Straightforward answers to the questions most people have before they book.
Book a Free Discovery CallNo GP referral required. No Mental Health Care Plan. Payment by bank transfer, card, or cash. Receipts provided for private health claims.
Concession rates available for people experiencing genuine financial hardship — mention it when you book.
The honest answer: Medicare rebates for mental health sessions (the Better Access scheme) apply to psychologists, psychiatrists, GPs, and a small number of AHPRA-registered social workers and occupational therapists. Psychotherapists registered with PACFA — the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia — aren't currently included.
This is a gap in the scheme, not a reflection of the depth or quality of the work. Integrative psychotherapy can be significantly more rigorous than brief Medicare-funded sessions, which are typically limited to 10–20 sessions per year and often structured around symptom relief rather than longer-term change.
If Medicare access is important to you, a AHPRA-registered psychologist would be the right fit. If you're looking for unhurried, depth-oriented work without session caps or GP paperwork, this practice may suit you well.
Many private health funds do cover sessions with PACFA-registered psychotherapists under extras cover. The amount varies by policy, but it's worth checking — some policies rebate $50–$80 per session, which brings the effective cost closer to Medicare-equivalent out-of-pocket fees.
Funds that typically include PACFA-registered psychotherapists:
To check your cover: look under extras for a "psychology," "counselling," or "psychotherapy" benefit, and confirm your policy lists PACFA registration. Then call your fund to verify the per-session rebate amount.
To claim: pay the full fee at the session, then submit your receipt through your fund's app or member portal. Receipts include the session date, fee, and PACFA registration number (Reg. #32932).
If you are NDIS plan-managed or self-managed, psychotherapy sessions may be funded through your Improved Daily Living budget. I work with plan-managed and self-managed participants directly — invoices are issued to your plan manager or to you as the self-managed participant.
Agency-managed participants are not currently covered under standard NDIS pricing arrangements for psychotherapy. If you're unsure about your plan type or funding eligibility, get in touch and we can work through it together.
No. You can self-refer directly — no GP, no Mental Health Care Plan, no paperwork required. Just book a free discovery call. GPs and other health practitioners are also welcome to refer patients directly.
Medicare's Better Access scheme covers AHPRA-registered practitioners — psychologists, psychiatrists, and certain social workers and occupational therapists. Psychotherapists registered with PACFA are not currently included. This is a policy gap, not a credential gap. If Medicare access is your priority, a registered psychologist would be the right fit. If you're looking for depth-oriented, longer-term work without session caps, this practice may suit you better.
Check your extras cover for a "psychology," "counselling," or "psychotherapy" category, and look for PACFA listed as an accepted registration body. Then call your fund to confirm the per-session rebate amount. The funds most likely to cover PACFA-registered psychotherapists are listed above — but policy details vary, so it's worth a quick call.
Pay the full $150 at or after the session, then claim the rebate through your fund's app or member portal. You'll need the receipt, which includes the session date, the fee, and the PACFA registration number (Reg. #32932). Most funds process claims within 1–3 business days.
Bank transfer (invoiced after sessions), card, or cash. Bank transfer is the most common. Invoices are sent by email and can be used for private health claims.
If you need to cancel or reschedule, 48 hours notice is fine. Cancellations within 24 hours of the session incur the full fee. If something genuinely unexpected comes up, get in touch — there's always room for a conversation.
I work integratively, drawing on somatic, attachment, and relational approaches. Sessions are 50 minutes, in Bendigo (Depth Psychotherapy Collective, Kangaroo Flat), Kyneton (Twenty Nine Collaborative), and online.
I work under regular clinical supervision with Dr Tra-ill Dowie PhD.
Free 15-minute discovery call before any commitment. A chance to talk about what's bringing you to therapy and whether working together feels right.
The discovery call is free, there's no obligation, and it's just a conversation. We can sort out any questions about fees, private health, or anything else at that point.
Book a Free Discovery CallDepth Psychotherapy Collective, Kangaroo Flat (Bendigo)
Twenty Nine Collaborative, Kyneton
Online — Australia & internationally
