Frequently Asked Questions

There is a lot of evidence that psychological therapy can help if you’re feeling worried or low more often than you would like. It can help to have a `sounding board’ to talk through pressures around work, family or relationships.

Psychological therapy can help specifically process past traumas, work through grief, recover from addictions or feel more equilibrium through the ups and downs of life.

You’re welcome to read through the material on this website to get a feel for whether Lamplight is a good fit for you. If so, you can call our admin team on 02 9878 5419 to discuss what you’re looking for and your availability.

If you have any other questions, our admin team are happy to help. If you feel ready to book in a session, our admin team can find a time for you or you can book directly online here.

Psychology is a science-based exploration into how people think, feel and behave.

Each psychological intervention is being constantly tested and compared against others to make sure you are receiving the best possible treatment for what you’re currently experiencing.

Psychologists work in closely with GPs who manage your overall health and wellbeing, Psychiatrists who might prescribe medication if that would be beneficial.

Most psychological treatments have been tested based on weekly or fortnightly sessions.

If you do want to get the most out of your therapy, we recommend that you try to commit to sessions regularly from the outset. That might mean you need to ask your manager to have that time set aside, make other child-care arrangements or explain to your partner or loved ones why you need that time set aside to focus on the sessions.

Each session lasts for 50mins. Research suggests that people can’t concentrate for much longer than 50mins at a time.

Any shorter than that and it’s difficult to get the full benefit of a session. After 50mins, it might be difficult to take in the content of what’s being discussed.

Of course, we understand that sometimes life events can be unpredictable or unexpected. Because therapy requires regularity, commitment and emotional availability, we recommend planning as much as possible to have a clear schedule and a clear head for therapy appointments.

That might mean making sure the time you book appointments is a good time for you, that you’re able to get a good night’s sleep before an appointment and you’re taking care of yourself and your health as much as possible during the therapy.

Unfortunately, we do have to charge a cancellation fee if you need to cancel within 24-hours of an appointment, but we hope to never have to charge you for an appointment you can’t attend. If you do feel too sick on the day, we offer telehealth appointments that might be more suitable.

The easiest way to see a list of your upcoming appointments is through our online booking portal. From here, you can see a list of your upcoming appointments, book in new appointments at the time that best suits you, re-schedule to a better time or cancel appointments that no longer fit your schedule.

No. You don’t need a referral to make an appointment. However, if you have a referral for a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, you may be entitled to a rebate for up to 10 sessions from Medicare each calendar year. The rebate for a session with a clinical psychologist is currently $145.25.

The Australian Psychological Society recommends that Clinical Psychologists charge $318 per session in 2025, to reflect the costs of running a private practice. However, 50 min Psychology sessions for individuals or couples at Lamplight are only $255 (M-F 9am-5pm) or $270 out of hours. Assessments are only $1,500.

Yes, If you visit your GP and describe what you’re experiencing, you can request a Mental Health Care Plan. Initially, the GP will write a referral for 6 sessions which will allow you to claim the Medicare rebate or $145.25.

If you want to continue with therapy after that, you can re-visit your GP and request another 4 sessions each calendar year.

It’s worth checking your private health insurance psychology cover to see what rebates you might be able to claim. Many private health insurance policies do cover a number of sessions with a psychologist. NDIS, Workers Compensation, Victims of Crime, DVA and some EAP services may also cover at least part or the whole cost of a psychology session.

At Lamplight Psychology we help you build the long-term emotional regulation skills you need to stay out of crisis but we aren't a crisis service ourselves.

If you are currently in crisis, please contact a crisis service:

• Lifeline provides 24-hour crisis counselling, support groups and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or chat online.

• Suicide Call Back Service provides 24/7 support if you or someone you know is feeling suicidal. Call 1300 659 467.

• Beyond Blue aims to increase awareness of depression and anxiety and reduce stigma. If you or a loved one need help, you can call 1300 22 4636, 24 hours/7 days a week or chat online.

• MindSpot is a free telephone and online service for people with anxiety, stress, low mood or depression. It provides online assessment and treatment for anxiety and depression. MindSpot is not an emergency or instant response service. Call 1800 61 44 34.

• Medicare Mental Health gives advice and will connect you to local mental health services. Call 1800 595 212.

• MensLine Australia is a professional telephone and online counselling service offering support to Australian men. Call 1300 78 99 78, 24 hours/7 days a week or chat online.