Payments & Reimbursements
Payments & Reimbursements
Services, Areas of Focus and Clinical Approaches
MRPS provides psychological services using a variety of therapeutic approaches and offers clinical assessments. We offer weekday, after hours, and weekend appointments. We are able to process medicare rebates for sessions covered by a valid mental health care plan from your general practitioner or psychiatrist. You may alternatively have your fee reimbursed through private health insurance and compensators (e.g. WorkCover & TAC), depending on your agreement with such organisations. MRPS is not liable for any reimbursements or claims through third parties, but will provide the client with sufficient documentation to process claims privately. Appointments can be made by contacting 0421 137 282 or reception@mrps.net.au, or using the contact form at the bottom of this page.
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Services
Face-to-Face
MRPS offers in-person sessions at four locations across Greater Melbourne and Geelong. This includes services in Sunbury, Carlton North, North Melbourne, and Central Geelong.
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All consultation sites are easily accessible via public transport and have street parking.
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Please note that the Sunbury and North Melbourne consulting rooms are only accessible via stairs, so will not be appropriate for those with mobility issues. We will be able to accomodate you at our other locations, or via Telehealth.
Telehealth
MRPS is continuing to offer Telehealth options for all clients. These sessions can take place by either video or telephone call.
Video sessions are conducted using a platform called Coviu, which has been designed specifically for Telehealth services. Coviu is compliant with the Australian standards for online security and encryption, which supports the security of your privacy and safety. Prior to your video session, you will receive an email containing a URL link. By clicking this link, or copying it into your browser, you will automatically be taken to the video room. You will be asked to follow some prompts, after which you will enter a virtual waiting room. Your psychologist will allow you access into the session. You will not need to make an account or download any software - all you will need is a computer with a webcam, or smartphone, and a stable internet connection.
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If you are not able to, or not comfortable with conducting a video session, telephone calls are also available. Both video and telephone sessions are eligible for Medicare rebates, under the Better Access to Mental Health Care Plan. If you have any questions regarding Telehealth consultations, please feel free to contact us.
Areas of Focus
Depression
Depression is a serious mental health issue. It is characterised by intense and prolonged feelings of sadness, emptiness and low mood that lasts for weeks, months or even years. It is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, causing distress and deeply interfering with the life of the individual, their partner, family and friends.
At MRPS, we work with you to explore various psychological approaches and assess the possible roots of your depression. This process is personalised and unique for each client. The ‘cause’ may be situation-specific, hereditary, biochemical, personality-related, or a combination of these. We work with you to tailor a treatment plan that suits your needs, using approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapy and more.
The trajectory of depression differs for each individual, but without therapy, the disorder usually worsens. Our psychologists are dedicated to helping you change negative thinking and behavioural patterns that may contribute to the depression. Together, we will identify helpful coping strategies that work for you and that you can take into your everyday life. The sooner psychological assistance is sought, the better we can help you on the road to recovery.
Anxiety and Stress
Anxiety is a natural reaction in stressful situations. It is often short-lived and associated with when a person is in a new, challenging or unfamiliar situation (e.g. public speaking; attending a job interview).
Suffering from an anxiety disorder, however, increases the intensity of a person’s negative thoughts, feelings and physical symptoms beyond mere nervousness. The frequency and degree of distress increases. For people with an anxiety disorder, their day-to-day life is often significantly interrupted, even in the presence of non-stressful events.
Anxiety disorders can manifest in many forms, the most common being generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). This is characterised by a persistent and debilitating worry that is present for most of the day, almost every day, and affects one's quality of life. Other anxiety disorders include social anxiety, specific phobias, agoraphobia, separation anxiety and panic attack disorder.
Similar to depression, a range of evidence-based approaches are explored in the session to suit the individual’s unique situation and their experiences. In addition to interpersonal therapy, we will provide you with personalised coping strategies and resources. This will help you to gain control over what often feels like an uncontrollable situation, and learn lifelong strategies on how to cope after therapy ceases.
