frequently asked questions - General

Medicare will rebate up to 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year. 

After 6 sessions, you need to go back to your doctor for a review. If eligible, your General Practitioner (GP) will approve another 4 sessions through Medicare.   

Medicare will also rebate up to 10 group treatment sessions per calendar year.   

No. You can claim only for either a Medicare rebate or a private health insurance rebate at the end of your session.  

However, when you have used up all of your medicare sessions, you are able to use your private insurance to cover part of the cost of your ongoing psychology sessions. 

Please talk to your private health insurer to know how much they will cover per session so there are no surprises.

You need to allow 70 - 80 minutes for your first psychology session. 

Appointments are 50 minutes for each session after the initial consultation. 

Depending on the circumstances, the session may be shorter or longer in duration and the fees will be adjusted accordingly. 

If you wear reading glasses or have hearing aids, please bring them along to the assessment. 

A neuropsychological assessment takes approximately 3 hours with breaks provided as required. This time can vary depending on the questions the assessment needs to address and the impact of any fatigue issues. 

A neuropsychological assessment can address many questions around an individuals ability to function in every day life. It evaluates the cognitive, emotional, social and behavioural aspects of an individual and can assist with treatment planning, developing of psychology goals, and assist with the process of returning to previous activities.  

Assessments can inform capacity for independent living, return to driving and return to work following an acquired brain injury. 

Assessments can also be used to capture an individual's baseline level of ability to measure whether neuropsychological conditions or cognitive functioning becomes better or worse over time. 

Brain Care Health offers cognitive rehabilitation and behaviour support to help you understand the changes identified in the assessment, how to implement strategies in everyday living and to provide counselling to assist with adjustment. 

At times neuropsychological assessments have been conducted in a hospital or by another service provider. In this case, we will seek your permission to obtain these reports and utilise the findings to inform our treatment goals. 

Yes, psychological counselling can commence without having a neuropsychological assessment. Counselling to assist with low mood, anxiety and stress do not require a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment in order to be effectively treated. 

Neuropsychological assessments are conducted if they are clinically indicated to benefit your  treatment goals or are specifically requested by a referrer.