Services & Fees
Medicare Gina and Allison are registered Medicare service providers for the ‘Better Outcomes for Mental Health’ program. This means that for the treatment of some conditions, part of the fee can be covered by Medicare. To access this program, a Mental Health Treatment Plan needs to be developed in consultation with your General Practitioner or Psychiatrist or (in the case of children) a Paediatrician who will make a referral to Gina or Allison. With a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you’re then able to access Medicare rebates of $88.25 per session on up to 20 appointments in a calendar year.
For more information including a step by step guide to the process, please visit the Department of Health website.
Current Fees:-
$180 per 50 minute session
Under a Mental Health Treatment Plan there is a medicare rebate of $88.25 per session.
Please note, this is a fee-for-service practice and bulk-billed appointments are not available. Please visit the Help page for a list of free services in the Nepean Blue Mountains Region.
Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA)We welcome DVA clients. DVA Health Cards (Gold and White) are accepted as payment upon a GP referral. For more information, please visit the Department of Veterans' Affairs website.
Victims Services
Gina is an Approved Counsellor under the Victims Support Scheme.
Assessments Available
Assessments are available at BMAC for 5 to 90 year olds. We use psychological assessments to learn more about people’s abilities, difficulties, behaviours and emotions. We offer a wide range of psychological assessments including: Cognitive (Intelligence tests)
To help identify an intellectual disability such as global intellectual delay
To identify giftedness
Academic achievement
In combination with a cognitive assessment, to help identify and diagnose specific learning disorders such as a reading disorder (Dyslexia) Memory capabilities
To measure different memory functions in individuals aged 16 to 90 years
For children:-
Your child may benefit from an assessment if she/he is:- having difficulties learning or remembering - struggling with reading or doing maths - feeling easily bored at school - finding it difficult to concentrate - behaving in challenging ways - developing in unexpected ways
We use the most up-to-date, reliable and valid assessment tools to accurately measure abilities and to appropriately determine the nature of a child's difficulties, including the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth edition (WISC-V) for 6 years to 16 years and 11 months and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test - Third edition (WIAT-III) for individuals aged 4 to 50 years. The results of the assessment and the practical recommendations for parents and teachers that Gina provides can help your child at home and school.
The assessment process usually involves an introductory session with parents/guardians to obtain background information in order to determine the assessment tools that will best meet your child’s needs, one or two sessions with your child to administer the assessment, interpretation of the results of the assessment, a feedback session to discuss the results of the assessment, outline recommendations for home and school (and answer any questions you may have), and preparation of a detailed psychological report.
* All psychometric assessments include an initial consultation, administration of the assessment (over one to two 90-120 minute sessions), test equipment, a comprehensive report and a 30-minute feedback session. Medicare does not provide rebates for assessments.
Opening HoursBMAC offers flexible practice hours, with appointments available on Saturdays and some evenings, to accommodate clients’ work, study, social and family commitments. Appointments for initial consultations can be made by calling 4702 0261 or submitting an online enquiry. Existing clients are welcome to book online. Telehealth sessions are also available by request. Initial consultations are 60 minutes long and subsequent treatment sessions are 50 minutes long.
Appointments are generally fortnightly, although in some instances treatment might be weekly (e.g., for clients whose goal is to manage panic symptoms in upcoming exams). Treatment might also start on a fortnightly basis, then move to monthly, then to check-in appointments every 2 – 3 months or as needed. Patterns of attendance will be determined on an individual basis with each client.
Please note that our books are currently closed to new referrals of school-aged children because all of our out of school hours appointments are currently being used by existing clients. We are currently accepting adult clients on a wait list if you are prepared to wait 2 - 4 months for ongoing appointments.
Enquiries will be responded to during business hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
PaymentsPayments can be made in cash, Eftpos, direct deposit or cheque (payable to Blue Mountains Anxiety Clinic). Please let Gina, Allison, or Sylvia know if your circumstances change and you are having trouble paying fees. Please note that Blue Mountains Anxiety Clinic reserves the right to change the fee structure in the future. At times there might be additional nominal fees charged for the administration of some assessment tools and the writing of reports.
