Ashlee is a registered psychologist who has experience in hospital settings, community health and the public mental health system, predominantly providing specialist mental health services for people aged 15 to 25 years experiencing severe and/or complex mental illness.

 

Within her private practice, she specialises in the assessment and treatment of mental health difficulties for teenagers (aged 13 – 19 years) and their families. She has a special interest in working with people experiencing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Psychosis, however works across a range of concerns such as:

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• Depression and other mood disorders

• Anxiety Disorders

• Somatoform Disorders

• Parent-Child Relational Problems

• School Refusal

• Autism

• Bullying / Anger / Aggression

• Social Skills Difficulties

• Relationship, attachment and interpersonal concerns

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Psychosis

 

She uses psychological therapies including Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Schema Therapy and Family-Based Treatment.

 

Ashlee's educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Psychological Science, Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) and Master of Clinical Psychology. She is a member of the Australian Psychological Society.

 

She partakes in continued professional development and is committed to staying up to date with the latest research and treatment methods.

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Fees are $220 per session (50 minutes in length) and payable at the end of each session using card or cash. Rebates can generally be processed at the time of payment.

 

MEDICARE REBATES
 

Medicare rebates are available for 10 sessions per calendar year for individual therapy, and an additional 10 sessions per calendar year for group therapy. This includes children and adolescents. To access these rebates you will need to visit your GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist prior to your first appointment with Ashlee, and explain your mental health concerns. If visiting your GP, you may need to request a longer appointment so that they have adequate time to develop a Mental Health Care Plan. The GP will then provide you with the Mental Health Care Plan and a referral. You then bring these documents to your first appointment with Ashlee, along with your Medicare card and reception will organise the rest.

 

The Medicare rebate is $131.65 per session, meaning the gap-payment (out-of-pocket) is $88.35. Due to the current covid-19 pandemic Victorian residents may also be entitled to an extra 10 sessions.

 

PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE

Depending on your policy, you may be eligible to claim a rebate from your health fund provider. Only one rebate may be claimed per session (i.e. only one of Medicare or Private Health rebates). Your rebate will depend on your level and type of cover, so please call your Private Health Fund for more information. Please let reception know if you would like to claim a rebate using health fund insurance.

 

FULL-FEE

 

Some people access sessions without a mental health care plan or private health rebates, each person and situation is different. Please let reception know when booking an appointment if you are unsure about which payment method best suits your needs and they can discuss this further with you.

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DO I NEED A REFERRAL?

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You don’t need a referral to see Ashlee for mental health support. Some people access sessions with a referral from a GP under a mental health care plan, or using their private health insurance, allowing them access to rebates that cover some of the session fees. Those without a mental health care plan or private health eligible sessions are charged the full-fee rate.

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WHEN CAN I BOOK AN APPOINTMENT?

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Ashlee currently offers appointments on Mondays during business hours.

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WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?

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Everyone accesses mental health support for different reasons, and sessions will be different based on your reason for attending. In the first appointment, you will discuss confidentiality, consent, and your reasons for attending. You will often explore some background information about the problem and your current life and history. Based on this information, you will discuss a treatment plan and how many sessions might be needed to work on your concerns.

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Sessions might focus on getting a better understanding of your presenting problem to help you process and move past its impact on your life. Alternatively, sessions might focus on developing and testing strategies to help improve well-being. The focus depends on what both you and Ashlee decide would be beneficial to work on. Ashlee provides a safe, non-judgemental space for young people, bringing humour and lightness to sessions when appropriate.

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WHO SHOULD COME TO THE FIRST APPOINTMENT?

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For adolescent and youth appointments it is often helpful for parents, guardians, or caregivers to attend the first appointment. It is sometimes helpful to attend an appointment without the young person with you, depending on their age and concern. Ashlee will discuss this with you during the initial appointment.

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CAN I MAKE CONTACT IN AN EMERGENCY?

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Ashlee is unable to provide an emergency or crisis service. She may not check her emails or phone for a significant amount of time during business hours and does not check these outside of business hours or when on leave. If you are experiencing a crisis or emergency, there are alternative services you might instead consider, such as phoning 000 or presenting to the emergency department of your nearest hospital, phoning Lifeline on 13 11 14, or other services relevant to your situation and needs.

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WHAT ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY?

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All information provided in session is kept confidential according to privacy legislation. There are some limits to confidentiality where information provided might be disclosed to others, such as the following:

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• You are at serious risk of harm to yourself, harm to another person/s, or in the case of children and adolescents, if you are at serious risk of harm from another person.

• If Ashlee or her case notes are subpoenaed in relation to court orders or proceedings.

• If you provide consent for Ashlee to discuss your care with another person, such as a GP, psychiatrist, partner, or parent.

• If you disclose information about alleged or suspected child abuse.

 

Information you provide with any contact to this service, such as by phone and email, is also bound by the limits of confidentiality described above.

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HOW DO I BOOK AN APPOINTMENT?

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Please contact reception on 9372 9511.  Reception will request that you briefly detail the support you are seeking for yourself or your young person.  This is to determine whether Ashlee might be the right fit, or if your needs would be better addressed by another service or provider. Reception can also provide information on how to source another psychologist or mental health professional in your local area. Wait times for appointments vary depending on demand and other factors.

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ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

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If you have any questions not addressed above, please do not hesitate to email Ashlee or contact reception on 9372 9511.

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