How therapy can help
Therapy is a place to make sense of what you are experiencing and work towards changes that matter to you. A psychologist helps you understand patterns in your thoughts, feelings, behaviour and relationships, and draws on evidence-based approaches to find ways forward that fit your circumstances.
That might mean feeling less overwhelmed, responding differently in difficult moments, improving relationships, or getting back to things you have been avoiding.
What brings people here
Therapy helps with more than mental illness. A lot of what we work on is everyday life that has become harder than it should be. If any of these sound familiar, therapy is likely to help.
Choose the group that feels closest to your situation. You can switch at any time.
Support for children
My child will not go to school.
School refusal, morning meltdowns, stomach aches on Sunday night, and the exhaustion of the daily battle. Often called school refusal, though it is usually less about refusing and more about not being able to.
Big feelings that take over.
Meltdowns, shutdowns, explosive anger, difficulty coming back down once upset, or distress over things that seem small from the outside.
Worry that will not switch off.
Separation anxiety, fear of getting things wrong, difficulty sleeping alone, or needing constant reassurance.
Friendships are hard.
Being left out, falling out repeatedly, bullying, or not knowing how to join in.
Behaviour that is wearing everyone down.
Defiance, aggression, the family walking on eggshells, or the same fight every afternoon.
Something happened.
Accidents, medical treatment, family separation, loss, or something frightening.
Support for teenagers
School has become unbearable.
Attendance dropping away, refusing to talk about it, or holding it together at school and falling apart at home.
Low mood and no interest in anything.
Withdrawal from friends, sport, hobbies and family.
Anxiety, panic and avoidance.
Social anxiety, exam stress, or avoiding the things that matter to them.
Anger and conflict at home.
Slammed doors, and parents who no longer know how to reach them.
Self-esteem and body image.
Coping in ways that worry you.
Support for the young person and for the parents around them.
Being autistic or ADHD in a world that is not set up for it.
Burnout, masking, exhaustion, and the pressure of holding it together all day.
Support for adults
Anxiety, stress and feeling constantly on.
Difficulty switching off, physical tension, or worry that runs ahead of you.
Low mood, flatness and going through the motions.
Emotional regulation.
Reacting faster or harder than you want to, feeling flooded, then feeling bad about it afterwards.
Trauma and difficult experiences.
Including things from a long time ago that still shape today.
Recently diagnosed, or wondering.
Working out what an ADHD or autism diagnosis means for your life, work and relationships. Therapy after a late diagnosis is a distinct piece of work, and we do it.
Burnout and work stress.
Including workplace injury and insurer-funded support.
Grief and loss.
Including the losses that come with ageing, illness and change.
Perinatal, new parenthood and the transition into it.
Adjustment.
Separation, diagnosis, retirement, health changes, or moving into a new stage of life.
Support for parents, couples and families
Parenting a child who is struggling.
Practical strategies, and support for the parent doing the holding.
Parenting a neurodivergent child.
Approaches built around your child's actual profile.
Couples work.
Communication, conflict, connection and repair.
Family separation.
Co-parenting, and helping children through it. Learn more about our Separation Support Services.
What to expect
Your first appointment is a conversation about what has brought you in, how it is affecting your life, and what you would like help with. You do not need to have everything worked out or know where to start. Your psychologist will explain how sessions work, including confidentiality and its limits, and discuss a plan with you.
For children and teenagers, sessions are adapted to their age and needs, with parent or carer involvement discussed together.
Our therapy clinicians
Laura Francke
Clinical Psychologist
Laura is Director of Clinical Psychology Services Australia and has more than 25 years of experience supporting individuals, couples, children, and families.
Fees and rebates
Session fee$275
Medicare rebate$145.25
Gap on MHCP$129.75
Victoria Maher
Clinical Psychologist
Vicki is a Senior Clinical Psychologist with 20 years' experience working across community and primary healthcare settings, supporting adults with anxiety, mood, trauma, grief, adjustment, and perinatal mental health concerns.
Fees and rebates
Session fee$275
Medicare rebate$145.25
Gap on MHCP$129.75
Alison Trowbridge
Registered Psychologist
Alison has over 19 years of experience supporting children, young people, adults, couples, and families.
Fees and rebates
Session fee$225
Medicare rebate$98.95
Gap on MHCP$126.05
Skyla Steele
Registered Psychologist
Skyla is a registered psychologist with over four years of experience in private practice, passionate about assessment across all ages with special interests in neurodivergence, learning differences, eating disorders, and trauma.
Fees and rebates
Session fee$225
Medicare rebate$98.95
Gap on MHCP$126.05
Emily Smith
Registered Psychologist
Emily works with children, adolescents, and young adults and is experienced in supporting anxiety, ADHD, autism, trauma, grief, and emotional regulation difficulties.
Fees and rebates
Session fee$225
Medicare rebate$98.95
Gap on MHCP$126.05
Nicole Clarke
Provisional Psychologist
Nicole brings a friendly, down-to-earth style, with interests in trauma recovery, emotion regulation, anxiety, depression, and mindfulness-based strategies.
Fees and rebates
Session fee$120 weekday, $150 weekend
Medicare rebateNo rebate available
Gap on MHCPN/A
Willem Reyners Tay
Provisional Psychologist
Will is a provisional psychologist with a focus on neurodivergent and autistic clients, bringing technology-assisted personalisation to make therapy fit each person.