Private Health InsuranceDepending on your level of cover (ancillary benefits, or ‘extras’ cover is required), you might be eligible to claim psychological services from your Private Health insurer. We recommend you contact your Private Health insurer to determine what, if any, rebates you're eligible to claim for consultations. If you're eligible, then we can make the claim for you through our claims software. Unfortunately, you can't claim both a Medicare and a Private Health fund rebate for your or your child’s consultations - it must be one or the other.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Blue Mountains Anxiety Clinic is not currently a service provider of the NDIS so cannot offer services to plan-managed or NDIA managed clients. We're sorry for any incovenience this might cause. Self-Funded recipients under the NDIS program can of course access our services. As you know, you would be considered a Private Client and Private Client Fee Schedule charges (above) would apply.
Cancellation PolicyOur cancellation policy is in line with the Australian Psychological Society recommendations:-• 0-24 hours' notice: Full fee • 24-48 hours' notice: 50% of fee (*no medicare rebate can be applied to a cancellation payment*) Psychological Services Blue Mountains Anxiety Clinic offers empirically-based assessments and treatment for adults, adolescents and their families. We tailor assessments and treatment to the needs of the individual. Please be aware that your treating clinician can’t provide treatment and assessment for family members or close friends of existing clients, as this constitutes a conflict of interest. You (and they) deserve your own clinician, someone who can work in your best interests alone. EmergenciesBlue Mountains Anxiety Clinic is unable to offer crisis support, but there are several other services that do. If at any time you experience a mental health emergency, it’s best to ask a friend or family member to take you straight to the Emergency Department of your local hospital or contact emergency services on 000 for support. If you need someone to talk to out-of-hours and between appointments, then please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Our website also has a comprehensive list of local mental health support services. Free Services Available in our Local Community We realise that for some individuals and families, private psychology services are simply unaffordable. If this is the case for you, please do consider contacting these mental health services which offer free counselling and are all within a one hour drive of the upper mountains:- headspace Lithgow (free mental health support for young people aged 12 - 25 years ) 02 6352 7600 headspace Penrith (free mental health support for young people aged 12 - 25 years) 02 4720 8800 LikeMind Penrith (free mental health support for adults) 02 8880 8111 ________________________________________ NewAccess, developed by Beyond Blue, is a free mental health coaching program for anyone aged 16 and over who’s stressed, or feeling anxious or overwhelmed about everyday life issues, such as work, study, relationships and loneliness. How does NewAccess work?Everyone needs some guidance at some point in their lives, and NewAccess aims to coach you through the tough times and make it easier for you to get support. NewAccess coaches are local people, trained in Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Over six sessions your NewAccess coach will work with you to understand the issues causing your distress. They support you to overcome difficult issues and regain confidence, providing you with practical skills to manage your stress and get back to feeling like yourself. NewAccess is NOT a crisis service. It is an early intervention program designed to support people early and prevent potential crises down the track. How do I access the program?NewAccess is a confidential and free program for people in Western NSW as well as Lithgow, Hawkesbury, the Blue Mountains and Nepean regions, over the age of 16. It is available over the phone or face-to-face. You don’t need a medical referral or Mental Health Treatment Plan to access the program.To find out more about NewAccess, complete and submit an online form via or call 02 6333 2838 during business hours.More information• Call us on 02 6333 2838• Email us at newaccess@marathonhealth.com.au• Visit the Beyond Blue websiteThis service is supported by the Western NSW Primary Health Network and the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network. ________________________________________ Bushfire PTSWho is it for?
The Bushfire PTS stream is available to anyone in our region experiencing high levels of distress resulting from the recent bushfires. The impact of the bushfires must be a significant contributor to a person’s deterioration in mental health if they are referred to this service. For example, people who have experienced loss of property, loss of business income, or have experienced significant mental health impacts as a result of threat of bushfire, which could be from past trauma.How does the Bushfire PTS stream work?
Individual must be an adult over 25 years or a child 12 years and under, unless they are being seen as part of a family group. (For young people aged 12 - 25 years support is available under the headspace which has received specific bushfire funding) Individuals must be referred by their GP, psychiatrist or pediatrician Individuals are entitled to up to 10 free face-to-face sessions until June 2021 No Centrelink issued pension or Health Care Card is required No Mental Health Care Plan is required, however your GP may choose to complete one at their discretion Where appropriate, couples or family members who meet the eligibility criteria may be referred and seen together rather than individually Individuals currently receiving services under other PTS steams are eligible for sessions under this new stream Individuals who use services through the Better Access Bushfire Recovery initiative can also access the Bushfire PTS stream, and vice versa.
