Bernie McCarthy provides psychotherapy face-to-face and via telehealth, i.e., video (Zoom) or phone. You may obtain Medicare rebates for face-to-face and telehealth sessions. See the information below for funding and fees.
To make an appointment phone (+61) 0408 145 819.
Face-to-face therapy is currently in Eltham, Victoria, Australia.
For teletherapy you need a computer/tablet/phone with a camera, microphone and speakers. You need a quiet private place where you will not be disturbed and you can sit upright (not on your bed!).
To register as a client, Bernie will send you an email with a link to a secure website where you will be asked to provide your personal information, Medicare details, consent, two questionnaires, and bank account details for payment, all of which are completed electronically.
No matter where you are in the world (except USA and Canada due to insurance limitations), you can access psychotherapy with Bernie McCarthy via video or phone.
We cannot change our childhood. But we can let go of the defensive postures formed at that time…. (Robert Karen, Becoming Attached, 1994, pg. 408.)
Psychotherapy is a non-drug approach to a range of emotional and psychological problems including depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties. These problems may cause you to ask for help from your doctor or other health professional and s/he may refer you to a psychologist for treatment.
Bernie McCarthy offers clinical psychology services to people of all ages (14+ years) , usually referred by GPs with a Mental Health Treatment Plan. This entitles you to claim a rebate for up to 10 services per annum in groups of 4 or 6 sessions with a GP referral.
You may engage in therapy without a referral from a doctor and pay full fee.
If you live in a Commonwealth Government funded aged care bed, you are not eligible for Medicare rebated psychology services and so need to pay for these services yourself or you may access private health or other sources of financial assistance.
Type of therapy
Bernie McCarthy uses Affect State Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). .
Hours
Hours are usually:
Monday 12 noon to 6pm. Zoom
Tuesday 8am to 12 noon. Zoom
Wednesday 8am to 12noon Zoom 1pm to 6pm Face to face
Thursday 8am to 1pm. Zoom
Fee policies
50-60 minute session is $230.00. Payment is at the end of the session (electronically).
Workcover, TAC, Victims of Crime
Bernie provides therapy for clients funded by these organisations. You will need to provide your claim number, date of injury, etc. You may need a referral from your GP. You pay the fee and send the receipt to your funding organisation for a rebate.
Medicare rebates
Clients of psychologists may obtain Medicare rebates for psychological therapy services.
To obtain a Medicare funded service from a psychologist you must follow the steps below:
1. Visit your GP if you think you have a psychological condition that requires treatment (eg. depression, anxiety, stress etc.)
2. Obtain from the GP a referral letter to the psychologist and a Mental Health Care Plan
3. Contact Bernie to make an appointment
Video recording of therapy
Video recording enables the psychotherapist to pay close attention to you instead of taking notes during the session, to review the video afterwards and sometimes consult with their supervisor (all psychologists have a supervisor or mentor with whom they consult to review and improve the quality of their psychological practice). Your consent will be obtained before the video recording occurs. The usual privacy and confidentiality provisions apply to this aspect of your engagement with the psychologist, i.e., video recordings will be kept securely, and no other person will have access to them, as is usual practice with patient notes.
Medicare payment at this psychology practice
The payment and a rebate from Medicare are processed electronically on the day. You are only out of pocket for the difference between the fee charged and the rebate. Currently, the rebate is $145.25
Missed appointments
If you need to cancel an appointment, please tell us at least 24 hours ahead of time, you may be charged for the missed session.
Health insurance rebates
If you are using your private health insurance with extras (including Clinical Psychology) to fund your therapy you will need to make payment at the time of the session and take your receipt to obtain a rebate for part of the fee by presenting your receipt to your health fund. The Australian Psychological Society has more information on health insurance rebates and psychologists.
Length and frequency of treatment
Psychotherapy typically involves regular sessions, usually lasting 50-60 minutes. The first session may be longer (two hours). Duration and frequency vary depending on the nature of your problem and your individual needs. Short-term psychotherapy is regarded as under 40 sessions. Symptom relief can be achieved in under 10 sessions. Deeper character change takes longer.
Confidentiality
Information you share with us will be kept strictly confidential and will not be disclosed without your written consent. By law, however, confidentiality is not guaranteed in life-threatening situations involving you or others, or in situations in which children are put at risk (such as sexual or physical abuse or neglect). Psychologists are required by law to report child abuse when we become aware of it. A court may subpoena records. If we need to discuss your treatment with a colleague, we will take pains to disguise identifying information, including a pseudonym.
Phone and Emergency Contact
You may contact Bernie McCarthy by phone at any time. When he is not available an answering voicemail will take a message. He is usually able to return calls within the day. You will not be charged for phone calls unless you have a scheduled conversation of an information exchanging or problem solving nature that lasts more than ten minutes. If you cannot reach him in an emergency, you can find help at the Accident and Emergency Department of the nearest public hospital or by phoning 000 (within Australia).
Physician contact
Physical and psychological symptoms often interact. We encourage you to seek medical consultation if needed. In addition, medication may be helpful for psychological problems. When appropriate, we will arrange a referral for medication evaluation.
Code of Ethics
Psychologists are bound by the laws of the state, Commonwealth of Australia and a professional code of ethics, which guide professional relationships with clients. They serve to protect your rights in any professional relationship with a psychologist.
Charter for clients
http://www.psychology.org.au/community/client_charter/
Freedom to withdraw
You have the right to end therapy at any time. If you’d like, we can provide names of other qualified psychotherapists.
Complaints
We value your opinion of our service and ask that if you have a complaint about any service provided by McCarthy Psychology please contact us first (0408145819 or bernie@mccarthypsychology.com.au) so we can address any issues and provide you with any information that may help to respond to your complaint.
Complaints about the conduct of psychologists can be made to the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA)
Australian Psychological Society (APS)
Bernie McCarthy is a full member of the Australian Psychological Society, the major professional body for psychologists in Australia. Full membership requires at least four years of training and two years of supervision under an experienced senior psychologist.
A range of valuable resources is available on the APS website for clients of psychologists.
College of Clinical Psychologists
Bernie McCarthy is a Fellow of the College of Clinical Psychologists. This means he has completed specialised six-year training (a Master’s degree) and two years of supervision under an experienced senior psychologist in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. Clinical Psychologists have specialist expertise in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of severe mental health conditions.
Contact:
Mobile 0408 145 819