What is a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)?

• A MHCP is organised by your GP, and entitles you to a Medicare rebate for ten sessions of counselling with a psychologist for a twelve month period. Your GP will assess your mental health and complete a MHCP, which will allow you to see a psychologist of your choice, or you can ask you GP for a referral to a psychologist they recommend. Please note it is best to book a longer appointment with you GP if you need a mental health assessment and MHCP.

Why get a Mental Health Care Plan?

• A MCHP can make accessing a psychologist more affordable. It also provides a link between the psychologist and your GP, who can work together to ensure your mental health is being treated appropriately.

What if I want to change psychologists?

• No problems. Your MHCP can be transferred to another psychologist at any stage.

What information do my GP and Psychologist share?

• Your GP will include some brief information regarding your mental health on the MHCP. Psychologists are obliged to write reports to your GP which include assesment treatment plans and your progress to better mental health. The psychologist will report to your GP after your first session, sixth session and a final report after ten sessions.

How do the Medicare rebates work?

• There is a Medicare rebate per session with a psychologist when you have a MHCP. Medicare rebates can be processed on the day of service, and often will appear in your account within 24 hours.

Do I have to have a MHCP to see a psychologist?

• No you don’t. Some people prefer to see a psychologist without a MHCP.

Why would I see a psychologist?

• How often do you feel truly heard and understood? Sometimes we all need someone to talk about the difficulties we are having in our lives, or how we feel about ourselves. Psychologists are trained in attentive listening and empathy, and work hard to develop a relationship of trust with you. Psychologists are also trained in evidence based therapies that will assist you better understand your particular issues, and help you develop strategies in your life to improve and maintain better mental health.
• Psychologists can help with complex and long standing mental health issues. although this often take time and a commitment from both the client and the psychologist. They can also help people who usually have good mental health, but are struggling due to a particular issue in their life.

What would I get out of seeing a psychologist?

• There is a lots of information out there on how to look after your physical health and well-being, and often we try and include these into our daily lives. But what about our mental health and wellbeing? Psychologists have the training and expertise to assist you to regain and maintain good mental health.
• You get to have someone totally focused on you and your needs, a safe space to speak your truth and share your difficulties without worrying about who might find out. You get to be truely heard in a non-judgemental way, and get feedback that is informed and objective. You get to learn new ways to take care of yourself, in your mind, emotionally and physically.
• You learn to be a better boss of your thinking and behaviour, and to accept and understand your feelings and emotions.

What about my privacy and confidentiality?

• Psychologists are bound by privacy legislation to keep all your information confidential, including what you speak about in your sessions. If you have a MCHP, your psychologist is a obliged to provide a written report to your GP after your first session, sixth session and tenth session. If you have concerns about this, please talk to your psychologist.