How do I access the Bushfire PTS service?Your GP must refer you via our intake line and complete a referral form. Print Bushfire PTS flyer to take to your GP PDF (704kb) For other free counselling services, visit the Mental Health Navigation Tool provided by Nepean Blue Mountains Partners in Recovery.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Blue Mountains Anxiety Clinic is not currently a service provider of the NDIS so cannot offer services to plan-managed or NDIA managed clients. We're sorry for any incovenience this might cause. Self-Funded recipients under the NDIS program can of course access our services. As you know, you would be considered a Private Client and Private Client Fee Schedule charges (above) would apply.
Cancellation PolicyOur cancellation policy is in line with the Australian Psychological Society recommendations:-• 0-24 hours' notice: Full fee • 24-48 hours' notice: 50% of fee (*no medicare rebate can be applied to a cancellation payment*) Psychological Services Blue Mountains Anxiety Clinic offers empirically-based assessments and treatment for adults, adolescents and their families. We tailor assessments and treatment to the needs of the individual. Please be aware that your treating clinician can’t provide treatment and assessment for family members or close friends of existing clients, as this constitutes a conflict of interest. You (and they) deserve your own clinician, someone who can work in your best interests alone. EmergenciesBlue Mountains Anxiety Clinic is unable to offer crisis support, but there are several other services that do. If at any time you experience a mental health emergency, it’s best to ask a friend or family member to take you straight to the Emergency Department of your local hospital or contact emergency services on 000 for support. If you need someone to talk to out-of-hours and between appointments, then please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Our website also has a comprehensive list of local mental health support services. Free Services Available in our Local Community We realise that for some individuals and families, private psychology services are simply unaffordable. If this is the case for you, please do consider contacting these mental health services which offer free counselling and are all within a one hour drive of the upper mountains:- headspace Lithgow (free mental health support for young people aged 12 - 25 years ) 02 6352 7600 headspace Penrith (free mental health support for young people aged 12 - 25 years) 02 4720 8800 LikeMind Penrith (free mental health support for adults) 02 8880 8111 ________________________________________ NewAccess, developed by Beyond Blue, is a free mental health coaching program for anyone aged 16 and over who’s stressed, or feeling anxious or overwhelmed about everyday life issues, such as work, study, relationships and loneliness. How does NewAccess work?Everyone needs some guidance at some point in their lives, and NewAccess aims to coach you through the tough times and make it easier for you to get support. NewAccess coaches are local people, trained in Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Over six sessions your NewAccess coach will work with you to understand the issues causing your distress. They support you to overcome difficult issues and regain confidence, providing you with practical skills to manage your stress and get back to feeling like yourself. NewAccess is NOT a crisis service. It is an early intervention program designed to support people early and prevent potential crises down the track. How do I access the program?NewAccess is a confidential and free program for people in Western NSW as well as Lithgow, Hawkesbury, the Blue Mountains and Nepean regions, over the age of 16. It is available over the phone or face-to-face. You don’t need a medical referral or Mental Health Treatment Plan to access the program.To find out more about NewAccess, complete and submit an online form via or call 02 6333 2838 during business hours.More information• Call us on 02 6333 2838• Email us at newaccess@marathonhealth.com.au• Visit the Beyond Blue websiteThis service is supported by the Western NSW Primary Health Network and the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network. ________________________________________ Bushfire PTSWho is it for?
The Bushfire PTS stream is available to anyone in our region experiencing high levels of distress resulting from the recent bushfires. The impact of the bushfires must be a significant contributor to a person’s deterioration in mental health if they are referred to this service. For example, people who have experienced loss of property, loss of business income, or have experienced significant mental health impacts as a result of threat of bushfire, which could be from past trauma.How does the Bushfire PTS stream work?
Individual must be an adult over 25 years or a child 12 years and under, unless they are being seen as part of a family group. (For young people aged 12 - 25 years support is available under the headspace which has received specific bushfire funding) Individuals must be referred by their GP, psychiatrist or pediatrician Individuals are entitled to up to 10 free face-to-face sessions until June 2021 No Centrelink issued pension or Health Care Card is required No Mental Health Care Plan is required, however your GP may choose to complete one at their discretion Where appropriate, couples or family members who meet the eligibility criteria may be referred and seen together rather than individually Individuals currently receiving services under other PTS steams are eligible for sessions under this new stream Individuals who use services through the Better Access Bushfire Recovery initiative can also access the Bushfire PTS stream, and vice versa.
How do I access the Bushfire PTS service?Your GP must refer you via our intake line and complete a referral form. Print Bushfire PTS flyer to take to your GP PDF (704kb) For other free counselling services, visit the Mental Health Navigation Tool provided by Nepean Blue Mountains Partners in Recovery.