The following information is provided to answer some of the questions you may have about our services.

Psychology Services and Counselling

Counselling - What is it?

Counselling provides a safe, supportive opportunity to raise issues, explore problems, and contemplate new ways of handling both situations and oneself with a trained therapist.

How long?

Counselling may involve a few sessions or many sessions. This is something for you and your counsellor to decide, once you have both had the opportunity to clarify the issues you would like to address.

Who comes to counselling?

Most people will at some point in their life have issues or difficulties that could be helped by the process of talking through their thoughts and feelings. At Corazon, our clients include people of all ages, from families through to individuals, with a broad range of issues.

Why a counsellor?

Corazon’s psychological and counselling services are provided by qualified professionals. Our psychologists provide a confidential, non-judgemental service, free of the constraints of friendships and family relationships.

Appointments

It is preferable that people seeking psychological and counselling services, phone for an appointment themselves. Counselling sessions are usually weekly and are of at least 50 mins duration.

What can I expect at my first appointment?

The first session or two is normally a time for you to explain what brings you to counselling. The psychologist, in working with you, will gather information about your physical and mental health history and develop a plan to address your needs.

Are my sessions confidential?

Corazon provides psychological and counselling services, which are confidential and include appropriate professional consultation with clinical supervisors. (Refer to our Privacy Policy for further information).

Can I have access to the information you keep in my file?

In order to provide a service to you we need to collect and record personal information relevant to your current situation. You may access the material recorded in your file upon request, subject to the exceptions in Australian Privacy Principle 6. If you would like to know more about this you should discuss this with your psychologist or click on the pdf Australian Privacy Principles Factsheet (690 KB) .

Do you offer psychological assessements, testing and reports?

Yes. The staff at Corazon can undertake a wide variety of psychological assessments such as cognitive, learning and educational. We can also provide assessments for employers and government agencies. A fee is charged for psychological assessments and a Medicare rebate does not apply for this service.

Do you run groups?

Yes. Please see the home page for details of available groups.

Do you offer after hours appointments?

In exceptional circumstances and on a Saturday morning.

Do I need a referral from a doctor

No. To be eligible for a Medicare rebate, however, you will need a referral from either your GP or a psychiatrist.

Am I eligible for a Medicare rebate?

The rebate is available to anyone who holds a green Medicare card.

Am I covered by my Private Health Insurance?

Most private health funds do offer rebates to their members depending on their level of cover. Please check with your health fund for your 'out of pocket' expenses.

How and when do I pay?

Payment is taken at each session and we accept cash, credit card or EFTPOS. We can process your Medicare and DVA rebate on the spot using our online processing software.

What are the fees?

More information on our fees can be found on our Fees page.

What should I do if I can't attend my appointment?

Please give us 24hrs notice so we can offer this appointment to someone else who may urgently need it. If you don’t give us 24hrs notice or you fail to attend your appointment a cancellation fee of $50 will apply. You can email or call us after hours and leave a message with your name, number and the appointment date and time you wish to cancel. Your message will be time and date stamped.

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