FAQs
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Quite simply, we live by our values – Uncomplicated Online Psychology.
Sami believes all people should have access to psychology services, as and when they need them.
Life, work, study, culture, family, relationships – life is full of things that cause unnecessary stressors and challenges. Sami and her team are here to help, listen and guide.
Our cost-effective business model provides a choice of video therapy or telephone therapy by experienced psychologists (FACT: did you know we study for 6 years to get here).
All emails are usually responded to within a few hours (3-6 hours) or, by using our on-demand website schedule.
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Psych Sami & Co. provides Uncomplicated Online Psychology services with a less clinical feel. I get it... there is a reluctance to speak with someone you are unable to identify with... so we evolved.
Sami has spent much time working around the world immersed in different cultures with people from all walks of life. What differentiates our therapy is the ability to be able to identify with people on a humanistic level. This service was built for everyone; all ages, genders, religions, cultures and personalities.
In essence, we guide our clients to Be Brave.
Talking is one of the oldest therapeutic methods on the planet, sometimes all we need is another person who listens and gets who we are and treats the root cause of the issue.
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A Psychologist is a trained, objective professional with whom you can build a healing and trusting relationship through talking-based therapy.
Psychologists are, by definition, relational practitioners and work within a regulated industry. It takes us 6 years of study and practice to become who we are using evidence based skills and tools to get you back on the path to finding your happy.
The therapeutic relationship between the Psychologist and the client is super important and in fact, underpins the effectiveness of treatment. Our role is to provide person-centred support to enable you to develop your own understanding of your experiences, and facilitating your recovery process. By guiding you to understand what is happening, we are helping to clear the clutter that is holding you back.
Psychology is based upon an evidence-based, bio-psychosocial model which focus on the prevention and treatment of mental illness, whilst actively promoting mental health and well-being. The focus on your holistic well-being is a distinguishing feature of Psych Sami & Co. and is consistent with the emphasis on well-being and recovery-oriented care in the Australian mental health policies and frameworks.
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When booking you will be given an option to choose in-person, video or phone therapy.
Registered Psychologist
50-minutes sessions $250
With a GP referral, your session only costs you $148.45
With a mental health care plan (MHCP) from your GP you are able to obtain a medicare rebate of $101.55.
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Health Insurance: Services offered are covered by most health insurance plans (check your inclusions).
GP Referral: Sessions with a Registered Psychologist are rebatable by Medicare with a Mental Health Care Plans (MHCP).
Self-Funded: You can also pay for any services yourself if you do not have a MHCP.
Please note that Psych Sami & Co. is able to offer uncomplicated affordable pricing options with our Provisional Psychologists which are typically comparable with the co-pays gap of Medicare (i.e. $150).
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The number of sessions can vary depending on the issue. Generally, if you have a GP referral we will book the sessions in (usually six (6)) fortnightly (or weekly if required) to ensure we have a space for you.
For example, if we are helping you through moderate anxiety and some general life issues, we can will make solid progress in the course of three (3) to five (5) sessions.
More acute or chronic problems may require a longer term approach and usually recommend clients book for 8 weeks minimum to secure a weekly/fortnightly space.
In many cases periodic catch-up sessions are useful to help keep things on track, catch any small issues before they escalate and work on achieving longer term goals.
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Our therapy aims to be practical guidance and solutions-focused. Every session looks different dependent on the challenges and the psychologist assigned to you.
A typical session consists of:
Initially, an assessment of YOU. First session is all about who you are, what has been going on in the present, past and gaining an understanding of what we need to do,
Session two is usually working through current challenges to gain a clear, balanced understanding of the situation and also a treatment plan
Clarify barriers and address them
Establish achievable outcomes that you are motivated to achieve
Define a clear understanding of what needs to happen in your environment to adapt and change
Make recommendations and action plan to finish the session
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Well quite frankly we live in a different world now… we have adapted to this to ensure we can keep our therapy real and our pricing lower.
Get help in your loungeroom… you can even wear your pajamas (we don’t judge here).
Support provided when needed ensuring minimum wait times
Prompt appointments via website scheduling
No lost time parking and travelling to and from
Studies have shown therapy delivered by phone and video is just as effective as face-to-face
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We currently offer in-person appointments in Barwon Heads, VIC 3227 only.
We live in a new time that requires us to pivot in how we live and work. We, at Psych Sami & Co., have adapted to that evolution, allowing faster more accessible therapy.
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YES, you can talk about anything, but there are a few things that we would be required to share. We take your physical and psychological safety very seriously. Should we feel there is a need for intervention due to a risk to your personal (or others) safety, we will take appropriate steps immediately. If you share any of the following issues with your therapist, they may have to break confidentiality for your protection or the protection of others:
If you are seriously contemplating severely harming yourself or someone else.
