Frequently asked questions

What types of problems do you help people with?

Our psychologists help adults, adolescents, and couples, with a broad range of problems. The psychologists at Barrenjoey have all been working in private practice over a number of years. They are able to provide counselling and psychological treatment for adults and young people. Some of the psychologists in our team have an interest working with certain problems or population groups.

Find out who to see

If you are unsure who to make an appointment with you can send a general enquiry to the practice either by email or phone.

Do I need a doctor’s referral?

No, a doctors referral is only required if you want to claim Medicare or other rebates.

What are your fees and what rebates am I entitled to?

Various fees and rebates apply and depend upon various factors. Please click here for more detailed information.

Can therapy help couples and families?

Our psychologists at Barrenjoey Psychology provide relationship therapy. We find couples find it extremely helpful to work with a psychologist on their problem areas. An investment in your relationship can be extremely rewarding and long lasting.

The psychologists at Barrenjoey Psychology have clinical experience and training working with  teenagers and young adults. When working with younger teens we achieve the best outcomes when we are also able to include some appointments with parents as well.

Do organisations benefit from providing counselling for their workers?

Over the last 15 years psychologists from Barrenjoey Psychology have provided solution-focused employee assistance counselling for a broad range of organizations in both the public and private sectors. Promoting a sense of well-being in your staff and access to short term counselling can greatly reduce absences, staff conflict and staff turnover.

Do I need to bring anything?

We value your feedback on our practice and we will ask you to complete some assessments and outcome measures at the beginning and completion of your therapy this helps us to continue to develop our skills as psychologists in enhancing positive changes in people’s lives. When you book an appointment online these assessments will be emailed to you to complete. Once completed the forms are encrypted and sent directly to your individual psychologist.

How many sessions will I need?

Most people do not need a large number of consultations.  The average is 6-8 sessions.  Generally the change process is begun in the first session and clients often see improvements after the third or fourth session. Sessions may include discussion, education, testing, skills training such as mindfulness and communication training and experiential processes.  Patients are often asked to complete homework tasks between sessions.

What if I need to cancel an appointment?

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment we prefer 48 hours notice but a minimum of 24 hours is required otherwise a full cancellation fee will be charged. This time has been set aside by the Psychologist to see you and other people are waiting for appointments with Barrenjoey Psychology. Our reception team are available during business hours to reschedule any appointments for you. If you fail to attend an appointment booked for you the full fee will apply and this will not be able to be claimed from Medicare.

Will my visit here be confidential?

Absolutely; the confidentiality of our service is extremely important to all practitioners and as registered psychologists we will explain how we take care of our records and what confidentiality means in your treatment. This information is usually discussed in our first session but if you have particular concerns we are able to discuss this on the phone before this appointment is made.

What if I am off work as a result of a work related injury? Will my workplace pay?

The fees may also be fully covered by Worker’s Compensation insurers or Compulsory Third Party (CTP) in the case of third party motor vehicle accident claims. It is advisable to phone the Clinic prior to your first appointment and have the psychologist contact your insurer with your consent to confirm treatment is covered by your insurance.

When can I make appointments?

The practice is open on weekdays with early morning and late evening appointments. Our receptionist will provide you with information on the days and times that each of our Psychologists work and their fees and rebates. You may check the availability of each practitioner and book an appointment with them online in the book online page.

Sessions can be conducted face to face, online or by phone – offering you flexibility to fit your appointments in around busy schedules.