The following information relates to making an appointment with Janet Forster, psychologist at Silkwood Psychology.
What do I need to make an appointment?
If you would like to attend an appointment and pay privately with no rebate. You can simply call to make an appointment. If the area you would like counselling in is an area I work in and my approach is a good fit for you then we will make an appointment. Alternatively, I may recommend another service. Payment is required at the time of the appointment. The session fee currently is $220 for a 50 minute appointment.
If you would like to receive a rebate from Medicare for your appointment, (the rebate is currently $96.65) then you will need to attend for an appointment at your GP prior to our first appointment and ask for a Mental Health Care Plan. The GP will ask you some questions regarding the mental health issue (such as anxiety or depression) that you may be experiencing. Make sure you book a double appointment with the GP as this can take a little longer than a standard appointment. This will usually entitle you to a rebate for up to 6 sessions. Should you then require further sessions you will need to reattend your GP at that point for a review appointment at which time your GP will provide you with a further referral.
Medicare will rebate up to 10 sessions per calendar year at this time. You will need to provide your referral from the GP to me so that I can process a rebate for you. I will process your rebate for you on the day of your appointment. This rebate is paid into your bank account by Medicare within 24 hours.
What is the process for making an appointment?
Call or e-mail and I will make contact with you. Please leave a message on my mobile if I do not answer (I am often in appointments) and I will return your call as soon as I can. I will ask you a few questions regarding the condition you are requesting support for, and ascertain that this is the right service for you. Sometimes an alternative recommendation will be made if I am fully booked, or if you are requesting assistance in an area out of my field of expertise. Appointments are via telehealth or face to face. I will then e-mail you a copy of the paperwork which needs to be completed prior to the first appointment. These can be returned by e-mail/ text to me once completed. If you change your mind regarding your appointment prior to the appointment, you are welcome to send me an e-mail / text cancelling the appointment. Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice incur an $100 cancellation fee. Outside of this notice period there is no issue/ fee for cancelling or rescheduling.
Do you charge a cancellation fee?
A cancellation fee of $120 is charged for appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice. This is because I cannot always fit another client into that appointment spot at such short notice. If an appointment is missed with no contact, all further appointments will be cancelled. Once the cancellation fee is paid a further appointment can be made.
What areas do you work in?
I do individual psychological therapy with adults in the following areas :
Anxiety (all types); Depression; Phobias; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Adjustment Disorder; Binge eating; Weight management counselling; Bereavement; Grief and loss; Trauma (including PTSD); ADHD; Family/ relationship issues; Stress management; Work-life balance; Behaviour change.
Please note that I work with clients who would like to book in privately (with or without private health insurance (please check your extras cover) – no GP referral required), or for clients referred under a Medicare Mental Health Care Plan. I no longer work with clients under Workcover/ TAC/ NDIS.
What areas don’t you work in?
I do not work in the following areas:
Court related/ forensic cases; with children (I work with adults only); eating disorders (excluding binge eating and weight management assistance); psychiatric conditions such as Schizophrenia, Bi-polar disorder, or people experiencing psychosis; ASD; Intellectual disability; drug dependence or gender dysphoria. I do not work with clients in crisis, who are actively suicidal, or those who would like assistance managing a personality disorder.
I do not do formal assessment and diagnosis. I do not provide letters / reports for any court related matter.
I do not work with couples or families.
What are the main interventions you use?
I use a range of evidence based therapies and interventions including : Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Schema-Focussed Cognitive Therapy, mindfulness techniques, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – while taking a client-centred approach to assist clients in improving their sense of well being.
