topic How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions? in Treatments, health professionals and therapies

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

MisterM — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 07:54:31 GMT

I know there are 10 sessions covered under Medicare where you only pay a smaller fee but every time I have been the 10 sessions run out so fast. I am unemployed, even recently working casual I wasn't earning much. How do some of you people afford to go weekly/fortnightly. When I was working full time I was going every week/fortnight and spent over $3,000 in a year on seeing my psychologist. It's just too damn expensive, how can sessions cost $200 approx per 50 mins, what justifies such a high fee?
I don't get it.

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

Arayofsunshine — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 03:42:48 GMT

I want to know too... so will follow this thread! 🙂

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

Arayofsunshine — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 03:44:32 GMT

Also how does the 10 sessions work... my Dr mentioned it...??

Thanks in advance,

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

Shaz1 — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 05:46:02 GMT

Hi,

My dr does a BOMH form for me. I do a K10 test and maybe it depends on answers/high risk I'm not sure. I haven't had any problems getting 6 sessions free with my physcologist (whom I see weekly or f/n) been seeing her for two years.

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

White_Rose — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 08:13:58 GMT

Hello Everyone

Free or very low cost counselling is available from several organisations.

For people up to age 25:
Kids Helpline, both phone and face to face.
ReachOut.com helps young people to navigate the mental health system.
http://www.mindhealthconnect.org.au/ Access to online programs and trusted information on depression, stress or anxiety from Australia’s leading mental health organisations.
www.youthbeyondblue.com is the BB website for young people.

For older people, try:
Lifeline. phone and face to face counselling.
The Salvation Army offers counselling to all ages.
Anglicare offers counselling to all ages.
Relationships Australia offer counselling but I am unsure if they take young people.
The Black Dog Institute has a huge amount of information and I think has online programs.
Mind Matters Click on the tab on the home page.
Beyond Blue helpline 24/7

Additionally there may be groups in your local area that offer low cost or no cost counselling. I would expect your GP to have details of any such organisations.

Some psychologists will bulk bill so you do not need a MHP, just a referral. You will need to ask individual practitioners unless, again, your GP know of these rare birds.

I hope that helps

Mary

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

Spiltbean — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 11:56:09 GMT

Great post mister m!

I feel your frustration. I had to sell my home initially when things got real bad with my BPD, and move back home. In my acute stages I was needing to see a psych 3x a week at $180 session, for about 6 months. Ive been paying about 200 a week since 2008, having seen countless therapists, to just to stay alive. It's not working, I feel so ripped off, and what's more, have completely lost drive to continue working with nothing to show for my efforts, and still feeling fragmented.

There needs to be more accountability in this industry. I'd even go so far as to say a national enquiry into the level of professional negligence. If you have a complex personality disorder you fall through the crack and just suffer needlessly.

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

soulful42 — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 22:11:24 GMT

I agree, great post. Been wondering that as well.

Splitbean, I agree to the degree that I've been seeing a psychologist for maybe 4-5yrs (maybe even longer) and with different issues that pop up - I just don't seem to be getting better/improving and if anything, after further life events and the progression of time - I'm feeling worse.

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

coco123 — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 17:18:06 GMT

I'm not so sure how it works really in Australia. Been here for only four years. I used free counselling sessions for students at Uni. Back then, I thought I was fine, just another normal ups and downs for Uni students. I surveyed the price for private counselling services. Yes, they were very pricey. However, I know in a neighbouring country... those who works as a public servant can have access to free physchiatric sessions and original meds. Yes, free of charge. I hope the same applies in Australia soon?

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

150lashes — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 18:11:55 GMT

Hi there

I have just had a mental health care plan completed by my GP which entitles me to 10 Medicare claimable sessions.

With the psychologist I have selected I believe I get back around 85% of her fee through Medicare. So I'll be paying about $30 per session.

I think it's important to select the right psychologist and to try to avoid wasting time with professionals you just don't 'connect' with. Or perhaps their approach doesn't suit.

For me, my GP knows what I'm like and recommended an older female psychologist with experience with professional women and an ability to relate.

My first consult was really like a 'job interview' to determine if the therapeutic relationship would be beneficial and worth pursuing.

As we only have ten sessions under Medicare. With not working and spending a lot of money seeking specialists and tests for my sick child, I really hope it's enough.

I am hoping to work through my problems and devise some coping strategies so that I can manage these feelings and move forward, as well as making some decisions in a rationale and clear thought out way.

If the sessions aren't enough I will then look to using my health fund rebate, which isn't much but at least it's Something.

Those who have used psychology services long term, may I ask the reasons for this? Does it help? Sorry if I sound niave. I really don't know what to expect.

Can't put a price on health!

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

Legion — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 23:17:52 GMT

I was lucky.

The Psychiatrist I was seeing for just over 25 years always bulk billed me. I asked why once and she said "If I charged you, you would never come" How right she was, who can really afford hundreds of dollars like that?

Sadly she retired in 2012. I was finally convinced by my GP to see a Psycologist late last year, even with the Mental Health Plan it cost me just over a $100 per visit. I gave it away after 3 visits, I couldn't see the point and having a mortgage all to myself such visits couldn't be justified.

