FAQ - Frequent Asked Questions
- Does my child need to see a psychologist?
If your child is struggling with a difficult emotion that feels overwhelming or presenting with a difficult behaviour they cannot control, or simply needs a safe space to help them work through a difficult situation – then they can benefit from seeing a psychologist.
- What should I bring to my first session?
Before your first session, you should receive an email with a registration form to complete. If a Mental Health Care Plan is in place then please bring this to your first session along with your Medicare card. If your child has an NDIS plan, please bring details of the plan to the first session.
- How does a Mental Health Care Plan work?
Under a Mental Health Care Plan, Medicare will provide a partial refund of the cost of each session. The initial plan will cover 6 sessions. After 6 sessions you need to check in with your GP to provide a review. This review will cover a further 4 sessions. A maximum of 10 sessions will be covered by Medicare in a calendar year.
- My child has NDIS funding – can you see them?
Yes – we can help children with NDIS funding as long as they are either plan managed or self-managed. Our admin team is experienced in liaising with case managers and plan managers to make the process smooth and comfortable for you.
- What happens if the next available appointment is several weeks away?
We will always endeavour to provide you with an appointment as soon as possible. If there is a waiting period before the next available appointment, we will always place you on a waitlist and let you know if any cancellations come up. If your appointment is urgent please let our admin staff know.
- Should my child be taking medication?
Depending on what your child is struggling with, medication can be a helpful addition to the therapy process. However, this is something that you can discuss with your psychologist in more detail and get advise for from your GP, pediatrician or psychiatrist.
- Can I send information to the psychologist prior to our session?
Our psychologists value any information that you can provide that will help them to better understand your child and create their treatment plan. You can email this information through to info@umbrellalane.com.au
- What will happen in the first session?
In the first session, psychologists gather information for a treatment plan. For children, they first meet with parents, then with the child to build rapport, and conclude with a discussion with parents. For teenagers, they primarily interact with the teen, respecting confidentiality, but with the teen’s permission, they may share the treatment plan with parents.
- Do I need to get a Mental Health Care Plan?
We can see clients with or without a Mental Health Care Plan. The benefit of getting a Mental Health Care Plan is that Medicare will provide a partial refund of the cost of each session for up to 10 sessions each calendar year.
- How will a psychologist help me or my child
As psychologists our job is to provide you or your child with a safe, empathetic space to better understand emotions and their causes, to build better-coping skills and to improve quality of life.
Call us today if you have any other questions