Grief is a natural reaction to loss, whether this be the loss of a loved one, a job, a way of life, community, physical capability, pregnancy or other loss. Grief can manifest in different forms for each individual, but usually dominates most aspects of ones thoughts, emotions and daily life. Although each person has their own way of coping with grief, avoiding these feelings of sadness and loss usually only prolongs this grieving process.
At MRPS, our warm, gentle and professionally trained psychologists can assist you in expressing your grief. We work with you, tailoring strategies together that suit your natural coping mechanisms and work for you. Although the loss is never forgotten, we will help you through your grieving process to cope with your loss.
Trauma
Trauma is a consequence of a very frightening, deeply distressing or disturbing experience. Psychological wounds can form after a traumatic event, sometimes directly afterwards, sometimes only after many years.
Furthermore, individual reactions to traumatic experiences vary depending on several factors ranging from the nature of the traumatic event to the individual's personality type. At MRPS, we provide non-judgmental professional support. Together, we will explore and implement helpful coping strategies.
Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders, such as insomnia, obviously have a direct effect the quality of one's sleep. They can take a large toll on an individual's mental and physical health, and general quality of life. Sleep disorders may be symptomatic of another disorder, or inversely, contribute to the formation or maintenance of psychological disorders.
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Good sleep is fundamental to good physical and psychological health. What qualifies a 'good nights sleep' differs between individuals. The number of hours required also vary. Ones physical health, psychological health and quality of life are often significantly impacted by ongoing sleep problems. If not treated, sleep problems can manifest into insomnia.
Other Areas of Focus
Our psychologists are also well trained to work in the following areas:
- Addictive Disorders
- Anger Management
- Assertiveness Training
- Behavioural Problems
- Bipolar and Related Disorders
- Bullying
- Burnout
- Cancer Support and Management
- Conflict Resolution
- Eating Disorders
- End of Life Counselling
- General Counselling and Psychology
- Identity Problems
- Infertility
- LGBTQI issues
- Life Transition and Adjustment Issues
- Memory Problems
- Neglect
- Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
- Other mood and Depressive Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Self-Esteem and Self-Development
- Sexual Difficulties and Identity
- Social Skill Deficits
- Spirituality
- Stress
- Terminal Illness
- Weight issues
- Work-Related Issues
Clinical Approaches
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps a client to change unhelpful and negative automatic thinking patterns, feelings and behaviours that are central to many mental illnesses. This has been proven to be a highly successful evidence-based therapeutic approach utilising practical and rational self-help strategies. Once a client has learned how to reframe the way they think, positive life changes can occur immediatley.
Mindfulness Based Therapy
Mindfulness describes the process of bringing ones attention to experiences and sensations occurring in the present moment. During times of psychological difficulty, it is easy to find your mind wandering, thinking of future challenges, ruminating over past events, or focusing on the negative aspects in ones life. Mindfulness offers a way to bring an unfocused mind into the present moment, aiding concentration, relaxation, sleep and more.
Schema Therapy
Schema therapy is an integrative therapy that incorporates aspects from many major approaches. It is useful in the treatment of more serious health issues that do not respond well to a single approach, such as personality disorders. It involves targeting specific maladaptive patterns of thinking, feeling, behaving and coping that are at the core to the client's mental health issues.
Interpersonal Therapy (ITP)
ITP is a brief, empirically supported therapy. It targets the attachment dynamics that occur within relationships and may contribute to mental health issues. Through this, it provides a pathway to systematic recovery.
Humanistic Therapy
Humanistic therapy is a positive approach, focussing on the person's individual nature and the person as whole. It is a talk-therapy, utilising techniques from gestalt therapy (focusing on here and now thoughts/feelings) and client-centered therapy (providing a supportive environment that enables clients to re-establish their true identity). At MRPS, our psychologists have a high level of care, empathy and understanding. This is fundamental for humanistic therapy; an atmosphere of support, trust and empathy is imperative to allow the client to share any feelings and thoughts they have without fear of judgment. The role of the psychologist is to assist you in learning how to use your personal instincts to find wisdom, growth, healing, happiness and contentment within yourself.