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What benefits can I expect from working with a psychologist?
Therapy can provide insight and new perspectives into life's challenges and can help create solutions to difficult problems. Many people find that working with a psychologist can enhance personal development, improve relationships and family dynamics, and can ease the challenges of daily life. Sometimes, just having someone there to listen is helpful. Overall, people in therapy tend to have lower levels of anxiety and stress, decreased conflict, and improved quality of life.
Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Developing new skills for handling stress and anxiety
- Modifying unhealthy behavior and long-standing patterns
- Attaining insight into personal patterns and behavior
- Increasing confidence, peace, vitality, and well-being
- Improving ways to manage anger, depression and moods
- Discovering new ways to solve problems
- Navigating life’s obstacles more effectively
- Improving listening and communication skills
- Enhancing the overall quality of life
Am I covered by Medicare?
Medicare benefits are available for a range of specified psychology services for people with certain conditions. To receive psychological services under Medicare, a person must be referred by his/her GP or in some instances by a psychiatrist or a paediatrician.
Do you accept private health insurance? How does insurance work?
To determine if you have mental health coverage, the first thing you should do is check with your private health fund. Check your coverage carefully and find the answers to the following questions:
- Do I have mental health benefits?
- How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
Is therapy confidential?
Any information that identifies you or that you give to your therapist will be treated with utmost privacy and respect. Information about you is kept confidential and is only disclosed to additional parties with your prior consent. The only time a psychologist is required to disclose information about you is if it is demanded by law or if there is reasonable evidence to believe that someone is at risk of harm if we do not divulge the information to the appropriate authorities.