FAQs

Eligibility for a mental health care plan will need to be discussed with a medical professional such as general practitioner, psychiatrist or paediatrician. There can only be one health plan issued per calendar year.

Confidentiality refers to the protection of personal information such as medical history or progress notes. All files are kept locked and secured and information gathered is not shared without your consent. There are however some exceptions where disclosure may be necessary: Your file is subpoenaed by a court. There is a reasonable belief that you or another person is at serious risk of harm. Your prior approval has been obtained to provide a written report to another professional or agency. e.g. a GP or a lawyer, or discuss the material with another person, e.g. a parent, employer or health provider. Consultation is required with other professionals to provide you with the best possible service. All information is de-identified and you remain completely anonymous. In couples counselling or family therapy, when individuals are seen independently the confidentiality privilege does not apply.

Cogmed working memory training, assessments and report writing are not considered to be a medical intervention and therefore are not covered under Medicare or health insurance.

Counselling sessions are generally 50 minutes, however children may require less time if they have difficulty maintaining attention and/or motivation.

A psychiatrist is a trained medical doctor that can prescribe medication and may spend most of their time establishing a medication management plan with their patients. A psychologist focuses on psychotherapy and treating emotional and mental health with behaviour intervention.