John Zenith Counselling

Frequently Asked Questions

I need crisis and immediate support.

If you are in an emergency, or at immediate risk of harm to yourself or others please contact 000.

If you want more information about how to manage a mental health crisis, call the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 (24/7).

If you are an adult and need immediate counselling support call Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7).

If you are a young person and need immediate counselling support call Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.

Do I need a referral?

No, you do not need a referral and can attend sessions without a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) or Eating Disorders Plan (EDP) from your GP.

Although if you want to claim Medicare rebates, speak to your GP to determine your eligibility for either a Mental Health Care Plan or Eating Disorders Plan (EDP).

How much will it cost?

The Australian Association of Social Workers published the Recommended Schedule of Fees (2022) for Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSW) that provide psychological focused care and services. The Recommended Schedule of Fees set the standard hourly consultation fee at $270.

My fees are below the recommended rate.

How long will I need to wait?

The wait for therapeutic services depends on the current number of people John is seeing. This may vary month to month.

At present, if you contact John Zenith Counselling or Birchtree Centre directly, there may be a short wait.

If you have a referral from your GP or referring doctor, the MHCP or EDP can be emailed via the contact details listed on the Contact Me page.

How much is the Medicare rebate?

The rebate per session is approximately $82.05. This is inclusive of either the MHCP or EDP.

Eligible clients can obtain a rebate for up to 20 sessions per calendar year for a MHCP and, 40 sessions per calendar year for an EDP.

If you have reached your Medicare threshold for the calendar year you may be eligible to claim up to 85%. If you have questions about this please contact Medicare.

Can I claim from my private health fund?

Yes, you can claim through your private health insurance depending on your level of cover and your specific arrangements with your health insurer. You will need to check with your private health insurer to determine your insurance coverage and your eligibility.

Private Health Insurers include, but are not limited to: Bupa, Teacher's Health, UniHealth Insurance, Nurses and Midwives Health, Medibank Private

How long do I need to see a therapist for?

The length of therapy depends on the nature and severity of the issues that you may present with. Sometimes people may only need brief interventions or, therapy may take up to ten sessions although, for many people it can take longer.

I need to cancel my session, what do I do?

You can cancel your session up to two days in advance with no cancellation fee. If you cancel less than 48 hours before your session, 100% of the session fee may be charged.

What is a Mental Health Care Plan and how does it relate to Medicare?

A Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) is a referral provided by your GP (or psychiatrist) and is generally written for anyone who has a diagnosable mental health condition that is significantly impacting their functioning.

When you see your GP for a MHCP, your GP may ask you questions and complete a short questionnaire to determine if a MHCP is appropriate for you. Usually people require a longer GP consultation than normal (30 minutes) so make sure to organise enough time with your GP.

A person is eligible for 20 sessions per calendar year (January-December). Typically clients come for 6 sessions before they are required to return to their GP for a review and then can access an additional 4 sessions. A GP review is required at the 10th session where a person can access another 10 sessions via Medicare.

The Federal Government has increased the amount of sessions from 10 to 20 sessions via Medicare until the end of December 2022.

After your 20 sessions on Medicare have been used, sessions will be charged privately.

If you have private health cover the claimable amount and number of sessions per calendar year depends on your health fund - check with them directly about your insurance coverage.

What is an Eating Disorders Care Plan?

An Eating Disorders Care Plan (EDP) is a referral provided by your GP or psychiatrist and is provided for persons eligible to receive this type of care. People eligible for the EDP will be able to access comprehensive treatment and management services for a 12-month period, including: up to 40 sessions of evidence-based psychological treatment from a mental health professional and; up to 20 sessions of dietetic services from an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (as recognised by Dietitians Australia).

There are two cohorts of eligible patients who can access EDPs: People with a clinical diagnosis of anorexia nervosa; or People who meet the eligibility criteria and have a clinical diagnosis of bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder (BED) or other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED).

If you have questions about Eating Disorder Plans and how they work, please speak with your GP or, you can find more information via the National Eating Disorders Collaboration.

What is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and how does it differ between a psychologist and psychiatrist?

Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSWs) are recognised providers with Medicare Australia and other programs, delivering clinical social work services in mental health settings and utilising a range of evidence-based strategies.

AMHSWs work with people across the lifespan and provide a unique contribution to the mental health space in their holistic approach to working with a person. The advanced training that is expected of AMHSW prepares and provides them with the skills for working with people with very complex presentations and co-morbidities. AMHSWs are highly trained and educated professionals, meeting some of the highest standards of professional regulation in Australia.

AMHSWs have a breadth of experience in assessing and treating people who have mental health disorders such as:

They help individuals to resolve presenting psychological problems, the associated social and other environmental problems, and improve their quality of life. This may involve family as well as individual counselling, and group therapy. Social workers recognise the broader implications of an individual having a mental illness and the impact on friends, family, work and education.

Like other allied health professionals, such as psychologists, AMHSWs use a range of interventions in helping people with mental health disorders, including the following focussed psychological strategies:

A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in mental health and, can precribe medications whereas AMHSW’s and Psychologists cannot.