Practical Steps to Take Before Booking a Mental Health Appointment

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Thinking about booking a first mental health appointment?

Excellent decision. Asking for help is one of the most intelligent steps a person can take towards their long-term wellness. There are some things you may want to clarify before you dial though.

Because here’s the truth…

A little bit of prep can save you:

• Time
• Money
• Stress on the day

Plus it makes everything way less stressful. Wanna get started?

Here’s what’s covered:

1. Why Preparation Matters Before The First Appointment
2. 5x Practical Steps To Take Before Booking
3. Understanding The Medicare Psychology Rebate
4. What To Bring To The First Session
5. Common Questions People Forget To Ask

Why Preparation Matters Before The First Appointment

Mental health support is a big deal in Australia right now.

The ABS says about 1 in 5 Australians between 16–85 have had a mental disorder in the last 12 months. So if you’re looking for help, you’re in good company.

But here’s the problem:

Many people jump into scheduling an appointment without preparing. They often:

• Paying more than they need to
• Waiting weeks longer than expected
• Feeling confused about the whole process

By taking a few small steps upfront, all of that can be skipped.

5x Practical Steps To Take Before Booking

Booking an appointment for your mental health isn’t like booking yourself in to see your GP. Let’s run through this handy checklist before you dial that number.

Step 1: Talk To A GP First

Most people don’t realise this…

The first point of contact for mental health care in Australia is typically seeing a GP. Your GP can:

• Assess your symptoms
• Create a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP)
• Refer you to the right professional

Psychologists get access to the Medicare rebate with a Mental Health Treatment Plan. If you don’t have one, you are charged the full session fee. Right. Every. Time. Ouch!

Book an extended appointment with your GP and tell reception it’s a mental health consultation. Gives them time to assess you properly and get all their documents in order. The helpful team at Fortitude Wellbeing note that technically you don’t always need a referral to see a psychologist… unless you want to claim the Medicare psychology rebate. You’ll need that document they write up.

Step 2: Work Out What Type Of Support Is Needed

Not all mental health professionals are the same.

There’s:

• Registered psychologists — Focus on therapy, thoughts, and behaviour
• Clinical psychologists — Similar, but with extra training in complex conditions
• Psychiatrists — Medical doctors who can also prescribe medication
• Counsellors and social workers — Good for talking through life challenges

The correct option will vary depending on the scenario. If you’re unsure, that’s okay – the GP will guide you at the assessment.

Step 3: Check The Real Costs

This is where things get real.

Regular psychology session fees can cost between $180-$330+ per visit in Australia. That’s expensive. The Medicare part reimburses you with a psychology rebate, though there is typically still a “gap” payment.

Here’s the rough breakdown:

• Clinical psychologist rebate: around $141.85 per session
• Registered psychologist rebate: around $96.65 per session
• Typical out-of-pocket “gap” fee: $100–$200

Others are psychologists that bulk-bill. Zero cost to you. They’re trickier to find and tend to have longer waits.

Step 4: Consider Location vs Telehealth

Traffic. Parking. School pickups.

Traveling to a face-to-face appointment can be difficult. That’s part of the reason why so many choose telehealth psychology appointments these days. The Medicare psychology rebate covers both.

Consider what will be realistic. Why set yourself up with a clinic 40 minutes away that you miss every other week?

Step 5: Check Availability Before Getting Attached

Wait times for popular psychologists can stretch out to 6–16 weeks.

That’s a long time to wait when you’re struggling. Ask when their next available appointment is before you fall in love with their practice. If it’s too far out, keep searching — there are lots of great ones that will have an opening sooner.

Understanding The Medicare Psychology Rebate

The Medicare psychology rebate is part of Australia’s Better Access initiative.

Here’s how it works:

With an eligible Mental Health Treatment Plan from a GP, you can claim up to 10 one-on-one psychology sessions per calendar year. There is high demand for this benefit – 2.8 million Australians accessed approximately 13 million Medicare-funded mental health services in 2024–25.

Sessions are prepaid. Medicare then deposits the rebate into your nominated bank account within 48 hours.

Following session 6 you need to have a review appointment with your GP before claiming sessions 7-10. It’s important not to miss this appointment – otherwise your rebate will be terminated.

Tip: Ask your psychology practice’s receptionist if they can claim the rebate that day. Lots of practices do this automatically and it saves heaps of admin.

What To Bring To The First Session

Prep done. Appointment booked. Now what?

Here’s a simple list of what to bring on the day:

• Medicare card
• The Mental Health Treatment Plan from the GP
• Any relevant medical records or referral letters
• A form of payment (card is easiest)
• A notebook or phone for taking notes

Others have also found it useful to write down some notes ahead of time about what’s been happening recently. This way you don’t waste time during your appointment and you don’t leave anything out.

Common Questions People Forget To Ask

Easy to lose track of the mechanics when broaching such a weighty subject. Questions you might ask before booking that first appointment:

• What’s the total session fee?
• Do you bulk-bill or offer a reduced rate?
• How long is a standard session?
• Is telehealth an option, or is it in-person only?
• What’s the cancellation policy?

These questions eliminate a lot of gray areas and nip potential bad surprises in the bud. Another good question to ask – does the psychologist have experience working with your particular issue? Most bios will state this.

Bringing It All Together

Booking a mental health appointment doesn’t need to be complicated.

The secret is only preparing yourself ahead of the call. So:

• Booking a GP visit for a Mental Health Treatment Plan
• Figuring out what type of professional is the right fit
• Understanding the Medicare psychology rebate and gap fees
• Getting the right documents ready
• Asking the right questions upfront

When you check these boxes, it all runs SO much smoother. Plus it allows you to focus more energy on what’s important… feeling better.

Investing in your mental health is one of the best investments you can make. Don’t wait. Start now.