Clinical Psychology Services Paddington

Psychologists are trained mental health care professionals who have undertaken specialised training in the diagnosis and psychological treatment of mental, behavioural and emotional disorders/difficulties. They differ slightly from counsellors and social workers in their training and therapeutic technique. Psychology uses a scientist-practitioner model which integrates theory and clinical practice to understand, prevent, and relieve psychological distress or dysfunction. 

Psychologists have to obtain a university degree and have either an Honours or Masters degree as a minimum requirement for qualifying as a psychologist. After obtaining their degree they usually undergo a period of supervised training in a setting where they gain valuable experience and training. They also regularly attend professional development courses and further enhance their training and learning in the field of psychology. Dr Baleta has studied further and obtained a PhD in Psychology and has completed numerous professional development courses.

The first session is usually a good session to ascertain if the psychologist is a good fit for you. It is important that you feel comfortable with your psychologist and this can differ from person to person. Different psychologists have different approaches and therapeutic paradigms. It’s best to find one that is suited to you. Dr Baleta highly values your feedback – please feel free to discuss any concerns or questions that you may have with her.

Each session with your psychologist is approximately 51 – 60 minutes. There may be exceptions to this, however that will be organised specifically with your psychologist depending on your needs.

If you would like to see a psychologist using the Medicare Better Access rebates scheme, you will need to first obtain a referral from your GP, also known as a Mental Health Care Plan. Most GPs will require a double-session to complete this for you, so it is a good idea to check the requirements of the medical practice and plan ahead for your appointment time. Your GP will have a list of psychologists in the area they can recommend and refer you to, or a local psychology clinic that you can call and arrange an appointment with directly. Alternatively, you may independently source a psychologist that you would like to see, either by recommendation or research, and you can request that your referral be directed to them instead.  

To make an appointment, you are able to book online here >>> “Book a Consultation”. Simply select the service that you require.

You are also welcome to email Dr Baleta: to book an appointment or to find out further information first. 

We offer daytime or telehealth appointments and are open each weekday.

The first session is an assessment session, meaning that your psychologist will spend the appointment working towards understanding what is currently going on for you, what has happened over time to lead to the current issues, and whether there are other factors involved in the development of your symptoms/ difficulties. Your psychologist might ask you a lot of questions in order to understand the above.

Medicare

If you have a referral from a GP or a psychiatrist for a Mental Health Treatment Plan you will be eligible to receive a Medicare rebate of $141.85 (for a clinical psychologist) and $ 96.65 (for a general psychologist) for up to 10 sessions per calendar year. 

Once you have seen the psychologist for 6 sessions, you will be required to have a mental health review with your referrer to receive the further 4 sessions.

Private Health Insurance

If you have private health insurance that includes psychological counselling as an extras cover, you may be eligible for a partial rebate. It is recommended that you contact your individual insurance provider for further information about your individual coverage.

Should you wish to claim from your Private Health Insurance you will be provided with an invoice from Dr Baleta once you have paid. This can then be submitted to your  insurance provider. 

If you have a referral from your GP or psychiatrist, please bring this along to your session as it will be needed for the Medicare rebate. It can also be helpful to email this through to Dr Baleta prior to your appointment.

You may also want to bring along any information relevant to your goals for therapy – it can help the process of assessment and therapy if you are already aware of your goals or if you already have an idea of how your difficulties may have developed. Otherwise just bring YOU!

You are welcome to attend therapy sessions without a referral; anyone can attend psychology sessions without a referral from a GP or a specialist. However, without a referral you will need to pay the full fee as you will not receive any Medicare rebate.

Psychologists are informed by evidence-based practice. This covers a wide range of treatment approaches that can be tailored to your specific goals, presenting issues, and treatment preferences. Some common treatment approaches include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy. However most psychologists are trained in a wide range of modalities which they can then tailor to create an individualised treatment plan. 

In general, the underlying premise of many of these approaches is an exploration of your emotions, thoughts, and behaviour, and how these interact with each other. Your psychologist may also use specific approaches tailored to your individual circumstance, addressing issues such as trauma, relationship difficulties, grief, and life transitions.

You can now access your sessions with a psychologist via phone and videoconferencing, which has recently been made permanent under the Medicare Better Access Scheme. It is a good idea to check with your psychologist to see what options they have available for you, and to ensure they are able to work with your preferences. 

As a general guideline for using telehealth, it is important to ensure you have a good internet connection, space to talk privately, and a time where you are not likely to experience any distractions related to work or family.

Yes! However there are limits on confidentiality. 

All personal information gathered by Dr Baleta, as the psychologist during the provision of the psychological service, will remain confidential and secure except where: 

1. It is subpoenaed by a court of law/authorised by law, or
2. Failure to disclose the information would place you or another person at serious and imminent risk; or
3. Your prior approval has been obtained to:

• provide a written report to another professional or agency. eg. a GP or a lawyer; or
• discuss the material with another person, e.g. a parent or employer

As part of the Mental Health Care Plan, a short report is usually required to be sent to your GP just detailing aspects of your treatment such as your attendance, any improvements noted and requests for further treatment.