How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?

[MisterM]

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.

[Aunt Jobiska]

Various comments - for many people with mild to moderate anxiety or depression, 10 sessions IS enough. There's actually a heap of evidence out there about it. Those won't be the people on this forum.

Psychiatrist rebates usually aren't $224 for 45 mins, it's typically more like $189 My psychiatrist bulkbills, and that's what he gets. 50% more than what a psychologist gets. I'd venture to say he trained a lot harder than my psychologist (I'd guarantee my psychologist has never done a 14+ hour shift in her life).

A lot of the costs you mention for psychologists running there business are discretionary. It's not compulsory for a psychologist to join the Australian psychologists association, mine hasn't joined it. My psychologist can afford to bulk bill all concession card holders, and still have a decent income and lifestyle. If they want a posh office in a posh suburb, then yes, they will need to charge patients more.

People in country or remote areas - it sounds a nightmare, in terms of your difficulty in accessing services. It's difficult enough for me accessing bulk-billing practitioners in a metropolitan centre.

[White_Rose]

Hello WhiteNinja

I cannot see where I stated I had more than ten psychology sessions which attracted a rebate from Medicare and that they counted towards the safety net. Your ten visits are eligible for a Medicare rebate and any gap goes towards your personal safety net. As you have also pointed out, there are circumstances where you can receive 15 sessions per year with rebates from Medicare. This does not happen very often and I wonder how many psychologists know about this provision. If Medicare give a rebate your out of pocket expenses count towards your safety net.

I think I was commenting that all sessions with a psychiatrist have Medicare rebates regardless of the number of visits every year. I find people often mix up the two different practitioners or presume that they operate in the same manner and with the same type of rebate.

So to be absolutely clear, any service from a psychologist or psychiatrist which gives you a Medicare rebate has the added benefit of the out of pocket expense counting towards your safety net. Once you have used up your limit of sessions with a psychologist you are responsible for paying the whole fee and none of it is counted towards your safety net.

This is the fundamental difference in choosing to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. There are great psychologists around just as there are great psychiatrists. If you find one then I suggest you stick to him/her. There are also great counsellors who often work for organisations such as Anglicare, Relationships Australia, Salvation Army and various other charities. These often have no charge or a small charge. Medibank has no arrangement with these people.

Hope that clears up any confusion.

Mary

[blondguy]

Hello everyone

Hi Aunt Jobiska......thank you for your helpful post with your experience with psychologists/psychiatrists. Your contribution can help people help themselves. Evidence isnt a focus on the forums.....Life experience is

Just a note if I may...You are drawing a long bow by saying that "10 sessions is enough with mild to moderate anxiety/depression". There are many people that have moderate levels of anxiety/depression that may require a lot more than 10 sessions of counseling to build a solid platform on which they can heal more effectively using the various coping techniques available including ongoing counseling

Thankyou WhiteRose (Mary) for clearing up any confusion on this matter

my kindest

Paul

Note: Moderate levels of anxiety/depression can sometimes exacerbate even after the 10 visits are over

[geoff]

Hello Aunt Jobiska, I wish I could agree with you, but I'm sorry I don't, in that 10 sessions is well and truly not enough for someone suffering from a mental illness.

It takes at least 2 or 3 appointments for the two of you to get to know each other, then you need to have the confidence to open up, then by doing this, you have to accept and maybe practice what has been discussed, this, however, may backfire, so all the previous sessions could have raised other significant problems, so10 sessions is not enough.

Yes your doctor can prescribe a few more sessions under extreme hardship, but this is not easy to come by.

'The Mental Health Reference Group's report says research shows that 10
sessions is NOT enough to improve clinical outcomes in cases of moderate
to severe mental illness.'

What would happen if you have the 10 sessions but unfortunately you have a relapse and there could be a risk, so a maintenance treatment plan needs to be put into place to prevent a recurrence.

It's important to understand what might trigger a possible relapse as your circumstances may have changed, so there shouldn't be any cap depending on the situation you are in.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Miki19]

The Medicare Safety Net is now over $2000. My psychiatrist charges $245.00 for 45 mins.

[Guest_1643]

i'm wary of therapy that drags on too long without progress, and understand some ppl can maximise help and get to a good place in 10 sessions.
For me it wasn't enough, especially having the pressure looming over me that soon the sessions would have to end.
I found it hard to pay for sessions and support myself as well,
The psychologist charged 235 dollars which is quite high, even with the medicare rebates for 10 sessions. I was able to negotiate it down to 180, and was stilll struggling!!

it's hard to pay for therapy

[smallwolf]

Hi Miki19 and welcome to beyond blue.

*waves to Sleepy21*

I have been attending therapy (both a psychologist and psychiatrist) for nearly 3 years. With the Medicare safety net, once over the limit the costs are much reduced. The psychologist fees get reduced by a mental health care plan etc.

It is not cheap, but for me better than the alternative.

[blondguy]

Hi everyone

Tim (Smallwolf) mentioned 'It is not cheap, but for me better than the alternative' Refer just above for Tims post!

Just from my own experience....I didnt know how helpful a proactive GP* can be....We can see them quicker than a psychologist and they have greater experience treating mental health than even just 10 years ago

Making a double appointment is always a bonus....even with the cost

I hope everyone has a good weekend!

Paul

Note* where low or moderate levels of anxiety/depression are involved

[Guest_1643]

Hi Paul -

thanks that is a great reminder.
Gps who are compassionate and on your side can be very grounding and supportive throughout the process, when therapy isn't so accesible. I adore my GP.

If they are sensitive, they will even make themselves more available to you during vulnerable times when therapy isn't accesible in the frequency you need -

A GP who feels on your level and has empathy is very important throughout the process. helps to open up and get help. I'm not so enthusiastic about GPS who talk down to patients, compassion is key.

[Mara56]

Hi all,

I totally agree with Alex C. I believe we do need to rally Government to increase the number of sessions available on a Mental Health Care Plan. My fear is that nothing will change unless we do.

Recently, I was surprised to discover that people with an eating disorder can access 20 sessions with a Dietitian and 40 sessions with a Psychologist under Medicare. I totally understand and fully support the number of sessions available to people with these disorders. I know how complex and life threatening these conditions can be. Likewise Depression, PTSD and many other Mental Health conditions are equally as complex and life threatening.

I can’t speak highly enough of my psychologist. He has reduced his fee but even so I am struggling to afford to see him as often as I need to. I have been to low income services in the past and while I believe they provide a good service especially in an emergency, for me due to the complexity of my Complex PTSD, those services were limited in their ability to help me.

The thing that infuriates me most is that I am victim. I endured horrendous trauma which has cost me mentally, physically and financially. Just as I know it has equally impacted other PTSD sufferers. It seems so wrong that through no fault of our own, we cannot get the support through Medicare to access the care we need.

Today I drafted a letter which I hope to have the courage to email before the end of the week. I intend to email it to the PM, Leader of the Opposition and anyone else I can think of. It’s a huge thing for me to expose myself in this way but I feel I have to speak up in the hope that a politician somewhere will listen.

Regards

Mara