FAQs
+ Rates and Rebates
How much do you charge?
At Imanadari, our standard fee is $240 for Clinical Psychologists and $200 for Registered Psychologists(for a 50 minute session). This is significantly reduced by your Medicare rebate (if eligible).
Please note that the rate recommended by the Australian Psychological Society (APS 2022-23) for a 45min-60min session is $280. At Imanadari, we charge well below this rate, and we strive to be inclusive of people and families who may find it difficult to access support.
In circumstances where we are unable to assist you, we will do what we can to help you find another mental health professional or service that meets your needs.
Can I claim for sessions using the Medicare rebate?
Yes, all of our counsellors are registered psychologists or clinical psychologists and Medicare providers, so you can claim individual sessions on Medicare. Please check each therapist's rates to see if and how much rebate is available. Currently, Relationship therapy sessions cannot be claimed on Medicare.
Can I claim for sessions using private insurance?
The majority of health insurance funds allow you to claim a limited number of sessions with a psychologist as long as that psychologist is a registered medicare provider.
Please enquire with your health fund to see if you are eligible for a rebate.
What is your cancellation policy?
You can view our cancellation policy on our Rates and Services page. In general, we request 48 hours' notice for a cancellation so that someone in need can use the appointment time. Cancellations occurring under 48 hours will incur 50% of the fee. Cancellations under 24 hours will incur 100% of the fee.
+ Referrals
What is a Mental Health Care Plan and how do I get one?
A Mental Health Care Plan is the referral from your GP that allows you to claim the medicare rebate for your sessions with our registered psychologists. Individuals are entitled to 6 sessions per calendar year, plus a further 4 sessions after a review by their GP.
You can get one by contacting your GP and asking for a referral to a psychologist under a Mental Health Care Plan.
I have a referral to another psychologist. Can I use it to see someone at Imanadari?
Yes, Mental Health Care Plans are transferable and you can use them to see any of our registered psychologists. Simply bring a copy of your Mental Health Care Plan and your medicare card to your initial session. You will need to let your doctor know that you have decided to see us instead of the person you were originally referred to.
+ Our Counsellors
Why can't I see a particular counsellor?
The majority of people coming to Imanadari hear about our service through word of mouth, and may have in mind a particular counsellor that they want to see. In all circumstances, we will try our best to allow you to see the counsellor of your choosing.
However, as the practice has expanded, we have had to put in place some safeguards to ensure the privacy and safety of our counsellors and the people coming to Imanadari for counselling. Some LGBTIQA+ communities are small and inter-connected, and the size of these communities leaves our counsellors and their partners/families vulnerable to personal/professional crossover.
Please be respectful if one of our counsellors declines to see you for any reason. Although their concerns may appear unreasonable or overly cautious, they are based on professional experience. Declining to see a person coming for counselling is usually related to concerns for your future safety and well being, or the safety and privacy of the counsellor and their partners or family.
Are all of your counsellors diversity positive?
All of our counsellors receive ongoing supervision and training regarding gender issues, polyamory, and kink concepts and lifestyles in order to make our services available to as many people as possible. We are in a continual process of professional development and education to better align our services with the needs of First Australians. Some of our practitioners are polycultural counsellors who are experienced in working with people from a range of cultural, faith/belief, and linguistic backgrounds.
When might my counsellor decide to refer me on?
Professional counsellors are bound by the code of ethics to minimise boundary issues and conflict of interest issues. For example, if you and your counsellor regularly socialise in the same space or have shared acquaintances, then you will need to discuss how to minimise potential boundary issues.
In all circumstances, your counsellor will attempt to prioritise your wellbeing. Because of the scarcity of LGBTIQA+ and poly/kink aware professionals, at times this may mean making space for a small potential for conflict of interest or personal/professional crossover in order to provide you with the care that you need.
However, at times this risk may become too large or the arrangements put in place to minimise these issues may become unworkable. Some examples of this might be:
- You and another person coming to Imanadari for counselling have an ongoing conflict or issue with one another that cannot be resolved
- You have a large number of mutual acquaintances in common with your counsellor
- You become friends with a good friend, partner, family member or former partner of a counsellor or vice versa
You can read more about this in our Professional Boundaries Statement
What happens if I am referred on?
If you need to be referred on your counsellor with normally consult with another counsellor and then raise it with you in a session. If you have not attended sessions for several months, they will attempt to contact you via email.
