Under certain conditions, rebates may be available through a GP referral. For example, if you have a Enhanced Primary Care/Chronic Disease Management Plan from a GP, you may be eligible for a rebate of $53.80 (Speech Pathologist) for up to 5 sessions in a 12 month period. You may also be eligible for Private health fund rebates depending on your provider and level of cover. It is best to call them to check prior to your first session. You cannot use a plan from GP and private health fund rebates at the same time however.

FAQs - Page 11 of 12 - Beam Health Psychologists

Q: How long are the sessions?

Appointment times can vary but usually a session will last 30-60mins.

Q: What to expect in the first session with your Speech Pathologist?

At the start of your first session, your Central Coast Speech Pathologist will briefly run through important paperwork with you. This will include a brief information form for you to complete, a consent form (covering issues such as confidentiality and fees), and other important information about your support. If you have been referred by a third party or have a medical referral this will be discussed. The rest of the session our Speech Pathologist will spend time understanding your situation, concerns and what you would like to achieve. Sometimes people are concerned about what to say but please know your psychologist will know what questions to ask to get the relevant information to form a good platform to work from. It is important to understand that there is no “typical” session and there are a range of different approaches we will use that are tailored to your specific concerns and situation.

Q: Do you offer telehealth?

Yes we do. We use a reliable and secure telehealth platform and set this up very easily if preferred including initial appointments. Let us know if you cannot attend the clinic and we may be able to arrange a telehealth session.

Q: What if my child is nervous about seeing a Psychologist?

It is normal for kids to be nervous about coming to see a Psychologist because they don’t know what to expect and may worry they are ‘bad’ or there is something ‘wrong’ with them. It may be helpful to explain that coming to see a Psychologist is like seeing a doctor for your physical health; a Psychologist can help with our thoughts, feelings and behaviours. We see lots of children for all sorts of reasons. Usually after the first visit, children will look forward to sessions and understand that they are in a safe place where they can enjoy being themselves, and talk about things they may find difficult.

Q: Are you a registered NDIS provider?

Yes we are registered as a service provider for many categories of support including Improved Daily Living and Improved Relationships.

Q: Do you work with children with Autism?

Yes, our Newcastle Psychology team has a lot of experience and training supporting children with Autism and have multiple Psychologists that complete comprehensive Autism assessments. Beam Health has a multidisciplinary team of Speech Pathologists , Psychologists and Behaviour Specialists that can provide highly effective, integrated support and intervention through a multidisciplinary approach.