Mental Health
We acknowledge the significant impact that mental health has on well-being and physical health. We are fortunate to have a team of specialist GP therapists and a clinical psychologist to offer mental health sessions to patients identifying as women.
Clinical Psychologists
Clinical psychologists provide a wide range of psychological services to individuals for mental health conditions that range from mild to severe and complex.
Clinical psychologists are trained in the assessment and diagnosis of mental illnesses and psychological problems and are qualified to provide advice in clinical and compensation areas.
Using a range of techniques and therapies, they tailor programs to treat complex clinical psychology problems requiring individually tailored treatment. All clinical psychologists undertake continual learning in areas such as prevention, diagnosis, assessment and treatment, including rehabilitation.
Dr Erin Kelly is a Clinical Psychologist who completed her PhD at UTAS in 2010. Erin is passionate about supporting women's mental wellbeing, and strongly believes in the proactive management of mental health. She is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) for working with trauma. Dr Erin is suitable for moderate to complex cases. Once your referral is received, it will be triaged and suitability assessed.
Suitable cases:
- Perinatal anxiety and depression
- Challenging fertility treatment
- Birth trauma/ PTSD
- Depression
- Anxiety and Stress, including perfectionism, specific phobias and social phobias
- Managing Grief
Specialist GP therapists
Specialist GP therapists are registered providers of Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS). Specialist GP therapists undergo specialist education in order to become accredited FPS providers.
FPS refers to specific mental healthcare treatments based on evidence-based psychological therapies. This evidence-based psychological therapy has been shown to integrate the best research evidence of clinical effectiveness with general practice clinical expertise. GP therapists can also prescribe medications to assist with psychological disorders and underlying conditions such as hormonal treatments and psychotropic medications.
Only certain patients are suitable for GP FPS sessions, and our specialist GP therapists are not able to accept referrals under Eating Disorder Care Plans (EDP). Once your referral is received, our GP therapists will triage and assess suitability.
FPS is suitable for short-term therapy (6-10 sessions only).
Suitable cases for FPS sessions:
- Depression/ Anxiety (mild to moderate)
- Perinatal Depression/ Anxiety (mild to moderate)
- Grief
- Birth trauma
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
- Mood changes in perimenopause/ menopause
- Managing stress
GP Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP)
Our psychologist and specialist GP therapists are offering sessions to patients referred with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) by their regular GP. A MHTP lets you claim psychological therapy sessions from Medicare. This means you will receive a rebate from Medicare for your consultation.
It is important to note for specialist GP therapist appointments, that if you also see a psychologist, the total sessions are used from both specialist GP therapy and psychology therapy (please contact our friendly reception team if you also have a regular psychologist).
To start with, your GP will refer you for up to 6 sessions. If you need more, your regular GP can refer you for further sessions on recommendation from your psychologist or specialist GP therapist.
You may also choose not to have a MHTP.
Please note that specialist GP therapists MUST have a referral from your GP and a MHTP. Private referrals are not accepted.
Our clinical psychologist is able to accept private referrals without a MHTP. Full payment will be required on the day of the appointment and a receipt can be provided to claim through your private health insurer.
For GP referrers
If you require semi urgent to urgent referrals please specify on the referral or call to flag with our reception team. Every effort will be made to try and accommodate your patient. The more information you have in your referral and MHTP will help us triage.
Timely feedback will be provided if your patient is unsuitable for our service. We will contact patients to arrange appointments after triage. Please tell your patients to wait our phone call.
FPS sessions are appropriate for short term interventions (6-10 sessions).
The specialist GP therapists will see patients rated Level 3 - Moderate Intensity Services under IAR-DST. For further information about this see http://docs.iar-dst.online/en/....
Please ensure you complete the following with your referral:
Mental health care plan
AND attach a completed electronic IAR-DST report (http://iar-dst.online/#/);
OR ensure your referral includes adequate information
