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FAQs
General
Who is therapy beneficial for?
Therapy is beneficial for anyone seeking to educate themselves on their mental health challenges, who need a helping hand to guide them on their journey to seeking change and emotional balance. If you experience any of the following then therapy will be helpful:
• Experiencing a crisis (relationship, family, career or personal)
• Rapid changes occurring in your life
• Lack of change in your life
• Feeling a lack of control
• Feeling distress, overwhelm, low, angry or anxious
• Experiencing conflict within your relationship/s
• Feeling isolated or misunderstood
• Loss of motivation and self belief
Read more about how to achieve optimal health.
I have been suffering with my problem for years. Is change possible?
Change is always possible. Research has found that psychological treatments are efficient in helping manage mental health issues, no matter how complex they may seem. Once our clinicians have completed a thorough assessment, they will tailor evidence-based interventions to best help you achieve your goals. You will also learn how to successfully navigate your way through your relationships and manage any crisis that you may face.
Read about the change that takes place in therapy.
How is speaking to a psychologist different from talking to a friend?
The advantage of therapy is that it gives us a chance to stop and reflect as you spend the entire time focussing on your needs and addressing underlying issues. Unlike chatting to friends, you can feel confident that everything discussed will be kept confidential. Psychologists are experts in human behaviour and utilise proven evidence-based therapies to help you develop skills and strategies to not only resolve current issues but also prevent future problems.
What is the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist and a clinical psychologist?
A psychiatrist is a medical practitioner who specialises in mental health and can prescribe medication.
A psychologist is a trained mental health professional who helps clients with everyday problems such as stress, depression, relationship issues and anxiety.
A clinical psychologist has an honours degree in psychology and has completed a Masters degree to obtain specialised training in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues.
Do you offer Telehealth or telephone sessions?
At Mind Matters you have the option to conduct your psychology session in-person, via Telehealth (video call) or over the phone.
Read more about our services.
Do I need a referral to see a psychologist?
You do not need a referral to speak to a psychologist at Mind Matters, but you may get one from your GP which will entitle you to a Medicare rebate.
Do I get a rebate through Medicare?
If you have sought a MHCP (Mental Health Care Plan) from your GP, you’re entitled to a rebate of up to $131.65 per session for 10 therapy sessions per calendar year.
What should I expect the first time I meet a psychologist?
It’s very normal to feel nervous before speaking to a psychologist, especially if it’s a new experience, but with our gentle approach we hope to quickly show you that there is nothing to worry about. Your first appointment is a time where any questions you have can be answered. Your experienced Mind Matters psychologist will ask you a series of questions to find out what you’ve been experiencing and identify the goals you would like to address. By getting to know you, they will be able to tailor therapy to specifically meet your individual needs and aim to give you the right tools to find balance and practical solutions. You’ll leave your first therapy session feeling empowered with a greater understanding of your mindset and how to change unhelpful or unwanted thoughts, behaviours, and emotions.
Read more about what to expect for first timers at Mind Matters.
How long is each therapy session?
Your first therapy session at Mind Matters will be 75 minutes long, with subsequent sessions lasting 50 minutes. Our initial sessions are longer so we can gain a thorough understanding of what you are experiencing without rushing through the process. This lets us get to know you as best we can so we can move forward in the best way possible.
How many therapy sessions will I need?
The length of therapy is different for everyone and depends on the extent of the challenges you’re facing. Some will be resolved in just a few sessions while others may require longer-term therapy. Our primary goal is to ensure that you feel confident and empowered to address anything that life throws at you.
Is it convenient to see a psychologist at Mind Matters if I work in the Sydney CBD?
We work with many clients who work in the city and throughout the Eastern Suburbs. Bondi Junction station is only two train stops from the CBD, and our clinic is located just across the road from the Bondi Junction Bus and Rail Interchange, making it easy to book in clinicians before, during or after work.
Check out the map to see where we’re located.
Should I tell friends and family that I see a psychologist?
There is no right answer and no right number of people you should tell. It's all about personal preference and the types of relationships that you have with your family or friends.
How many sessions do I have left on my Mental Health Care Plan?
In order to find out how many sessions you have left, feel free to ask our friendly team at Mind Matters or contact Medicare directly.
How much does adult ADHD testing cost?
The cost of an assessment depends on many factors, and a price will be provided to you after you have submitted an enquiry. However, as a guide you can expect to pay around $2,000 for a detailed adult assessment.
Why does adult ADHD testing cost this much?
The current price point for our Adult ADHD assessments here at Mind Matters is in line with the average industry price.