If you share with your therapist that you are being abused or neglected, or know of another individual under 18 who is being abused or neglected.
If you share with your therapist that you know of an elderly person who is being abused or neglected.
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Anyone who is struggling with a personal concern can seek therapy. No issue is too big or too small to ask for support. Common issues that people seek therapy for include:
Grief and loss
Narcissistic Relationships
Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Bipolar Disorders
ADHD
Panic attacks
OCD
Relationships issues
Work issues or change of life
Stress, anxiety and depression
Life transitions such as a new baby, separation, divorce, carer or the death of a family member or friend or pet
Parenting or being a carer
Existential questioning
Trauma
Self-esteem difficulties
Women’s issues
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Children need specialised care when it comes to psychology services.
Our team generally only works with adults 18 years and above however we make special consideration for teenagers that are 16-18 years of age.
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Whilst we do offer a wide range of services for many different types of concerns and mental health issues, there are some things that we are unable to help with. These include the following:
Eating Disorders
Such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder
Psychosis
If you are experiencing psychosis and feeling disconnected from reality
Drugs & Alcohol
If your main concern is that you are seeking help for is addiction and you require drug and alcohol treatment services, there are other services available elsewhere that may be better served to help.
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We do not offer a crisis management services, please utilise one of the services below.
If you or someone you know is at risk of harm, call triple zero 000
Other emergency resources:
Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636
Lifeline - 13 11 14
Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800
Open Arms (Veterans) - 1800 011 046
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INFORMED CONSENT
This Informed Consent contains important information focusing on therapy via phone or video. Please read this carefully and let your psychologist know if you have any questions. When you book a therapy session, this document is an agreement between us.
Benefits and Risks of Online & Phone Therapy
Phone and video therapy refers to providing services remotely using telecommunications technologies, such as video conferencing or mobile. One of the benefits is that the client and clinician can engage in services without being in the same physical location. This can be helpful in ensuring continuity of care if the client or clinician moves to a different location, takes an extended vacation, or is otherwise unable to continue to meet in person. It is also more convenient and takes less time. However, it requires technical competence on both our parts to be helpful. Although there are benefits of telepsychology, there are some differences and risks. For example:
- Risks to confidentiality. It is important for you to make sure you find a private place for our session where you will not be interrupted. It is also important for you to protect the privacy of our session on your mobile or other devices. You should participate in therapy only in a room or area where other people are not present and cannot overhear the conversation.
- Issues related to technology. There are many ways that technology issues might impact telepsychology. For example, technology may stop working during a session; please ensure adequate phone charge and internet connectivity to avoid this.
- Crisis management and intervention. We do not engage with clients currently in a crisis situation requiring high levels of support and intervention. However, we will endeavour to assess the potential crisis situations and direct you to other resources where required or appropriate.
Electronic Communications
You will need to decide when booking which kind of service to use. Video sessions take place in a secure environment via Zoom. You are solely responsible for any cost to obtain any necessary equipment, accessories, or software to participate in the sessions of your choice. Phone sessions take place via the number you provide when booking.
Contacting Clinicians
Clinicians are often not immediately available by phone or email. Whilst the team may be in their office during the hours of services available, they will not answer the phone when with clients. We will make every effort to respond on the same day you contact us but this cannot be guaranteed. If your request is something other than something administrative and more therapy-orientated, you are best to book a session.
Our email and phone (via text or call) are not for emergency situations. If you or anyone with you is at risk, please contact Triple Zero 000.
Confidentiality
We have a legal and ethical responsibility to make our best efforts to protect all communications that are a part of our sessions. However, the nature of electronic communications technologies is such that we cannot guarantee that our communications will be confidential. We use updated encryption methods, 2-factor identification, HIPAA compliant systems, firewalls, and backup systems to help keep your information private. Still, there is a risk that our electronic communications may be compromised, unsecured, or accessed by others. You should also take reasonable steps to ensure the security of our communications.
We have outlined the extent of confidentiality and the exceptions to confidentiality in the Informed Consent and Privacy policy on the website. Please let us know if you have any questions about exceptions to confidentiality.
Emergencies and Technology
Assessing and evaluating threats and other emergencies can be more difficult when conducting online and phone therapy than in-person therapy. To address some of these difficulties, please be advised that if you are in harm’s way, a risk to yourself or others, or if we deem you unsafe, it is our ethical and legal responsibility to contact the Police/Ambulance to conduct a welfare check. This will require us to disclose certain personal details so they may locate you and forms part of our advice about being required to break confidentiality.
If the session is interrupted for any reason, such as the technological connection fails, and you are having an emergency, do not call back; instead, call 000 or go to your nearest emergency room. If there is no emergency, please reconnect via phone or zoom link.
