Frequently Asked Questions

No, you do not need a referral to book an appointment, however a referral is required to access any rebates through Medicare. You may also be able to claim back part of the session fee through your private health provider, though the process and rebate amount varies between private health companies.

If you would like to access Medicare rebates, you will need a valid referral for a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) or Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan (EDP) from your GP. If you need support in accessing an EDP, or have questions, feel free to get in touch with us and we can provide recommendations.

Yes. Clients with a valid Medicare referral through a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) or Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan (EDP) are eligible to receive Medicare rebates for psychology sessions.

Under the Better Access initiative, eligible clients can currently claim Medicare benefits for up to 10 individual mental health treatment services per calendar year, provided they have a valid Mental Health Care Plan and referral.

Please bring or email your referral before your first appointment so Medicare rebate details can be processed correctly.

Yes, Telehealth appointments are available via Zoom or phone call and can be a helpful option if you are unable to attend in person, running very late, live outside inner Brisbane, have caring responsibilities, or prefer therapy from a familiar environment.

Yes. We support adults experiencing eating disorders, disordered eating behaviours including restrictive and binge eating, purging, laxative misuse, and excessive movement, as well as body image concerns, and distress around food, body shape and size, or weight.

Therapy may include support to better understand patterns, strengthen coping strategies, explore body image distress, and work toward a safer and more sustainable relationship with food and self. Depending on your needs, we may also recommend working alongside your GP, psychiatrist, dietitian or other health professionals to ensure your care is well supported.

Clients can also access  up to 40 individual mental health treatment services per calendar year under an Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan.

Yes. We offer neurodiversity-affirming therapy for neurodivergent adults, including people who are autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, late-identified, self-identified, formally diagnosed, or exploring whether neurodivergence may be part of their experience.

Therapy may focus on self-understanding, burnout, masking, sensory needs, executive functioning, relationships, emotion regulation, identity, workplace stress, study demands, and navigating systems that may not have been designed with neurodivergent people in mind.

At this stage, the practice provides therapy and psychological support for neurodivergence rather than focusing on formal ADHD or autism diagnostic assessments. That being said, we may be able to provide some assessment-related support for specific cases.

We are more than happy to support people who are diagnosed, self-identified, questioning, or exploring neurodivergence in any way. Where a more specific and formal assessment is needed, we are happy to discuss options including other referral pathways for an appropriate assessment.

Yes. We support adults who have experienced complex trauma, attachment trauma, relational trauma, childhood adversity, domestic and family violence, coercive control, neglect, emotional abuse, racism and institutionalised trauma, medical trauma, or other experiences that continue to affect safety, relationships, identity or emotional wellbeing.

Therapy is paced carefully and collaboratively. The focus is not on rushing into trauma content, but on building safety, understanding patterns, strengthening regulation, and supporting a greater sense of choice and stability.

Yes. We support people during pregnancy, postpartum and the broader transition into parenting.

Perinatal therapy may include support with anxiety, depression, birth trauma, adjustment to parenting, identity changes, fertility or pregnancy-related difficulties, pregnancy loss, relationship changes, intrusive thoughts, bonding concerns, or the emotional impact of pregnancy or medical complications.

The first appointment is an opportunity to talk through what has brought you to therapy, what you would like support with, and what feels important for your psychologist to understand.

You do not need to have everything prepared or know exactly where to start. The session may include discussion of your current concerns, relevant history, supports, risks, strengths, goals and preferences for therapy. We will also talk about confidentiality, consent, fees, rebates and what ongoing support could look like.

Yes. NDIS participants may be able to access psychology sessions if psychology is reasonable and necessary under their plan and their funding is self-managed or plan-managed.

If you are plan-managed, your plan manager can pay providers and help keep records of invoices and spending. The NDIS states that plan-managed participants can choose registered or unregistered providers.

If you are NDIA-managed/agency-managed, you may need to use an NDIS-registered provider. Please check your plan, funding category and plan management arrangements before booking.

Unfortunately Vessel Psychology is not a crisis or emergency service. If you are in immediate danger, at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or need urgent medical support, call 000 or attend your nearest hospital emergency department. Beyond Blue’s urgent help guidance also directs people to call Triple Zero if someone is at risk of harm right now.  

For 24/7 crisis support in Australia, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14⁠, text 0477 13 11 14⁠, or use Lifeline’s crisis chat: https://www.lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat/⁠

If you are already a client, you are welcome to mention safety concerns in session so we can discuss support options and planning. However, emails, forms and booking requests are not monitored as crisis supports.