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

Spiltbean — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 23:55:22 GMT

Hi there,

10 session rebate is great if you just need a bit of moral support, but much more intensive treatment is required for personality disorders, bipolar, schizophrenia etc....the treatment for BPD recovery starts with 12 months, to learn DBT skills. That's before you even start to delve into self, a prerequisite is that you much see your individual psychologist weekly. And when you feel suicidal, trust me, this is a minimum.

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

150lashes — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 04:53:33 GMT

Hi Legion

That's fantastic to gave received quality, bulk billed care by your psychiatrist for so many years! I doubt there would be many around who would do that.

I agree it's very expensive and makes it difficult to access care.

Which is why long term I doubt I would be able to. There really should be more support in the mental health arena particularly with the latest statistics revealed!

I wish you all the best

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

150lashes — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 04:56:42 GMT

Hi splitbean

Thanks for your reply and giving me greater insight. I appreciate it and I understand.

I think there needs to be more support out there. Maybe 10 sessions really just scratches the surface. I've only had one session with my second tomorrow. I don't know when I'll feel well again or if 10 if enough.

Time will tell I guess.

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

SquarePeggie — Mon, 09 May 2016 07:11:27 GMT

I'm so glad you and Splitbean have mention this as I thought I was alone. I have been seeing a psychologist for 2 years now and if I look back there is not a single aspect of my life that is better than it was before. Some areas, like my relationship with my mum are worse. My self esteem is also worse, it seems that seeing a psychologist has just pointed out more things about myself that I don't like!

I'm thinking about using the $175 per session on hobbies, clothes that make me feel good and holidays instead.

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

Randlo — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 14:49:55 GMT

Isn't the government bent on keeping people healthy so that they'd save money from citizens using Medicare?

Why not help mentally disabled people back on their feet to become efficient and productive tax payers? Some of the greatest thinkers in the planet had BPDs, heck, maybe one of them could be the next Mark Zuckerberg right?

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

CheeseSlices — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 00:49:36 GMT

Has anyone got the medicare ap? It has everything you have spent on it. My out of pocket expenses add up to over $40,000 since I got the ap.

Some people have told me that my psychatrists were milking me for my insurance. I now think so too. I was forced to go every week for a $360 appointment (cash upfront - no cash no appointment, no appointment meant cash fee for missing the appointment... no medicare back on "missed" appointments. My car broke down before christmas one year on the way to the appointment, I rang in a panic and told her, I still missed it and was not allowed access to the doctor until I had paid it - with NONE back on medicare). If I did not continue weekly appointments I was admitted to hospital.

I am still getting hounded by a hospital for an appointment I didnt even book a year ago! They sent me a text message saying "we have got an earlier appointment for you" I didnt see it and didnt go (nor confirmed it!) and they still hound me to pay.

I fired my therapist at the start of this year as I was just getting worse and worse. I spent so many months in hospital last year, all they did was keep adding drugs. She didnt dispense drugs but almost every session she said "I feel you should be in hospital for safety" which then put me in the hands of a doctor who charged me AND drugged me more - then he put me on to his mates - an OT and pain specialist. So then I am supposed to fork out for 4 $360 appointments a week while earning less than $300 a week? I did this for a while, got much worse.

Firing my doctors was the best moment of my life.

It is so much nicer to have money for food! I dont have to save to drive 80km for appointments that had me wiped out for 3 days. I can do things on the weekend because I am not so distressed about what my therapist dragged me through. I can forget about the horrors because she doesnt bring it up to me every week!

My lifestyle has really changed since I fired those terrible doctors. Its indescribable and amazing to be out of that system. Freeing. Not to say I dont still have issue but it is MUCH easier to deal with without doctors telling me its symptom that needs medicating and messing with my brain so I need to relearn how to cope!

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

Raynor — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 09:41:51 GMT

There should be more angst about this in the media. My psychologist has just told me that treatment for my condition (a dissociative disorder) will require therapy for "a long time, possibly a very long time". I don't expect him to work for nothing, and he has office overheads beyond his own salary, so am I supposed to just accept that I can't get treatment until I have a well-paid job? What kind of country is this?

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

Over1t — Sun, 18 Jun 2017 13:16:58 GMT

I've found that the 10 sessions is quiet reasonable, keep in mind that if you have a severe and chronic condition you can get an additional 5 sessions under the chronic disease management plan.

I've found that if I've ever been in the position that I've needed more then about 12 psychologist sessions in a year I'm in a pretty bad place and I end up getting admitted to hospital and then everything is 'free' and you see your Dr almost every day and can participate in group therapy 6 days a week.

If your psychologist can't help you in a time bound manor maybe you need to find someone else.?

Good luck.

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

Raynor — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 08:30:32 GMT

I guess it depends on your diagnosis. Glad it's worked for you.

How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

deecee — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 09:49:24 GMT

good on you for calling it out like it is. living in regional nsw I need ot do a return trip of six hours for a one hour session with a clinical psychologist and in reality getting local help is very very difficult.

Not only expensive but the line " you need to try different drugs or therapies" ends up making me feel like some kind of experimental gineau pig. Meanwhile the specialists are handsomely paid.

I've ended up walking away from the system - in the end its up to me to sort it out and not spend my hard earned on wealthy specialists