Frequently Asked Questions

You can book online or call our Intake Team on (03) 9872 6255. If you enquire online, our Intake Team will call you within one business day to understand your concerns and help determine the right assessment and clinician. For assessment bookings, please allow approximately 5 minutes for this call. We may also ask you to provide previous reports, questionnaires or other relevant information.

That's what we're here for. Make an enquiry, tell us a little about what is happening and we'll help you find the right starting point.

Counselling fees vary depending on the clinician you see and when your appointment takes place. Assessments are generally priced as a package, with fees depending on the type of assessment and what is required. Visit our Fees & Rebates page for current pricing and funding information.

Yes. Telehealth appointments are available for counselling services, depending on your needs and the clinician you’re seeing. Assessment appointments are conducted face to face, although feedback sessions can be held via Telehealth. Our Intake Team can help you decide whether online or in-person appointments are the best fit for you.

The time you need to spend attending an assessment varies depending on the type of assessment and the number of referral questions. All assessments involve a clinical interview and testing, usually completed using iPads, followed by a feedback session. Some assessments may be completed in one appointment, while others may require several appointments depending on their complexity and the number of questions being explored. We’ll explain the expected appointments and timing before you begin.

Yes, if it is less than 12 months old: just bring it along or have it emailed to us. Mental Health Treatment Plans are reviewed after the first 6 sessions, care plans can be reviewed every 3 months, and a new referral can be written every 12 months. Our reception team can help you work out where yours is up to.

Absolutely. You’re welcome to browse our team, filter by service and read profiles before booking with a psychologist who feels like the right fit. If you’d prefer, our intake team can suggest a clinician based on your concerns, preferences, and factors such as therapeutic style and age.

Please keep in mind that your preferred psychologist may not always have immediate availability or capacity to meet your needs at that time. We encourage considering a few options so we can help connect you with the right support as soon as possible.

Counselling sessions run for around 50 minutes. Assessment appointments, which include a clinical interview and testing, run from 2 to 14 hours depending on the purpose, complexity and how many testing sessions are needed.

A confidential, non-judgemental space where you can say as much or as little as you like. Your therapist will ask about what has brought you in, relevant history and your goals, then work with you on a treatment plan. For children under 10 years old, the first session usually involves parents or guardians for background and for older children it is important that a parent does accompany them to their first appointment. Your feedback is invited initially and throughout the stages of counselling, so speak up about anything.

Yes: video or phone sessions for anyone who prefers not to come in. Medicare rebates apply for eligible clients with a valid referral.

Tell us: no awkwardness, no offence taken. The fit between you and your clinician matters more than anything else, and our Intake Team will happily rematch you. It is helpful for you to provide feedback as to why as this helps us to learn for next time, plus ensure the next match is much better.

Yes. For eligible counselling services, you’ll need a valid referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician to claim a Medicare rebate. Eligible clients can receive Medicare rebates for up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year. Some assessments may also attract Medicare rebates with an appropriate referral. Your GP can assess your eligibility, and our Intake Team can help you understand what applies before you get started.

Your out-of-pocket cost depends on the service, clinician and any rebate or funding available to you. Counselling is charged per appointment, while assessments are generally priced as a package. See the fee tables for current pricing, or contact our Intake Team if you’re unsure what will apply.

Depending on your circumstances, we accept WorkCover, TAC, FAS, NDIS (self-managed and plan-managed), EAP arrangements and private health insurance with extras cover. Many private health insurers provide rebates for psychology services, with the amount depending on your policy, extras cover and provider. We have HICAPS on site for instant private health claims. Medicare and private health insurance cannot be claimed for the same appointment, and only one funding source can be used per appointment. Our Intake Team can help you choose the appropriate option.

Counselling and assessment appointments have different cancellation periods because of the time reserved for each service. We ask for 3 business days’ notice for counselling and 7 days for assessments. For counselling, cancellations within 24 hours and no-shows incur the full fee, with no rebate. For assessments, cancellations within 5 business days may result in loss of the deposit or a 25% cancellation fee. Genuine emergencies are treated on a case-by-case basis — please call us as soon as you can if you need to make a change.

Both are registered with AHPRA. A provisional psychologist has completed their university training and is finishing their supervised practical training, with weekly supervision from an AHPRA-approved supervisor. Our provisional psychologists are thoroughly trained and well supported, provide effective treatment for mild to moderate concerns, and are available at a reduced fee.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication and often treat more severe conditions. Psychologists are trained in psychological therapy and assessment but do not prescribe. Many people see both: a psychiatrist managing medication and a psychologist providing therapy.

Yes: cognitive, educational, autism, ADHD and neuropsychological assessments for concerns spanning learning, attention, brain injury and dementia. See our Educational & Developmental Assessments and Neuropsychological Assessments pages, or call our Intake Team to discuss what is right for your situation.

The assessment process typically involves an initial clinical interview, followed by cognitive and memory testing, with testing sessions usually taking around 3 hours. The overall assessment involves approximately 12–14 hours of clinician time, including assessment, scoring, interpretation, feedback and preparation of the comprehensive written report. The time required can vary depending on the complexity of the assessment and the questions being explored.

A referral is not always required. You can contact our Intake Team directly to discuss your concerns and whether a neuropsychological assessment is appropriate. Where relevant, we may recommend obtaining information from your GP, specialist, school or other health professional to help inform the assessment.

A psychologist can provide assessment and treatment for a wide range of mental health, emotional and behavioural concerns. A clinical neuropsychologist is a psychologist with specialised training in understanding the relationship between brain functioning and thinking, memory, learning, attention, language and behaviour. Neuropsychological assessments use specialised cognitive and memory testing to understand a person's pattern of strengths and difficulties and how these may affect everyday functioning.

The assessment process is tailored to the person and the questions we are trying to answer. It may involve discussion about your concerns and background, questionnaires and a range of tasks designed to understand thinking, learning, attention and other areas of development. For children, parents or caregivers are usually involved in providing background information. At the end of the assessment process, your psychologist will explain the findings and provide practical recommendations relevant to home, school, work or everyday life.

There is usually no need for extensive preparation. The most important thing is to arrive rested and ready to give the tasks your best effort. For children, it can help to explain that they will be doing some activities and puzzles with a psychologist, without putting pressure on them to get everything right. We will let you know if there is anything specific you need to bring or complete beforehand.

DS Psychology Group does not provide emergency crisis support. If you need immediate help, please contact: Lifeline 13 11 14 · Kids Helpline (up to 25) 1800 55 1800 · Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 · Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 · Emergency services 000 if you are at risk of harm. If you need an urgent first appointment or an earlier session, call us on (03) 9872 6255 and we get you on the waitlist, plus alert the clinician for a sooner appointment.