Our dedication is to enhance our clients' health and wellbeing through the highest ethical practices. We've established clear rules and guidelines to ensure our operations are transparent and you're well-informed.
Sessions typically last approximately 50 minutes. The Australian Psychological Society (APS) National Schedule of Suggested Fees recommends $330 for a standard 46–60 minute consultation. Our session fee is $267.55. With a valid Medicare Mental Health Treatment Plan referral, the current rebate is $101.55, bringing the out-of-pocket cost to approximately $166.
Shade Tree Psychology is a SIRA approved provider. Consultation fees for clients under Workers Compensation are billed directly to the approved insurer at the relevant gazetted rate, at no cost to the client.
We welcome DVA clients. DVA Veteran Cards (Gold and White) are accepted as payment upon a GP referral, in line with the current DVA Schedule of Fees, at no out-of-pocket cost to eligible clients.
Plan-managed and self-managed NDIS participants are welcome. Fees are billed in line with the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements.
We accept only credit or debit card payments, which are processed electronically for your convenience.
If for any reason you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please notify us via email or phone at least 24 business hours prior to your scheduled appointment. Our business days are Monday to Friday. For Monday appointments, please inform us no later than the preceding Friday. For cancellations or changes made within the 24-hour cancellation period, or in case of a no-show, Shade Tree Psychology will charge a cancellation fee equivalent to the full amount of your scheduled appointment.
We provide notification reminders via email (72 hours) and text message (48 hours) before your appointment, giving you an opportunity to make any necessary changes before the 24-hour cancellation period and before fees are incurred.
Prior to your visit, we ask that you fill out a Client Consent Form to clarify your understanding of information handling, privacy, fees and cancellation terms. This form also allows us to liaise with your healthcare providers as needed. We kindly request you renew this consent annually.
Our commitment extends to supporting the wellbeing of children, families and couples. In cases where we identify potential harm, abuse or neglect involving children, we are legally bound to report such instances to the appropriate authorities, adhering to our role as mandated reporters.
For clients aged 13–18, parental discussions about the child's therapy require the child's consent, to ensure privacy and trust. Psychologists may only share information with parents if there's a risk of harm or with the child's agreement. Parents can request a separate meeting if needed.
If a client presents as suicidal or mentally unwell, posing significant risk to themselves or others, our psychologists have a duty of care to ensure client and public safety. In such cases, they may need to inform relevant individuals (family members, doctors, police services) who can assist in managing the situation. Confidentiality cannot be maintained when these circumstances arise, as the safety and wellbeing of all involved take precedence.
In our smaller community, avoiding conflicts of interest is key. The APS guidelines discourage multiple client relationships to ensure professionalism. For example, therapists providing individual therapy won't also offer family or couples therapy to the same clients. This maintains impartiality and professional integrity. If conflicts are detected, we may refer you to another therapist within our practice.
This policy describes how Shade Tree Psychology handles client information, adhering to the Australian Privacy Principles from the Privacy Act 1988.
We maintain client data in a secure electronic system, accessible only to authorised staff, containing essential details for service provision.
We gather client data through various means during our sessions, including direct submissions and information from other healthcare providers, ensuring comprehensive psychological care.
Choosing not to share personal information may impact our service delivery. While anonymity or pseudonyms are options, they might not always be practical, potentially requiring upfront payment for services.
We gather personal data to offer tailored psychological support, from evaluation to treatment, ensuring our services are aligned with your needs. This data is crucial for maintaining comprehensive session records.
Clients' personal information is treated with utmost confidentiality, with some exceptions, including:
Clients' personal information is not disclosed to overseas recipients without consent or legal requirement, and it will not be used, sold, rented or disclosed for any other purposes.
Shade Tree Psychology