{"id":9341,"date":"2025-08-22T23:16:52","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T13:16:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/?p=9341"},"modified":"2025-08-22T23:16:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T13:16:53","slug":"central-coast-mental-health-therapy-guide-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/central-coast-mental-health-therapy-guide-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Your A-to-Z Guide to Finding Mental Health Support"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Selina Chapman, psychologist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, you want to make some positive changes in your mental health and wellbeing but don\u2019t know where to start? Let me answer some commonly asked questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mental Health Treatment Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The typical first step is to see your GP and get a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP). This means you get 10 Medicare rebated appointments with a psychologist or accredited mental health care professional. Simply make a long appointment when you book. The MHTP is still valid with someone else if you change your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For treating eating disorders, specialised plans access up to 40 psychological appointments and 20 dietician appointments with qualified clinicians specialising in the individual\u2019s diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Private or Public Practitioners<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both types of clinicians accept MHTPs, and both clinicians have the same qualifications and offer the same services. The differences will be work settings and possibly the cost of the appointment. A psychologist in a public health setting will typically see you in a hospital or clinic with their fee completely covered by Medicare having no additional costs to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A psychologist in private practice will see you in a non\u2013clinical setting which looks like a lounge room. Private psychologist fees typically have a gap, so there are additional costs for your appointments. Both clinicians may have waitlists, however private practitioners might have more availability in general than through the public health system. It is worth it to \u2018shop around\u2019 to find the right fit for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does a Registered, Provisional, General and Clinical Psychologist mean?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All practising psychologists are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia and the Allied Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The title, psychologist, is a protected title meaning only those clinicians that have completed the approved accreditation pathways, and requirements and have been accepted by AHPRA can use the title, psychologist. It is an offense to use the title when you are not qualified to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A provisional psychologist is a practitioner who has completed at least an undergraduate degree in psychology, is possibly studying or has studied a postgraduate degree and is undergoing placements under the supervision of a board approved supervisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A general psychologist is a clinician who has met the requirements for practicing as a psychologist and has no specialisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A clinical psychologist has completed a specialised post\u2013graduate degree in clinical psychology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an often\u2013asked question. A psychologist has completed a psychology undergraduate and possibly an additional postgraduate degree. A psychologist can assess, diagnose and treat mental health disorders for their clients. The current education pathway takes at least 6 years to complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has completed additional education and training and specialises in psychoses, complex mental health disorders, and can prescribe medications for their patients. The average pathway takes between 11 to 13 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both work in private or public practice, accept MHTPs, diagnose and treat mental health disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if I can\u2019t afford a gap fee for therapy? What can I do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several options available including Head to Health and Mindspot services who provide free psychological services in\u2013person or online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also discuss financial options during your GP discussions when you get your MHTP or talk with your preferred psychological clinic about payments options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the difference between online and telehealth appointments?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online programs can be free or incur a fee. Typically, they involve psycho\u2013education and strategies to learn helpful skills. Some services don\u2019t have a mental health professional involved so they are completely self\u2013directed learning. Reputable online services include This Way Up, Beyond Blue, Lifeline or The Black Dog Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Telehealth involves one\u2013on\u2013one appointments with your clinician via a secure online platform or phone. Some clinicians may be able to see you in\u2013person and\/or via telehealth regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am under the age of 16. How can I access therapy?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Option one is to see your GP and get a MHTP with your parent or guardian. Option two is to contact services for children such as Kids Helpline, or Headspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I find a therapist and know they are qualified?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find a qualified therapist in any Allied Health profession under the regulation of AHPRA via https:\/\/www.ahpra.gov.au\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are not sure who you want, you can find a therapist for you based on location, speciality or both via their professional websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the different types of therapy?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a nutshell, there are several types of therapy e.g. individual, group, couples, or family. Therapists come in as many varieties as clients from play, art, relationships, trauma, or neurodivergent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qualifications and experiences varies as well from unregulated term \u201cpsychotherapist\u201d or \u201ccounsellor\u201d to very regulated \u201caccredited mental health social worker\u201d and \u201cpsychologist\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I read self\u2013help books, should I still see a professional?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Absolutely! Think of it like a gym for emotional and mental health to stay on course and keep up to date with current evidence\u2013based practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take care, Selina<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selina Chapman is a psychologist at The Heart and Mind Collective in Wyoming. She works with individuals of all ages seeking empowerment and support. Selina says, \u201cSeeking support for mental health is about maintaining emotional and mental wellbeing as well as having extra help as and when we need it\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Selina Chapman, psychologist So, you want to make some positive changes in your mental health and wellbeing but don\u2019t know where to start? Let me answer some commonly asked…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9342,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sync_status":"none","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[116,160],"series":[],"class_list":["post-9341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellbeing","tag-article","tag-selina-chapman"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/459Y_8lgn4t38f4mkqnqdcli2qc1hbt9mirj7dhiiqc9g.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/feed\/podcast\/default-podcast","embedCode":"

Your A-to-Z Guide to Finding Mental Health Support<\/a><\/blockquote>