Fees and FAQs

Our fees are guided by the recommended consultation rate set by the Australian Psychological Society (APS), which is currently $300 for 2023-2024.

Consultations with a clinical psychologist are $230 with a rebate of $136.35 with a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan provided by a GP ($93.70 out-of-pocket expense).

Consultations with a general psychologist are $190 with a rebate of $92.90 with a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan provided by a GP ($97.10 out-of-pocket expense).

Sessions with Dr Elise Sloan (clinical director) are $240 and attract a $136.35 rebate.

Sessions that are after hours (before 9am, after 5pm) and on the weekend attract a 10% surcharge.

Fees are payable at the end of the session by EFTPOS using a debit or credit card. We do not accept cash payments. Alternative payment methods may be applicable under specific circumstances (e.g., invoices payable by NDIS).

Please note that fees for Eye Movement Desensitisation Response (EMDR) treatment sessions can vary based on the length of treatment or needs of the client.

Neuropsychological assessments are billed separately. Please contact the clinic for more information about these services.

Standard consultations at Aruna Psychology are for 50-minutes, with a few exceptions (e.g., neuropsychological assessment and EMDR treatment, which can both be longer).

Please contact reception by email (reception@arunapsychology.net) or telephone (0413875340) to enquire about a new client appointment. You can also submit an online request form.

In most cases, we will ask you to answer a few brief questions. This will help us in determining whether we are the right service for you and which psychologist may be best suited to your needs.

Once we have a sense of your needs, we will aim to either give you an appointment date or provide you an approximate wait time for our services if we are able to help you. We will also send you more information about our services and ask you to complete an online intake form as soon as possible.

You may wish to see a particular psychologist based on their treatment approaches, special interests, or availability. Expressing your interest in working with a particular psychologist can be an important part of the process for many people. We will always try to facilitate this preference but will occasionally recommend another psychologist who we think could be a good fit for you if the psychologist you wish to see has a large waitlist.

You may be eligible to receive a Medicare rebate for psychological treatment through the Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative. Under this scheme, individuals can access up to 10 individual sessions for psychological treatment per calendar year. This reduces the out-of-pocket cost.

In order to receive a rebate for psychological treatment, you must have a referral from your GP and a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan. Any GP can prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan and refer you to Aruna Psychology. Your Mental Health Treatment Plans must be in place before your first session with a psychologist to receive a rebate.

If you have a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan and have provided us with your Medicare card and bank account, we can process Medicare rebates automatically for you directly. Rebates are normally deposited into your nominated bank account within 24-48 hours of your psychology session.

No, you do not need a referral to access mental health support at Aruna Psychology. However, you would not be able to access Medicare rebates without a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan.

Possibly. It depends on the type of private health insurance policy that you have. We encourage you to speak with your private health insurance company before your first session. It is not normally possible to claim the cost of a psychology session through Medicare and your private health insurer.

Yes, but it can depend on your treatment needs. Please contact us if this is relevant to you as every situation is unique. In many cases, it is preferable that clients pay for their psychology session in full and then claim the cost of this session back through their funder but there is flexibility.

We do not offer couples therapy at Aruna Psychology. We specialise in assessment and treatment of individual clients experiencing psychological distress. However, it is very appropriate to seek support for relationship problems as an individual treatment goal.

Yes, all psychologists at Aruna Psychology can offer telehealth sessions. These are psychology sessions that are delivered via telephone or videoconferencing at the time of your appointment. This flexibility can work well for many people (e.g., you are interstate and wish to continue with psychological treatment or you prefer online sessions). You are still entitled to a Medicare rebate if you are receiving telehealth treatment within Australia. Our psychologists use videoconferencing software (zoom) with end-to-end encryption to maintain your privacy during treatment. Please tell your psychologist or our reception team if you would like to consult with your psychologist via telehealth.

We kindly request that you contact our reception at least 48 hours prior to your appointment if you need to cancel or postpone your appointment. This is due to the ongoing demand for appointments and the difficulties with scheduling new or waitlisted appointments after a late cancellation or non-attendance. You may be charged a cancellation fee if you do not provide sufficient notice of your cancellation or do not attend an appointment without giving any prior notice (i.e., no show).

We are open from Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm with after hours appointments available on Tuesday and Thursday nights. While we have psychologists who do offer Saturday appointments, these are very popular, and you may be waiting longer for these times.

Aruna Psychology is located at 59 Simpson Street Northcote, 3070. There is ample 1-hour and all-day parking outside of the practice but do leave extra time to park as it can be busy. We are also walking distance from Dennis Railway Station and Stop 30 on the 86-tram route if you prefer to take public transport.

The aim of the first session is to better understand your main concerns and your goals for treatment. The psychologist will ask you several questions, which may focus on your current difficulties, the events leading up to your decision to seek support, or other areas about your life (e.g., mental health history, personal relationships, family, work, etc.). Therefore, the first session is focused on assessing your unique situation, which can help the psychologist to develop a direction for treatment. You should only share information if you feel comfortable doing so.

Psychologists at Aruna are chosen for their warm treatment approach and expertise in supporting people with mental health concerns. It can sometimes take a few sessions for a trusting therapeutic relationship to form, but it is important to let your psychologist know if you’re unsure if they are meeting your needs or if their approach to therapy is helping you. We encourage you to contact our reception if you’re not sure if your allocated psychologist is a good fit for you.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how psychology practices operate. You have the option to attend psychology sessions via telehealth, which we strongly encourage you to utilise if you are feeling sick on the day of your appointment. We maintain a rigorous cleaning schedule and have masks and hand sanitizer available for you to use during your session for your safety, and abide by all government regulations. Please do not attend Aruna Psychology if you are feeling sick or have tested positive for COVID-19, even if you are asymptomatic.