How to find a psychologist

Life brings with it many challenges and unexpected situations, and some of the most common life experiences – such as the death of a loved one, illness, relationship breakdowns, and unemployment – can trigger a mental health issue. In fact, around 20 per cent of Australians encounter a mental health issue in any given year, and 7.3 million people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. The most common conditions include anxiety, depression, and substance abuse disorders (such as with alcohol), and their symptoms and severity vary from person to person.

Choosing to see a professional is an important step towards bettering your mental health in the immediate and long term. Your mental health has a tremendous impact on your overall wellbeing, and working with a trained professional can help you think more clearly, sort through problems, improve your relationships, and give you strategies to navigate difficult situations.

As with the variety of conditions, there are a number of different mental health professionals who may be able to help you. However, if you’re experiencing a personal crisis or have suicidal thoughts, call Lifeline immediately on 131 114. The phone service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Online chat and text services are available during specified times.

Psychologist, psychiatrist, counsellor, social worker, doctor? In some situations, your choice of mental health care professional may be straightforward. Perhaps you’ve recently experienced the death of a loved one and wish to see a grief counsellor. In other cases, it may be less evident, as there are many different stressors and a wide range of support services available.

A good first step in most instances is to visit a GP. Your doctor will be able to assess your mental health needs and situation, and gauge the skills, support, and treatment you may need. They may be able to treat you themselves or give you the necessary referral to see a specialist like a psychiatrist. When you’re booking your appointment, it’s a good idea to let them know it’s to talk about a mental health plan, so they can book enough time.

You can find out more information about the different mental health professions on the Health Direct website.

When your GP is making their initial assessment, they’ll ask you a number of questions or give you a questionnaire to fill in to ascertain whether you have a mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or stress. If you are diagnosed, they’ll prepare a mental health care plan, noting down your needs, treatment, referral options, and suggested services. With your consent, this plan will then be passed on to relevant specialists and also form the basis of any Medicare entitlements you may wish to claim.

If you’re referred or go straight to another mental health specialist, like a psychologist, it’s likely their first questions will be around getting to know you and why you’ve decided to make an appointment. Headspace suggests writing down a list of the stressors and other things you want support with, so you don’t forget when you’re in the room. Seeing a mental health professional can be nerve-wracking, but don’t forget that your specialist is there to guide you through the process.

Having a rapport with your mental health professional is just as important as their location and available services. Talking about your mental health is very personal, and to make progress, you need to feel comfortable and confident that they understand you as a person, as well as your needs. If you aren’t feeling any better after a couple of appointments, or you don’t feel like the two of you get along, you may want to consider changing to another specialist.

If it’s not easy for you to get to an in-person appointment – perhaps you’re a new parent who finds it difficult to get out of the house, you do shift work, or you live in a regional location – online psychology services are also available. Online therapy enables you to get treatment and work on tasks when it’s convenient to you, but it’s important to check the service’s qualifications and consider your data’s privacy. Some online services also come at a cost, while others are free. If you’re in a rural or remote area, your doctor may suggest a telehealth consultation over video conference. Health Direct also recommends a variety of other services on its website, covering interactive programs, helpful tools, and resources.

Under the Medicare rebate, you’re entitled to claim for up to 10 sessions a year with a mental health professional. As part of your treatment plan, your doctor or therapist will assess after six sessions whether you need the further four sessions. And after 10 sessions, your therapist may deem you eligible for an additional 10 group therapy sessions covered by Medicare.

Mental health professionals must be registered with Medicare in order for your treatment to be covered by the scheme. Health care professionals set their own fees, so Medicare may cover all or part of the total cost, in which case you’ll need to cover the gap in the fee. According to Headspace, typically, the rebate will cover $124.50 for 50+ minutes with a clinical psychologist. Concession card holders and students should check to see if they’re entitled to more. Private health insurance may also cover part of the cost if it’s detailed in your policy, or if your health care professional bulk bills, you won’t need to pay for the treatment at all.

For those affected by the recent bushfires in Australia, free counselling and other mental health support has been made available by the Department of Health and Human Services, on top of existing entitlements.

Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances 

Disclaimer:
The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.