Tony Olech
Clinical Psychologist
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            Commenced in Adelaide from Tuesday 20th August 2024, new referrals welcome​

No, you do not need a referral to see me for an appointment. However, many GP's and health-care workers are also likely to provide you with my details as a source of help. A GP, Psychiatrist or Paediatrician referral and Mental Health Treatment plan (MHTP) is required if you are seeking the Medicare rebate for mental health treatment. A GP, Psychiatrist or other health specialist referral is also required if you/your dependents are eligible for mental health treatment under the Department of Veterans Affairs assistance for mental health (that is, you have a DVA Gold or White Card). A current NDIS plan with provision for psychological assessment and/or treatment is required if your service is being funded through the NDIS.

Medicare rebates for up to 10 sessions per year are available for psychological treatment by clinical psychologists under the Australian Government's Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative. This scheme provides considerable assistance to people living with mental health problems, allowing them greater access to psychologists and providing more affordable mental healthcare. Medicare will rebate $141.85 per session (up to 10 sessions per year) for eligible services. Not all services are eligible under the Medicare rebate, further information can be obtained here. To obtain the Medicare rebate, a Mental Health Treatment Plan is first required to be completed by a GP, Psychiatrist or Paediatrician.

A standard session of 50-55 minutes will cost $220 per session. If eligible for the Medicare rebate under a Mental Health Care Plan, Medicare will provide a rebate of $141.85. This leaves an out of pocket expense of $78.15 per session. Other referral pathways (e.g. DVA, NDIS) have their own set fees. Assessments and reports attract different fees depending on the type and complexity of the assessment required. This will be discussed with you prior to the assessment commencing.

If you or your partner are current or ex-service veterans and hold a Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Gold Card or White Card with coverage for mental health treatment, DVA will pay for your/your dependents' appointments, with no out-of-pocket expense to you. You will require a referral from a GP before you can access this service. For further information about eligibility and what services are available, please click here.

NDIS referrals are accepted if they are self-managed or plan managed (that is, managed by a third party plan manager or co-ordinator). If you are being referred under an NDIS plan, please advise me or admin upon initial booking of this and have your NDIS plan handy as there is information we first require to proceed.

At the first appointment I aim to gain a detailed understanding of your concerns and difficulties, how they came about and your goals and expectations of treatment. I will then work to develop a flexible treatment plan to meet your specific needs, preferences and circumstances.

Depending on your particular needs, the average number of therapy sessions ranges from 8 to 15. However, some clients only need 1 to 6 sessions, particularly if their issues are very specific. Others choose to have longer-term therapy with less frequent sessions over a longer period of time. The time you will need in therapy is discussed with you and there is no obligation to continue if you do not wish. Sessions for assessment vary according to the nature of the problem. Please feel free to discuss the number of sessions needed with me if you have any questions.

First appointments are 1 to 1½ hours long to allow sufficient time for me to get a good indication of what is troubling you. Appointments after this are spaced at hourly intervals, and you will be seen for about 50 to 55 minutes, with the extra time devoted to making case notes, and other administrative matters.

Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatrists both work in the area of mental health and often work together. However, there are some significant differences between the two professions. Clinical Psychologists treat psychological difficulties in a variety of contexts and have studied or specialized in areas of human behaviour. Psychiatrists are qualified medical practitioners and are therefore able to prescribe medication. While some Clinical Psychologists are doctors by research (e.g., PhD, DPsy), they are not able to prescribe you medication. Clinical Psychologists are, however, able to recommend medication (e.g., anti-depressants) as a treatment option.

Any file notes regarding you are confidentially stored electronically, are password protected and only accessible by me. The clinic's policies conform to the Medical Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997 and the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) and all other relevant Government laws and regulations, as well as the Australian Psychological Society's Code of Ethics. Any information is only disclosed to additional parties with your prior signed consent. There are some qualifications to this: - If you were referred by a medical practitioner under the Medicare rebate initiative I need to send them regular reports of your progress. It may also be appropriate to liaise with them regarding related medical issues and medication. - Where the cost of your consultations is covered by an insurance company, regular reports are often required by them. You are welcome to a copy of any report that is written concerning you. If there are particular issues that come up in your therapy that you do not wish to have written about, please do not hesitate to discuss further with me. - If you are involved in a Court case and I appear on your behalf, or if I am subpoenaed to appear in Court, psychology records have no special legal privilege. I would not be allowed to withhold from the Court any information you have given me. - If there is reason to believe that someone is at serious risk of harm if I do not divulge the information to the appropriate authorities.

To find out more about Psychologists, you can contact the Australian Psychological Society or the Psychology Board of Australia. Access to the Australian Psychological Society's charter for clients of psychologists can be obtained here.