The selected time is held as Pending until the required next step is completed or reception confirms it.
Fees and rebates
Session fee$120 weekday, $150 weekend
Medicare rebateNo rebate available
Gap on MHCPN/A
Marta Smitham
Provisional Psychologist
Marta works with children, teenagers and adults, supporting anxiety, low mood, ADHD, autism and behavioural concerns with practical, neurodiversity-affirming therapy.
Fees, rebates and funding
There are several ways people pay for therapy here. Some cover the full cost, some cover part of it, and each has its own referral requirements. If you are not sure which applies to you, ask us and we will work it out with you.
Open a funding option to see the details.
Medicare GP plan and rebates for eligible therapy sessions
With a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you can claim a rebate for up to 10 individual therapy sessions per calendar year with a registered or clinical psychologist.
Current Medicare rebates are $149.05 with a clinical psychologist and $101.55 with a registered psychologist. Based on our standard therapy fees, the out-of-pocket cost is $125.95 or $123.45. Medicare rebates are reviewed each July and may change.
CPSA is a private practice and does not bulk bill. Medicare rebates are not available for sessions with a provisional psychologist, and a Mental Health Treatment Plan cannot be used for assessment sessions.
No referral, unlimited sessions Provisional psychologist sessions without a GP plan
Provisional psychologists have completed five years of university training and are completing the final stages of their registration requirements while practising under clinical supervision. They offer sessions at a reduced fee while they complete this work.
Provisional psychologist sessions are $120 on weekdays and $150 on weekends, with no referral or plan needed.
These sessions are not subject to Medicare’s 10-session annual limit. Session frequency and duration are agreed with your psychologist according to your needs.
The weekday fee is less than the current out-of-pocket amount for the registered and clinical psychologist fees listed above. Weekend provisional sessions are $150.
Assessment reports completed by a provisional psychologist are reviewed and signed off by a Clinical Psychologist. Reports can also be co-signed by a Clinical Psychologist where required for NDIS or other services that need a Clinical Psychologist report.
NDIS Self-managed, plan-managed and agency-managed participants
CPSA accepts self-managed, plan-managed and agency-managed NDIS participants. For plan-managed participants, invoices are sent directly to the plan manager.
Laura Francke charges her standard $275 session fee for self-managed NDIS clients. Other psychologists charge the applicable NDIS rate.
The current therapy rates are $252.99 per hour with a registered or clinical psychologist and $156.16 per hour with a provisional psychologist for plan-managed and agency-managed participants. NDIS rates are reviewed annually and may change.
NDIS funding covers therapy related to disability goals. Mental health support unrelated to the disability is usually funded through another pathway, and reception can help clarify which pathway may apply.
Workers comp and CTP Approved workplace and motor accident claims
Workers compensation
If you have an accepted NSW workers compensation claim, approved psychology sessions cost you nothing. Your insurer pays us directly at the rate set by SIRA.
Emily Smith and Alison Trowbridge are currently SIRA-approved. Laura Francke may accept a new workers compensation client when Emily and Alison have no availability.
Administration prepares the initial Allied Health Treatment Request. Your psychologist completes subsequent requests and sends them to administration for submission through Halaxy/iCare with the invoice, or by email when the claim is not enabled for digital upload.
Certificates of Capacity are normally issued by a GP. CPSA does not offer them as part of our psychology service.
After a motor vehicle accident
CTP claims follow the same approval and treatment-request process as workers compensation claims.
We wait for written approval or notification from the CTP case manager before treatment begins, so nobody receives an unexpected bill. CTP Assist on 1300 656 919 can help you work out where you stand.
Defence services Bupa support for serving members and DVA-funded veteran care
Currently serving Defence members (Bupa)
CPSA provides Bupa-funded psychological services for currently serving Defence members at our Medowie clinic.
Clinical psychologists Laura Francke and Victoria Maher provide this service.
Veterans (DVA)
CPSA accepts DVA-funded referrals for all Veteran Card arrangements and covered conditions. Clinical psychologists Laura Francke and Victoria Maher provide psychological services to veterans accessing DVA.
A GP referral is required. A DVA Cycle of Care referral from the person’s usual GP is required — this was previously known as a D904 referral.
Each treatment cycle covers up to 12 sessions or 12 months, whichever comes first. Further cycles can be provided with a new referral, and there is no overall annual limit on the number of treatment cycles.
CPSA no longer accepts Open Arms referrals.
Private health and EAP Extras cover and employer-funded support
Private health extras benefits vary between funds and policies. Some funds allow a benefit alongside Medicare and some do not, so please check directly with your fund. Most funds require the treating psychologist to hold general registration and a Medicare provider number; provisional psychologist sessions may not be covered.
CPSA does not process private health claims through HICAPS. We can email or print a receipt for you to submit to your fund.
All CPSA clinicians can provide Employee Assistance Program sessions. We need written approval from the employer when there is no existing CPSA agreement.
CPSA also provides EAP services for Worimi.
Employers wishing to establish an EAP arrangement can contact our administration team. We will prepare an agreement with terms and conditions for signing and provide information for staff once it is returned.
Tell reception what you have, or what you are waiting for, and we can help identify the next step.