Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ’s about Fees, Medicare and Private Health Insurance
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How much is a therapy session at Three Seas?
Our fees range from $230 – $325 for individual appointments and $255 – $350 for couples sessions with a fully registered psychologist. Lower cost appointments are available with our counsellors ($130 – $220) and provisional psychologists ($80 – $165). If you have a health care or pension card, you may be eligible for a discounted rate.
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Is therapy covered by Medicare?
Yes and no. Medicare will offer a rebate for 10 sessions per calendar year (January through to December) with a Mental Health Care Plan. Once you receive a Mental Health Care Plan you will be eligible for a Medicare rebate of $137.05 for a clinical psychologist and $93.35 for a general registered psychologist.
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Does my private health insurance cover therapy?
If you have private health insurance, you may be covered for psychological services. More than 40 health funds will offer a rebate for psychological services; however, this will be dependent on the type of cover you have. Please contact your health fund to confirm if you are unsure of your cover.
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Am I eligible for a Medicare rebate?
The Medicare rebate is dependent on receiving a Mental Health Care plan. If you want to be eligible for the Medicare rebate you will need to make an appointment with your GP who will assess your eligibility for a Mental Health Care plan. You can also make an appointment to get a MHCP from a psychiatrist or a paediatrician. Please note that if you don’t need a Medicare rebate or a Mental Health Care Plan, you can book directly with The Three Seas & do not need a referral.
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How much do psychological tests / assessments cost?
The Three Seas offer comprehensive cognitive assessments for children & adolescents, specifically the WISC-V & WPPSI-IV (read more about these here). The total fee for this assessment is $1000. This includes the fee for three sessions, including assessment & report.
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Does the Three Seas offer bulk billing?
The Three Seas will be accepting a limited number of new bulk billing clients.
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Does The Three Seas offer third-party billings?
The Three Seas accepts NDIS (self- or plan-managed), TAC, Worksafe, VOCAT and DVA clients. We also have EAP agreements in place for several Melbourne companies. Please note that a gap payment may be required for NDIS, Worksafe and VOCAT clients.
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What is your cancellation policy?
Your appointment time is reserved for you. If for some reason you need to cancel or postpone your appointment, we require at least 48 hours (to the hour) notice. Appointments cancelled or rescheduled less than 24 – 48 hours will incur 50% of the appointment fee. Appointments cancelled or rescheduled within less than 24 hours will incur 100% of the appointment fee.
An appointment reminder is sent out via text, 72 hours prior to your appointment. This is a courtesy text message, and you should not solely rely on this due to it being sent through an automatic system. All appointment changes are to be made via phone or email. A voicemail can be left on our system after hours or over the weekend.
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How do I book?
Bookings can be made online through our booking portal here. Alternatively, you can call the client connect team on 03 9809 1000 or pop us an e-mail by filing in the form. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
General FAQ’s related to Therapy
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How many sessions will I need to commit to?
Every person has a unique therapeutic journey. The number of sessions is largely dependent on the individual’s needs, the nature of why they are seeking therapy & what they ultimately want to achieve through therapy.
Some people require only six (or fewer) sessions while others may require significantly more. This matter will be discussed with your psychologist after the first session & will be tailored to the unique needs of the individual.
The Three Seas offers short-, mid- and long-term therapy sessions; however, our focus is less on how long the process will take and rather on ensuring that our clients effectively resolve their issues and achieve their desired outcomes.
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How do I choose the right psychologist for me to see?
Our highly experienced & trained Client Connect Team has thorough knowledge of our Melbourne psychologists and counsellors’ strengths and therapeutic approaches. They have been trained to make sure that you are paired with a psychologist or couples counsellor that suits your needs.
Finding the right psychologist for you can be tricky. All psychologists bring their own methods, values, and personality to their care, so it’s important to find one that you click with. Similarly, it’s important that the therapist you choose is equipped with the skills to help you. Treatment approaches vary widely, from cognitive behavioural therapy to acceptance and commitment therapy.
If the first psychologist you see doesn’t feel right, don’t give up! Trial and error will help you to find a psychologist that allows you to feel seen and heard. Our reception team is happy to discuss the best therapist options for you. You can always provide your psychologist with honest feedback and feel able to ask them about their credentials and registration.
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Locations & Opening Hours
The Three Seas is conveniently located in four locations across Melbourne. We have practices in the CBD, Richmond, Northcote & Wantirna South. We additionally offer telehealth counselling which caters to patients across Australia and globally. Addresses for each practice can be found here.
- How are we minimising COVID risks for our clients and team?
The Three Seas Group takes its responsibility seriously to ensure the health and safety of its staff and clients. Our spaces are being cleaned regularly and frequently touched surfaces such as door handles will be cleaned with disinfectant wipes. We will provide hand sanitiser for you to use, although it’s important to note that thorough and frequent handwashing is the most effective way to reduce the spread of COVID-19. If your therapist is unwell or has been in contact with someone who is unwell, even if they’re not sure if the symptoms relate to COVID-19, they will move their sessions to Telehealth and will discontinue face to face sessions until they have confirmation of a clear COVID-19 test.
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How does the Client Connect team ascertain which psychologist will be appropriate?
Our highly experienced & trained Client Connect Team has thorough knowledge of our Melbourne psychologists and counsellors’ strengths and therapeutic approaches. They have been trained to make sure that you are paired with a psychologist or couples counsellor that suits your needs. In addition to this, they will assess the availability of the psychologists to ensure that you get an appointment as soon as possible in line with your needs & availability.
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How does confidentiality with a psychologist work?
All matters discussed with the Psychologist remain absolutely private and confidential. Information will remain confidential to all parties unless you give written consent to release information.
Fees & Rebates
Our psychologists offer appointments from 8am-9pm Monday to Friday and 9am-5pm on a Saturday.
Our friendly reception team is available between 8am-8pm during the week and 8:30am-4:30pm on a Saturday and will respond to any enquiries or bookings you wish to make. Please call us on 03 9809 1000 to book an appointment or enquire about our services.
Services that relate to mental health (e.g. anxiety, depression) may be subsidised through Medicare.
To find out how to obtain a rebate, download The Australian Psychological Society Ltd Medicare Fact Sheet or feel free to contact us on 03 9809 1000 to discuss your eligibility.
You may be eligible to claim from your Private Health insurer. Please check with your private health care provider to determine your cover.