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Fees
While our physical practice is located in Hobart, we predominantly function as a virtual practice when it comes to the administration side of things. With no physical reception area, we operate all online, including setting up intake, bookings, payments and any correspondence. Our fees take into account the modern ease-fulness and convenience of this for you, and thus automate payment, rebates and receipts.
For all services listed below:
Therapist $220 per 50 mins, or $275 per 80 mins
Principal / Specialist Therapist $245 per 50 mins, $295 per 80 mins
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Our Services
Therapeutic Services
Individual psychological therapy
Modalities with our team range from:
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT)
Trauma Informed
ACT
CBT
Cognitive Restructuring
Somatic & Breathing techniques
Creative modalities (sandplay, art, movement)
Professional Services
Individual Supervision
Group Supervision
EAP provision
Consulting - Assessments, Reports, Presentations
Workplace & Sector Sustainability
We understand that accessing quality treatment and support can be a significant financial investment. We pride ourselves in offering quality care through every step of our relationship.
Our fees modestly reflect the time involved, over and above the nominated service time, on non-billable preparation and follow up including but not limited to: letter writing, referrals, resource provision, email exchanges, GP correspondence, session notes, clinical and critical reflection, etc. For example, for a standard (50 min) session, there is often more than half an hour of extra work involved that is covered within the session fee. Fee setting is also to recognise and maintain high professional standards, currency of knowledge, and costs associated with running a business.
Fees are set with respect to the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Board published set of recommended fees for social workers, and the Australian Psychological Society (APS) recommended fees for psychologists, who are self-employed working in private practice. The purpose of these fees is to provide guidelines and national standards for practitioners and they’re reviewed annually by the AASW and APS.
Whilst the AASW recommended hourly rate is $270 (as announced November 2022), and the APS National Schedule of Recommended Fees 2023-2024 recommends a rate of $300, Wild Calm Therapies continues to aim to strike a balance of what is equitable for provider, client and industry.
Whatever the service, we can connect in-person or online.
The details.
The number and frequency of sessions you need will depend entirely on your individual circumstances. Therapy can be most effective when it is regular and consistent. Typically, sessions occur weekly or fortnightly to start with, and then decrease in regularity as we work through your concerns; however, this is flexible. Those interested in deeper introspection or working through various complexities or traumas may be interested in or benefit from longer term arrangements. Together we can decide on what will work best for you.
Admin Fees:
If your card payment bounces for any reason (eg. new card, insufficient funds etc) or there is follow up required for your account or invoices, a $5 Admin Fee will be applied and added to your total payment amount. The Admin Fee will be applied each time your card is re-attempted to be processed or an invoice requires follow up from our admin team.
To avoid the additional Admin Fee, please ensure the correct funds are available in your account prior to the day of service.
Payment is required on the day of service*, unless extenuating circumstances are present; if so, please discuss prior.
For all telehealth appointments or services, payment is required prior to the appointment commencing. This is standard telehealth best practice. This will be taken via auto deduction on your nominated card.
Payment options: direct bank transfer or stored credit card details for automation ease.
Costs to individuals does not incur GST. Costs to professionals or organisations does incur GST.
Please note that fees are annually reviewed by Wild Calm Therapies to align with industry and specialist standards, general and Medicare indexation.
*Payment is due on the day of your appointment and for those opting for automated payments, they are processed on the day of service, as per standard service provision and standard health care models of service. This is usually done at the beginning of the working day. This may be prior to your appointment, however this is in line with the same day policy and takes into consideration the assumed attendance, given the 48 hours cancellation policy. For Telehealth services, payment is required prior to the appointment. If you pay by direct deposit, invoices are emailed on the day of service for your payment that same day. This information is in the consent form you are invited to sign at commencement of services.
Our cancellation policy is a firm but friendly 48 hrs prior, otherwise 100% of the rate is charged (for all services). This means if there is an appointment on Monday or Tuesday, notifying of any changes needs to be made by COB the Friday prior (cancellations not accepted on weekends as the office is not attended at this time). Please notify via phone as emails may not be able to be checked in time. This is due to the current demand and increasing waitlists for specialist services and across the mental health sector, thank you for your understanding. Text and email reminders are sent 48 hrs prior to assist, however in line with recovery oriented and empowerment approaches, there is an emphasis on folks stepping into their agency and taking charge of their therapy needs and choices, including keeping track of appointments and using skills in life management.
NDIS self-managed or plan-managed folks are welcome.
Self-referrals are welcome. Please note you do not require a GP or Psychiatrist referral to attend, it is completely optional and can simply assist in costs.
Payment support.
Medicare Rebates. If you have a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP, you will be eligible for a Medicare rebate per session for the number of Medicare approved sessions annually (up to 10). After this, you may ask your GP for a Chronic Management Plan which can provide up to another 5 rebated sessions. Please ask your GP about this and how it works. For some folks an Eating Disorders Plan (EDP) for up to 40 rebated sessions per year is suitable.
Subsequent sessions desired or required after the Medicare rebated sessions have been used, would need to be paid either using another rebate option, private health insurance or paid in full. Medicare rebates can be claimed automatically through our database after receiving full payment or you may prefer to do this yourself (via myGov website or Express Plus Medicare app, mail or in person at a Medicare centre). Medicare increases their rebates slightly every financial year.
Bulk Billing. We offer sliding scale for limited places in certain circumstances. These places are currently full. However this can change from time to time, so please feel free to ask. This is generally reserved for concession card holders only or specific circumstances with Director approval.
Paying it forward. 25% of your payment can go towards enabling a woman experiencing significant hardship or homelessness as a result of domestic and family abuse to receive counselling from us.
You may also choose to pay it forward by purchasing a counselling session for another. Please ask if you’d like to undertake this. These karmic principles are completely optional at any time and enable more folks to be supported.
Private Health Insurance Rebate. Most private health funds acknowledge Registered Counsellors, Psychotherapists, Psychologists, and Mental Health Social Workers. You may opt to check with your particular health fund first about whether claims for psychological sessions are eligible on your policy. If so, then you can submit your receipt to your health fund directly to make the claim.
Only one rebate avenue can be claimed at a time, either via private health or Medicare streams, if you desire.
Third Party Funder. Sometimes Victim Support Services, Work Cover Insurers, Departments of Justice, NDIS, or other organisations may subsidise the rate or the gap, depending on circumstances. This must always be arranged in full prior to commencing therapy to avoid disruptions down the track. Any cancellation fees will be payable by the client directly.
Workplaces. For supervision or professional development support, some workplaces can fund the service directly. We can invoice your workplace management / finance department so they can pay directly. Or you can choose to pay upfront yourself then claim it back at tax time.