STUFF YOU NEED TO KNOW 

Yes, absolutely! For individual sessions with teens and adults, you can definitely use your mental health treatment plan. As an accredited mental health social worker, I've put in the extra yards to learn focussed psychological strategies, which means Medicare will give you a rebate. Win-win!

Great question! Mental health social workers are the complexity experts,  we look at you as a whole person within your world, not just your symptoms or diagnosis in isolation. While psychologists focus primarily on mental health conditions, we social workers consider your relationships, family dynamics, work situation, cultural background, and all the environmental factors that impact your wellbeing. Think of it as the difference between fixing a car part versus understanding how that part works within the whole engine. This approach is particularly brilliant for neurodivergent folks because I get that your challenges don't exist in isolation, they're influenced by everything around you.

Yep, there is one, and it's pretty straightforward. Cancel within 48 hours and there's a 50% fee. Cancel within 24 hours or don't show up, and it's 100% of the fee. Medicare doesn't cover cancellation fees, so that's out of your pocket. But hey, I want to be fair and reasonable, if you wake up genuinely sick on appointment day, please stay home! We can always jump on a telehealth call instead, or if there's another slot available in the same week, we'll just reschedule. No dramas. For repeat cancellers, sorry but a fee will apply, though let's have a chat about what's happening in your world that's making it tough to keep appointments. There's usually something we can work out together

Telehealth, telehealth, telehealth! Not a problem at all. I'd love to meet you face-to-face because there's something special about in-person appointments,  the vibe, the energy, all that good stuff. But honestly, it's all about what's going to work best for you. Your comfort and progress matter more than where we chat.

Ah yes, that's a pretty common speed bump! Here's the thing, come on your own to start if that feels right. Or bring your other half along for just a chat. No therapy, no woo-woo stuff, just a conversation to see what happens. Sometimes people's minds change when they realize we're just real humans having real conversations about real life.

For couples work, that's a big no! Medicare won't cover it. For parenting sessions, it depends. If it's purely about learning parent strategies, then no. However, if you're experiencing depression, anxiety, or stress because of parenting a neurodivergent teen, have a chat with your GP about your own Mental Health Care Plan. Fair warning though, conflict of interest rules mean if I'm working with your teen, I can't work with you individually or as a family. Gotta keep those boundaries clear!

Yes, I do! Just heads up that NDIS rules are constantly changing (don't get me started!), so you'll need to make sure your plan specifically states "15_621_0128_1_3 Assessment Recommendation Therapy or Training - Social Worker" from your Capacity Building budget. If you're not sure, give your plan manager or support coordinator a buzz or we can figure it out together.

Absolutely! I've been working as an Outreach Provider for Open Arms for quite a few years now. Send me a text or email and I can support you to access counselling through them. I also accept DVA clients who have a plan from their GP. Easy as!