Our Gold Coast Psychologists & Mental Health Workers offer therapy sessions for individuals (children and adults), couples and family and can assist with
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Mood disorders
- Relationship issues
- PMS / PMDD
- Developmental difficulties / early intervention
- Relationship issues / Couples Therapy
- Grief & Loss
- Attachment Disorders
- OCD
- Personality Disorders
- Post Natal Depression
- Gender Dysphoria
- Work Cover related Psychology Support
At The Wellness Emporium we provide a safe, trusting, confidential and warming environment to support you throughout every stage of life. We support women, men and children. Not sure who to book with? Read our Psycholgist profiles here or contact us on (07) 55352474.
What to expect at your psychology/counselling session
During your initial appointment you will meet your therapist for the first time. During this first appointment your psychologist/therapist will get to know you, your goals and your concerns and will develop a plan to work towards together. Many people experience anxiety when they are attending a psychologist/counsellor for the first time, please remember we are here to support you and make you feel comfortable. Some people find it helpful to write some notes down beforehand to discuss – this may include goals or concerns and/or issues you are struggling with.
THERAPY APPROACHES
Our Psychologists / Mental Health Therapists utilise a variety of therapy approaches in their sessions (depending on their training), including
- Trauma-informed interventions (working with the body, inner child work)
- Attachment Work
- Mindfulness, Meditation & Body Work
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
- EMDR (Eye Motion Desensitising and Reprocessing)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Animal Assisted Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Schema Therapy
- Emotion Focussed Therapy
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Interpersonal Therapy
- Positive Psychology and Psychoeducation
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MSBR)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Gottman Couples Therapy
MEET OUR THERAPISTS
Ian Connop
(Accredited Mental Health Worker & Gestalt Therapist)
Special Interests:
Adult & Children Therapy, Trauma, Relationship Counselling, Family & Couples Therapy, Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Attachment / Adjustment
Sara Casha
(Wellbeing Counsellor & Breathwork Facilitator)
Special Interests:
Adult Therapy, Mindfulness Based Techniques, Acceptance and Commitment Focused Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, PTSD, Pain management, Addictions
FEES & FAQS
How to Book
You can call reception on 07 5535 2474 or book online here.
Do I need a referral from my GP?
You do not need a referral to see our Psycholgist’s. However, to be eligible for medicare rebates you will require a Mental Care Plan from a GP. If you have one, this must be brought to your first session.
How does a mental health care plan work?
Mental Care Plans currently allow for a total of 10 subsidised sessions with your psychologist per year. You will be required to see your GP who will initially refer you for 6 sessions. After the 6th session you will be able to obtain a review from your GP, which will give you access to the further subsidised sessions. Mental Care Plans are valid for 1 years from the date it was written.
How Long is the appointment?
Appointments are 50 minutes.
FEES & REFERRALS
General Registered Psychologists:
Our individualised psychology sessions with one of our General Registered Psychologist’s are $190.
Accredited Mental Health Social Workers:
Our individualised psychotherapy /counselling sessions with one of our Accredited Social Workers are $185.
Provisional Psychologists:
Our individualised psychology session with one of our Provisional Psychologists are $110.
*Medicare and Private Health Rebates do not apply. You are not required to have a referral or care plan however if you have a MHCP you can bring this along to your appointment.
*The Australian Psychological Society recommended fee for standard consultations (50+ mins) with a Psychologist is $260.00. We continually strive to make our services as affordable as possible for our clients.
Counsellors
Medicare and Private Health rebates are not available for sessions with our counsellors.
Medicare Rebates
Our General Registration Psychologists & Accredited Mental Health Social Workers are registered with Medicare and provide psychological services under the Better Access Initiative. Eligible clients can claim Medicare rebates for up to 10 sessions per calendar year. For convenience, Medicare and private health insurance rebates are processed at the time of your appointment and paid directly into your nominated bank account.
| Fee (50- minute session) | Medicare Rebate | Out of pocket cost | |
| General Registration Psychologist | $190 | $89.95 | $100.05 |
| Accredited Mental Health Social Worker | $185 | $79.05 | $105.95 |
| Provisional Psychologist | $110 | N/A | $110.00 |
You will need to bring a copy of your Mental Health Care Plan issued by your GP/specialist o your first appointment in order to claim the Medicare rebate for your sessions. Mental Health Care Plans are available for a range of psychological issues.
Private Health Funds
Our Registered Psychologists & Accredited Mental Health Social Workers are registered with most private health funds. If you have private health insurance that includes psychological counselling as extras cover you may be eligible for a rebate. Depending on the health fund and the degree of insurance coverage, private health fund rebates will vary. For further information on your individual coverage, we advise getting in touch with your insurance company.
We have HICAPs facility on site, so we will be able to process this at the time of payment for you so you will only have to pay the gap.
*Please note: you can not use both medicare rebates and private health insurance in one transaction – you will have to choose one or the other.
*Please note provisional psychologists are not eligible for private health fund rebates as their sessions are set as a reduced fee.
Self-Referrals
Self-referrals are welcome, in the instance that you would prefer not to visit your GP to get a referral or are not eligible under Medicare, you can simply make an appointment to see one of our therapists. Self-referred clients are responsible for covering the full cost of their own sessions.
Work Cover
If you have a current WorkCover Claim and Medical Certificate, you may be eligible to visit our Psychologists & Accredited Mental Health Social Workers for fully covered sessions. Our receptionist will gather information from you regarding your claim as well as liaising with WorkCover to ensure everything is approved & ready for your appointments to commence. Throughout the duration of your claim, our team will communicate with your claims manager to ensure all requirements continue to be met & make the process as seamless as possible for you.
NDIS – Self-funded (home visits – local / surrounding areas)
Please contact the clinic for more information and our referral form process.
Employee Assistance Programs
An employee assistance programme is a work-based initiative that aims to improve the emotional, mental, and general well-being of employees. To assist their employee, a company may choose to nominate a set number of appointments or choose to fund up to a predetermined financial limit. Your employer can refer you to us if your place of employment has an employee assistance programme and pay for the services on your behalf. Any correspondence with your employer, including any billing, will be handled to protect your privacy. Your employer must submit a formal request to us in order for us to provide psychological services under an Employee Assistance Program.
Do You Offer Online Sessions?
Yes we do. We offer these via video – if you book an online consult you will receive a video link to join the appointment online during the session. Session fees and rebates are the same.
Cancellation Policy
Our appointments are extremely valuable. If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment please do so at least 24 hours prior to your appointment to avoid paying our cancellation fee. This will enable us to provide the appointment to other clients in need. Our cancellation fee for under 24 hours notice is $70, no shows are the full fee of $185.
Unfortunately we are unable to provide:
- Court ordered psychology sessions