frequently asked questions
1. How long are appointments?
Most psychological therapy appointments are 50 minutes in duration. Your clinician will discuss the most appropriate appointment length with you based on your needs.
Psychiatric appointments are generally 50 minutes, particularly during the initial series of appointments. Shorter appointments may be appropriate for some follow-up consultations.
2. How much do appointments cost?
Our fees vary depending on the type of appointment and the clinician you are seeing.
Current fees, Medicare rebates and out-of-pocket costs are outlined in our Service Information PDF
3. Do I need a referral?
This depends on the service you are accessing and how your appointments are being funded.
A referral from a GP or psychiatrist is required to access Medicare-rebated psychological therapy. A referral from a GP or other appropriate medical practitioner is required for psychiatric appointments.
Referrals are not required for private appointments. We also accept referrals through NDIS, TAC, WorkCover and participating Employee Assistance Programs.
If you are unsure whether you need a referral, our Admin Team can help you understand what is required.
4. Am I eligible for a Medicare rebate?
Medicare rebates are available for eligible psychological therapy appointments when you have an appropriate referral from a GP or psychiatrist.
You can access up to 10 Medicare-rebated psychological therapy sessions per calendar year. Your initial referral can cover up to 6 sessions. If you wish to continue therapy after these sessions, you will need to return to your GP or psychiatrist for a further referral for up to 4 additional sessions.
Medicare rebates are also available for eligible psychiatric appointments where the relevant referral and Medicare requirements are met.
The amount of your rebate will depend on the type of appointment and the Medicare item being claimed. Current rebate information is provided in our Service Information PDF
5. Do you offer GP mental health consultations?
Collected Minds has previously offered GP mental health consultations via telehealth. Changes to Medicare rules introduced on 1 November 2025 have affected how GP Mental Health Treatment Plans, referrals and reviews can be provided via telehealth.
Under the current Medicare arrangements, these services generally need to be provided by your usual medical practitioner or a GP at your MyMedicare-registered practice, and additional telehealth eligibility requirements may apply. This means that our GP service is currently limited.
We continue to monitor developments in Medicare policy and advocacy around access to telehealth mental health care. If the rules change in the future, we will update our services accordingly.
If you are an existing Collected Minds client and would like to discuss whether one of our GPs may be able to assist you, please contact our Admin Team.
6. Can I claim through private health insurance?
You may be able to claim for psychological therapy through your private health insurance, depending on your level of cover and the policy of your insurer.
We recommend checking directly with your health fund before your appointment to confirm whether you are covered and what rebate you may be entitled to.
Psychiatric appointments may also be covered by some private health insurance policies, depending on your level of cover.
7. What other funding options are available?
We provide services through a range of funding pathways, including NDIS, TAC, WorkCover, Employee Assistance Programs and private appointments.
The arrangements and eligibility requirements vary between funding providers. Our Admin Team can help you understand the options available to you.
8. What is the difference between psychological therapy and psychiatry?
Psychologists and mental health social workers provide psychological therapy, working with you to understand and address emotional, behavioural, relationship and other psychological difficulties.
Psychiatrists are medical specialists who can provide comprehensive psychiatric assessment and diagnosis, review and manage medication, and provide psychological and supportive interventions where appropriate.
Some people benefit from one type of care, while others may benefit from a combination of psychological therapy and psychiatric care. Where appropriate, our clinicians can work collaboratively to support coordinated care.
9. What can I see the psychiatrist about?
Our psychiatrist, Dr Steph Dimitrieski, provides assessment and treatment for adults aged 18 and over experiencing a range of psychological and mental health difficulties.
This may include anxiety, depression and other mood disorders, adjustment difficulties, complex trauma and PTSD, diagnostic clarification, and medication review and management.
Our psychiatry service is currently not accepting referrals for substance use disorders, eating disorders, ADHD assessments, medicolegal reports, or primary age-related conditions such as dementia.
10. What therapies do you offer?
Our psychologists and mental health social workers draw on a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, depending on your needs and the clinician you are working with.
These may include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and somatic approaches.
Your clinician will discuss the approach that is most appropriate for your circumstances.
11. What is your cancellation policy?
We understand that sometimes plans need to change. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please give us as much notice as possible so that we have an opportunity to offer the appointment to someone else.
Our cancellation policy is:
- 24 or more business hours' notice: no cancellation fee
- Less than 24 business hours' notice: 50% of the consultation fee
- Non-attendance without notice: 100% of the consultation fee
Cancellation fees are not eligible for Medicare rebates and must be paid before further appointments can be booked.
Where two appointments are missed without sufficient notice, we may not be able to offer further appointments.
12. What if I need urgent or crisis support?
Collected Minds is not a crisis or emergency service, and our clinicians are not available to provide advice outside scheduled appointments.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department.
For urgent mental health support, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
If you are unsure what support is appropriate, your GP can also help you access urgent mental health care.