Diagnosing ADHD in adults takes time. The assessment is not a flat fee for a one-time, in-and-out experience. What’s involved in an assessment is far more comprehensive and covers 3.5 to 4 hours of time spent directly with you, the psychologist spends an additional 5 hours analysing the results of the psychometric assessment and the clinical interview, then there is the time it takes to write a comprehensive and detailed report.
The diagnosis gets made in a clinical interview with the client over the course of the 75-minute clinical interview, which tracks the symptoms from childhood into adulthood. ADHD in adults typically occurs with other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety or mood disorders, so we need to sort out which disorder accounts for the symptoms. Additionally, the testing materials and resources come at a fee that the clinic has to cover as well. So this cost is also included in the fee.
Furthermore, even if the disorder appears quite straightforward at the outset, many of the symptoms involved in ADHD identification are pretty general, including things like trouble focusing and a tendency to interrupt people. Discerning the difference between people who have a problem and those who are just distracted requires real expertise that is built after years of study, research and experience.
Will I receive a formal diagnosis of adult ADHD?
Formal diagnosis of adult ADHD requires a multidisciplinary approach which can include your GP, psychologist, psychiatrist and other medical specialists. At Mind Matters, our psychologists provide you with a written report and verbal explanation of the assessment results. This includes an indication if you meet the criteria for adult ADHD diagnosis. Our reports can be reviewed by a psychiatrist who may confirm diagnosis and prescribe medication where appropriate.
We pride ourselves on providing comprehensive reports and feedback in simple language to help individuals understand what the results reveal about them. We use assessment tools with sound psychometric properties and our assessments are carried out by trained professionals. The emphasis of our reports is in the recommendations and suggestions. We provide practical, easy to adopt recommendations and strategies for you to commence using in order to make immediate improvements in the quality of your life and functioning.
Our experience has been that most adults experience significant relief when receiving confirmation of meeting the criteria of adult ADHD. Suddenly, “everything makes sense” and they can move on from beating themselves up and instead focus on understanding how their brain works, their “ADHD superpowers”, and new ways to adjust, improve performance and succeed in their daily lives.
Why do you only conduct adult ADHD testing?
ADHD is often associated with children, but it can last into adulthood, and adults are increasingly being diagnosed with ADHD. It may affect children and adults differently and because of that, the assessment may be slightly different for each age group. With these differences in mind and the difficulty obtaining an accurate diagnosis, our team of psychologists have narrowed their skills and research specifically to the presentation of adult ADHD.
Can an adult have ADHD and not be hyperactive?
Yes. Adult ADHD can present differently across individuals and even genders. Males typically exhibit hyperactive and/or impulsive symptoms whereas females will often show inattentive symptoms.
About 1 in 3 children with ADHD show remission by adulthood. Inattention symptoms have a greater chance to spill into adulthood and show a slower decline than hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms. For adults, hyperactivity symptoms become felt more internally than observed outwardly.
What are the common adult ADHD symptoms?
• Anxiety
• Chronic boredom
• Chronic lateness and forgetfulness
• Depression
• Trouble concentrating when reading
• Trouble controlling anger
• Problems at work
• Impulsiveness
• Low tolerance for frustration
• Low self-esteem
• Mood swings
• Poor organisational skills
• Procrastination
• Relationship issues
• Substance abuse or addiction
• Low motivation
Here’s what some of these might look like:
Problems at work
• Changing jobs often
• Underperformance
• Less satisfied with their job
• Fewer successes at work
Problems in life
• Receive more fines
• Involved in more crashes
• Smoke cigarettes
• Use alcohol or drugs more often
• Difficulty managing money
• Experience increased psychological troubles, like being depressed or anxious
Relationship issues
• Have more marital problems
• Get separated and divorced more frequently
• Have multiple marriages
Is adult ADHD often misdiagnosed?
Yes. Adult ADHD is often mistaken for other conditions. Particularly among adults, symptoms like rejection sensitivity, poor focus, and stress are diagnosed as depression, anxiety, and even bipolar disorder. Even when those comorbidities exist, they are rarely the full picture. That is why our testing process is so detailed.
Can I get a Medicare rebate or Private rebate for an ADHD assessment?
Unfortunately it isn’t possible to get a rebate via Medicare as Medicare only allows a rebate for treatment and not assessment or testing.
Following your assessment, you may wish to book psychology sessions to better manage your ADHD or other concerns. For these follow-up sessions, you can receive up to $89.65 back with the medicare rebate. To access this rebate you will need to obtain a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP.
We would also encourage you to speak to your private health insurance and see if you are eligible for a rebate.