If there is a technological failure and we cannot resume the connection, we will reschedule the remaining time at a suitable time and date.
Session Fees
Medicare or Health Insurance funds cover a portion of the service fee rates if included in your benefits (it is your responsibility to check this). Managed care providers such as My Aged Care (HCP) and NDIS will pay for services and can be invoiced. We offer a range of payment options; PayPal, credit card, NDIS Invoicing, direct deposit - you will be solely responsible for the entire fee of the session, payable upfront. Sessions will not take place if the payment is outstanding. Please also see our terms and conditions for cancellations, reschedules and refunds on the website.
Other Professional Fees
The fee schedule is listed clearly within each appointment. Other professional services include report writing, attendance at meetings (by phone, video) with other professionals if required and authorised by you, preparation of treatment summaries, and the time spent performing any other service you may request of us. If you become involved in legal proceedings that require our participation, you will be expected to pay for any professional time we spend on your legal matter, even if the request comes from another party, including subpoenas. Clinicians charge $450 per hour for professional services asked or required to perform in relation to your legal matter. Clinicians also charge a report writing fee of $350 per hour for any medico-legal requests.
Record Keeping
The video and phone sessions may be electronically recorded specifically and only for session note taking purposes and deleted once complete (this is managed through Novonote) The completion of the intake information and signing of consent applies to this electronic recording also. We will maintain a written, electronic record of our session in accordance with AHPRA policies for 7 years.
Confidentiality (for Adult Patients)
In general, the privacy of all communications between a client and a Psychologist is protected by law. We may only release information about our work to others with your written permission. But there are a few exceptions.
In most legal proceedings, you have the right to prevent me from providing any information about your treatment. In some legal proceedings, a judge may order my testimony if they determine the issues demand it. We must comply with that court order, generally, a subpoena to supply all relevant notes, emails, text messages, appointment dates and anything of clinical relevance. If this brings psychological, emotional, or physical detriment to you as a client, we will endeavour to contest this with the judge.
There are some situations in which we are legally obligated to take action to protect others from harm, even if we have to reveal some information about a patient’s treatment. For example, if we believe that a child, elderly person, or disabled person is being abused or has been abused, we may be required to make a report to the appropriate state or federal agency.
If we believe a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another, we must take protective actions. These actions may include notifying the potential victim, contacting the police, or seeking hospitalisation for the client. If the patient threatens to harm themselves, we may be obligated to seek hospitalisation for them or to contact family members or others who can help provide protection. If a similar situation occurs during our work together, we will attempt to discuss it fully with you before acting.
We may occasionally find it helpful to consult other professionals about a case. During a consultation, we endeavour to avoid revealing our client's identity. The consultant is also legally bound to keep the information confidential. Ordinarily, we will not tell you about these consultations unless we believe that it is important to our work together.
CONSENT AND AGREEMENTS
Although this written summary of exceptions to confidentiality is intended to inform you about potential issues that could arise, it is important that we discuss any questions or concerns that you may have in our meeting. We will be happy to discuss these issues with you and provide clarification when possible. However, if you need specific clarification or advice, we are unable to provide, formal legal advice, as the laws governing confidentiality are quite complex and we are Psychologists, not lawyers.
Your booking indicates that you understand the information in this document and agree to abide by its terms during our professional relationship.
For clarity, some humans have threatened legal action when they have rescheduled their appointments more than the appropriate amount of times - our terms and conditions are clear and you accept this upon booking and before making payment that should you reschedule more than two (2) times, your booking will be cancelled on the third (3rd) time and no refund will be applicable. This means you can reschedule (outside of 12 hours before the appointment time) up to two (2) times and on the 3rd time you try to reschedule or cancel the booking - the booking will be cancelled with no refund applicable. If you are unable to decide on a time and date to book, perhaps wait until you are sure - try to be fair to us as we are to you. We are fair and reasonable with our reschedule policy but as a small business cannot afford constant rescheduling as it blocks us from being able allow space for others.
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Psych Sami & Co. is a private business and we try to be clear if you book an appointment you are responsible for payment in the event that you do not attend or do not provide 12 hours notice of cancellation.
Our cancellation fee is $150 unless a minimum 12 hours notice is provided when cancelling an appointment. This fee will be charged to your credit /debit card on booking and therefore will not be applicable for a refund.
Our cancellation policy is strictly applied and we do not waiver cancellation fees.
We allow a flexible reschedule policy of two reschedules. The third reschedule will result in the cancellation of your booking with no refund applicable. Please ensure you read our terms and conditions in full, found at the bottom of each page of our website.
Our policy is in accordance with the recommended cancellation policy of the Australian Psychological Society.
