Answered plainly
Frequently asked questions
Referrals, Medicare rebates, cancellations, confidentiality and crisis support, in the same plain terms we'd use in the room.
Booking and Medicare
Referrals, rebates, cancelling and fees.
Do I need a GP referral to book?
No. You can book directly without seeing your GP first. A referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP is what makes you eligible for a Medicare rebate, so it's worth arranging one before your first session if you can, but it isn't required to book.
How does the Medicare rebate actually work?
Your GP writes a Mental Health Treatment Plan and refers you to a registered psychologist. That plan makes you eligible for a Medicare rebate on a set number of individual sessions each calendar year, currently up to ten. We claim it on the spot at reception with your Medicare card, so you only pay the gap between our fee and the rebate.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
We ask for at least twenty-four hours' notice so the slot can be offered to someone else. Cancellations inside that window may attract a fee; call or email reception and Ben will sort out the details.
Do you bulk-bill?
No. Our fee applies to every session, and eligible clients with a Mental Health Treatment Plan have the Medicare rebate claimed on the spot, so you pay the gap rather than the full fee out of pocket.
The practice and approach
Who you see, how, and for how long.
What's the difference between Alison, Daniel and Tessa?
Alison and Daniel are both fully AHPRA-registered psychologists with several years of experience. Tessa is a provisional psychologist completing her supervised practice hours under Alison, which is why her fee is lower. All three work from the same intake process and the same plain-language approach.
Can I do sessions by telehealth?
Yes. Telehealth sessions are the same fifty minutes, the same clinician and the same fee as an in-person appointment, and the Medicare rebate applies the same way with a valid referral.
Do you see people under 18?
We work with adults, eighteen and over. For a younger client we're glad to point you toward a colleague locally who specialises in that age group.
Do you offer couples counselling?
Not currently. Alison, Daniel and Tessa all see individuals, though relationship strain and communication are common things clients bring to individual sessions. If joint couples work is what you're after, we can suggest a colleague who offers it.
How long will I need to keep coming?
There's no set number we can promise, and we won't invent one. It depends on what you're working on and how you respond to it; we'll check in on progress together every few sessions rather than assume a fixed course.
What therapy approaches do you use?
Mostly CBT, ACT and schema-informed work, chosen to fit what you're dealing with rather than applied as a house style. Whichever approach is used, it gets explained in plain language before it's used, not assumed.
Privacy and crisis support
What stays in the room, and what to do if it can't wait.
What happens if I'm in crisis between sessions?
Even Keel isn't a crisis service and doesn't monitor phones or email outside opening hours. If you're in crisis or at immediate risk, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 in an emergency.
Is what I say in a session confidential?
Yes, with the standard legal limits any psychologist works under: if there's a serious risk to your safety or someone else's, or a court requires records, confidentiality can be overridden. Alison, Daniel or Tessa will explain this plainly in your first session, not bury it in a form.
Still not covered?