fees: session fees and report fees.

The session fee is $290 for individuals or families, $310 for after-hours appointments (Tuesday and Thursday at 5.45pm) and  emergency sessions at 1.30pm on Monday and 3pm Friday.

The fee for reports to GPs and other referrers is $100 per report. These reports are a Medicare requirement for all Medicare referrals. Medicare do not provide a rebate for reports even though they are a Medicare requirement.

The Medicare rebate is currently $137.05 per session (April 2024). You will be entitled to either 10 session rebates per calendar year with a mental health care plan referral, or 40 session rebates per 12 months with an eating disorder treatment plan referral.

Private health rebates for clinical psychology vary, so check with your fund. The health fund code will be I04 for an initial consult and S04 for ongoing consults for adults, or F24 for family therapy for young people.

If your child has an eating disorder it is very unlikely that they will want to atend, so you need to insist that they attend. It is essential that your family and child receives the help they need to recover from an eating disorder.  

This is a common concern for many people. Laura is very experienced with the complexities of trauma, neurodivergence and eating disorders, with chronic disorders and with people who have tried therapy several times before.  

At the same time, if we feel we’re not the right match for you we will let you know, and refer you to someone who can help.  

A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has undertaken further specialist training in diagnosis and management of mental health disorders. Psychiatrists have specialist knowledge in prescribing medication for people with long term or complex mental health issues, or for people who have complex medical conditions. Your GP may suggest that you consult a Psychiatrist if you have had difficulty finding a medication which works for you with minimal side effects, or which is safe to use with other medications you need to take.

If you have an eating disorder treatment plan it is a Medicare requirement that you are reviewed by a psychiatrist before the 20th session in order to access further sessions.

So, a Clinical Psychologist will help you develop the extra skills and strategies you need to manage your psychological health, the Psychiatrist can assist with medication support, or with approving further treatment from your eating disorder treatment plan. 

The term ‘Psychologist’ is a registered profession in Australia, which means that people wishing to use that title must be registered with the Psychologists Board of Australia (PsyBA). A Registered Psychologist must complete a minimum of 4 years of university study and 2 years of internship (supervised training). Clinical Psychologists have a minimum of 8 years of training: 6 years of university training to Masters level, then a further 2 years of registrar training while working with clients.

To maintain their registration, all psychologists are required to work according to strict professional and ethical guidelines, and to participate in regular supervision with another psychologist and attend a minimum set amount of training (currently 30 hours per year). In other words, psychologists are mental health specialists.

In contrast, the terms ‘counsellor’, ‘therapist’ and psychotherapist’ are not registered professions in Australia, which means that anyone can use these titles, even if they have no training.