We all experience challenging events and times in our lives. Sometimes, we are able to ‘bounce back’, drawing on our own resources and existing support networks. At other times, we may need extra support from a mental health professional. Some of the key indicators that seeing a psychologist may be beneficial for you are:

-Significant distress.
-The issue(s) is interfering with your life.
-Your functioning is affected.
-Those around you have expressed concern.
-You want to develop a deeper understanding of yourself and make real, lasting changes.

The decision to begin or return to psychological treatment is a deeply personal one, however it may be helpful to remember that you can seek support regarding any issue, at any time.

Research indicates that the relationship between psychologist and client plays a significant role in obtaining good therapeutic outcomes. This means that finding the right ‘match’ is important, and worth investing some time into. Every psychologist is different, and you may find it helpful to discuss your needs with multiple professionals before moving ahead.

Your GP will have a list of psychologists in the area they can recommend and refer you to, or you may prefer to independently seek out a psychologist that you would like to see (either by recommendation or research). Many psychologists provide details about themselves and their work on their websites. Please refer to the About section for this information. You may also wish to consider the Australian Psychological Society’s free online service called Find a Psychologist.

Clinical psychologists are trained in evidence-based practice, which informs their treatment approach. Psychotherapy has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms related to a wide number of common mental health concerns.

There is also a strong research base indicating that a positive therapeutic relationship with your psychologist can play a very important role in how effective your sessions are.

Please see the About section of the website for detailed information regarding the presentations we work with.

If you would like to discuss whether we can assist with a specific concern, please contact us.

Clinical psychologists have diverse skill sets and work flexibly with their clients. We primarily utilise a Cognitive-Behavioural approach, but integrate a wide range of evidence-based treatments including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing depending on the individual.

We offer individual sessions and couples therapy. Supervision is also available for provisionally and generally registered psychologists, and other medical and allied health professionals.  Please see the Services & Fees section of the website for more details.

We are located at Amitie Psychology (70 Garsed Street, Bendigo) on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We also offer telehealth services (sessions via video and phone call) on all weekdays.

Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 9am to 5pm, face-to-face in our consulting rooms or via telehealth.

Tuesday and Friday: 9am-5pm, telehealth only.

Appointments are held on the hour (i.e. 9am, 10am, 11am), with the last appointment of the day beginning at 4pm.

An extremely limited number of out-of-hours appointments are available and incur an additional fee. Please consult our Services and Fees section for current rates. Unfortunately, weekend sessions are not currently available.

We do not currently offer home visits or appointments at other out-of-office locations. Telehealth may be suitable for your needs. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding this.

Please contact us to schedule an appointment. Existing clients can also request the option to manage bookings online.

You do not require a referral to access our service as a private client or for couples therapy. However, obtaining a referral letter and Mental Health Care Plan from a GP typically allows you to claim a partial rebate for individual sessions.

A Mental Health Care Plan is document prepared by a GP, which accompanies the referral letter. Plans are available for individuals with mental health concerns. Your plan will outline the type of health care you need and the aims of seeking treatment. Mental Health Care Plans also allow you to access Medicare rebates for up to 10 individual sessions per year.

Many insurers offer rebates to members with appropriate psychology cover. You can check your level of coverage by contacting your health fund. Clients can request a receipt of payment which can be used to obtain a rebate from their insurer.

We offer a range of services which vary in price. Please see the Services & Fees section of the website for our current rates.

We are unable to offer bulk-billed services. Please speak to your GP regarding services that offer bulk-billed and low-cost sessions.

Our service is a private business and we do not get paid by Medicare or any other agency when clients or supervisees cancel at late notice or do not attend appointments. Please advise us as soon as possible if you are unable to attend a scheduled supervision session, and we will arrange a suitable alternative. If you cancel a session with less than 24 hours’ notice, or fail to present to a scheduled session, you will be charged the full fee. This fee will be charged to the credit/debit card stored on file on the day of your scheduled session. You will be unable to schedule further sessions until the fee has been paid.

We work with individuals aged 15 and older. Please speak to your GP regarding services that offer sessions to younger children.

Unfortunately, we are not currently able to support NDIS, TAC, WorkCover, or DVA clients. Please speak to your GP regarding services that work under these funding models.

We are not currently able to accept these referrals. Please speak to your GP regarding services with forensic expertise.

We are not currently able to accept these referrals. Please speak to your DFFH worker or GP regarding services with expertise in this area.

We do not see clients for the primary purpose of completing NDIS or DSP application(s).

Attending your first session with a psychologist can be daunting, and it is very common to feel unsure or nervous. Your psychologist will be aware of this, and will endeavour to make things as smooth and comfortable as possible.

Most psychologists will spend the first session building an understanding of your history and what has prompted you to seek psychological support. To do this, they may ask questions about your life and overall mental health experiences. You may also be asked to fill out some questionnaires. 

Your psychologist is more than happy to answer any questions you might have about what to expect from the course of treatment, confidentiality, and modes of treatment available.

Please see the Process section of the website for more details.

Please bring your debit/credit card and Medicare card to your initial session to ensure we have the correct details. Some clients also like to bring notes to their first appointment of things they want to mention or questions they have.

We recommend that you aim to arrive 5-10 minutes before your scheduled session to avoid a stressful rush and allow time for you to settle in our waiting room before your appointment.

Our sessions are approximately 50 minutes.

We typically discuss the number and frequency of your sessions in the first or second appointment, as part of your individualised treatment plan. 

We consider a range of factors including:

-Your current needs and goals.
-The treatment approach best suited for you.
-Any time or financial constraints.

Having a collaborative and open discussion with your psychologist will help you both work out the session frequency and duration that best fits your needs, and this is something that can be reviewed as the treatment progresses. 

We currently offer session for individuals aged 15 and over. Parents/carers/guardians can schedule appointments for clients aged 15-18, however we will need to confirm that your child consents to treatment. Individuals over 18 are generally required to schedule their own appointments. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding this.

Individuals over 18 are generally required to schedule their own appointments. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding this.

We kindly request that you do not bring your child(ren) to appointments. It is generally not appropriate for children to be present during sessions, and they are not able to remain unsupervised in the waiting room. Infants under 6 months are welcome to accompany a parent/carer/guardian if necessary.