Psychology services in Townsville operate in two completely different ways and getting to grips with which one applies to a given situation can save you weeks of hassle and misdirected referrals. The public track is run by Townsville Hospital and Health Service, but it’s a bit of a minefield. Access is based on triage the system puts hospital inpatients and the most urgent community mental health cases first. So, if you’re searching online for a psychologist Townsville and expecting to get straight in to see a specialist, you’ll probably find that’s not how it works.
The private track on the other hand works in a completely different way. Private psychologists in Townsville will accept GP referrals under a Mental Health Treatment Plan which gets you up to 10 Medicare-rebated sessions per year. NDIS participants can get psychology as a support under their existing plan, regardless of which track they use.
- One thing you need to know about public HHS psychology is that it’s not open to anyone who wants to book a consult it’s triage-based, so only the most urgent cases get seen.
- Private psychologists, on the other hand will take GP referrals and Mental Health Care Plans directly.
- If you’re in a crisis, there’s an emergency line you can call – 1300 64 22 55 is the number, and it’s open 24/7.
What the Townsville Hospital and Health Service Psychology Department Covers?
The Townsville HHS psychology department has got a pretty focused approach. It’s mainly for hospital inpatients and people who use the community mental health service. They specialise in things like needle phobias, unexplained physical symptoms and managing long-term illnesses. They also do child psychology, as well as the standard adult support
Outpatient referrals are a bit more complicated the HHS uses an e-blue slip from a doctor to process them, so you can’t just turn up and expect to get an appointment. There’s also a special service for older people, aimed at anyone over 65 (or 55 if you’re Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander). And if you live in a rural area, they’ve got a team that will travel out to see you
Private Psychology in Townsville – Who’s Got What
Fulham Consulting has a private practice in Townsville that does clinical psychology and psychiatry. They offer all sorts of therapy, including family therapy, coaching and specialist assessments
Northern Beaches GP Superclinic has a private psychologist on site and it’s actually very convenient if you need to see a doctor and a psychologist at the same time, they’re right next door
Autism Queensland does work out in the Townsville area, but they’re mainly focused on kids with autism or ADHD. Some other cases may need psychologists who aren’t based in Townsville, so you may need to do a video session or get a referral to someone in Brisbane
- Just so you know a Mental Health Care Plan gets you up to 10 subsidised sessions per year.
- Make sure you ask if the psychologist you’re going to see bulk bills or charges a gap fee before you book.
- And if you’ve got a complicated case, you may need to get seen by someone in Brisbane or do a video session depending on what’s available locally.
Townsville: When Telehealth Is More Practical Than Other Options
In Townsville, there are limitations to private psychologists’ capacity regarding specialist presentations. If there are no psychologists available locally and capable of delivering the required therapeutic modality or type of assessment, telehealth becomes the only option available instead of settling for the nearest psychologist. The confidentiality of a video consultation of any AHPRA-registered psychologist throughout Australia meets the clinical standard of a face-to-face session in the Townsville consulting room.
Continuity of care becomes the actual benefit since the therapeutic relationship remains the same even if the circumstances require the client’s relocation. The evidence is unambiguous about telehealth delivery being equivalent to face-to-face for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and trauma. Late afternoon and lunch consultations tend to become more convenient for patients due to telehealth services compared to business-hour clinic services.
What to Prepare for the First Psychology Appointment – Public or Private?
It makes no difference where the patient is going to attend the first appointment since preparation is the same. It is necessary to bring a GP Mental Health Care Plan together with a referral letter in order to qualify for the Medicare rebates; otherwise, patients will have to pay the total fee. A paper or typed record of the patient’s medications and history will save the patient’s time. Having rough notes of their concern gives the psychologist an opportunity to prepare for the first session and save their time.
Knowledge of which therapeutic modality the psychologist uses whether it is CBT, ACT, or any other is the thing to know prior to the visit in order to avoid misunderstanding. Co-existing conditions such as ADHD, ASD, or trauma history can affect the patient’s treatment and must be known to the psychologist prior to the assessment session.