If you have any concerns about being referred on or are currently unwell, referral on will normally occur over a number of sessions to ensure that you feel as supported as possible during the process.
You can read more about this in our Professional Boundaries Statement
My counsellor has been really helpful - can me and my partner see them for couples counselling?
It is important that during counselling the counsellor remains continually aware of who the "client" is. In individual counselling, the "client" is the individual. In relationship counselling ,"the client" is the relationship.
Relationships between individuals are sometimes fluid, and at times it is not easy to determine who "the client" is, especially when the counsellor is assisting a polyamorous person, couple, triad or quad.
To ensure that you and your partner/s receive the best possible service, we require that relationship counselling and individual counselling be conducted by separate therapists. In keeping with this requirement, we request that couples/partners undergoing relationship counselling do not send private correspondence to the therapist that is not intended to be seen by their partner/s.
+ Privacy and Conflicts of Interest
How does Imanadari protect my privacy?
All of the staff at Imanadari have training in privacy and confidentiality. Information regarding gender, bodies, sexuality, relationships, and lifestyles is considered highly sensitive health information. As such, we take measures to ensure you information is kept as safely as possible.
Any information that is stored online is kept on a server that is certified with ISO 27001 certification (extremely secure and in line with NSW privacy legislation on keeping highly sensitive information). Other electronic information that is not stored on an external server is encrypted and password protected.
Our case notes are de-identified during case consultation to assist with your anonymity, details of your particular case will not be shared in supervision with a counsellor who may know you socially, even in a de-identified format.
What happens if my housemate, partner or relative also sees someone at Imanadari?
If you have found therapy at Imanadari helpful for you, there is no issue with referring your housemate, partner or relative to another counsellor at Imanadari. Likewise, if a housemate, partner or relative sees someone at Imanadari and has found it helpful, there is no issue with you seeing another counsellor at the practice.
However, we do request that you avoid referring close friends, housemates, partners or relatives to the same counsellor that you are currently seeing.
We do understand that circumstances change. In the rare instance that you and another person coming to Imanadari become partners, housemates or good friends, we will normally consult with another counsellor and with you to determine if this raises a significant conflict of interest.
What happens if I know one of the counsellors at Imanadari?
Due to the small size of some LGBTIQA+ communities, it is possible that you may know one of the counsellors at Imanadari socially. Counsellors are unable to take on people that they know socially as paying clients. However, it may be appropriate for you to see another counsellor at the practice if there is no other counsellor in the Sydney area with adequate training/knowledge and affirming approach regarding your particular sexuality, body, relationship, gender identity, activities, or lifestyle issues.
It is best to discuss this issue with the counsellor in question, and to also discuss this with the counsellors that you are planning to see. They will normally consult with a more senior counsellor about whether it is suitable to take you on for counselling, and how to manage any potential conflict of interest issues arising from this.
Cases shared in case consultation/supervision are always de-identified to safeguard your confidentiality. If you let us know that you have social contact with any of the counsellors at Imanadari, details of your particular case will not be shared in supervision or case consultation with that counsellor, even in a de-identified format.
What happens if I know one of the reception staff at Imanadari?
All staff at Imanadari have received training in privacy and confidentiality. The reception and administrative staff at Imanadari are able to view administrative data (such as contact and financial details) that you provide to us. They may occasionally view routine GP correspondence for administrative purposes (such as billing, corresponding with medicare, or sending faxes to a GP).
If you know one of our reception staff and still wish to see a counsellor at the practice, let the counsellor know in your first session. This will ensure that you can discuss ways to maintain your right to privacy, and ensure that you feel comfortable accessing our service.
If required, your counsellor may arrange with you to book your sessions and discuss payment directly with them rather than with reception staff.
+ Services and Accessibility
Are there any other psychological practices like yours in Australia?
There are some counsellors, therapists and psychologists in Sydney and around Australia who hold similar values to Imanadari. You can contact our reception via email at reception@imanadari.com, and the reception staff can refer you to other counsellors and services that we are aware of that share our values.
Please be aware that while we may be able to assist with finding another service, and will do our best to tailor our recommendations to your circumstances, we cannot guarantee that services or counsellors that we recommend will suit your individual needs. As with any service, you will need to have a private discussion with them about your particular circumstances and needs to determine if they are the right service for you.
It's out of hours and I need to contact my counsellor. What do I do?
Currently, our reception staff are only available at limited hours. If you need to urgently cancel or change an appointment outside of these hours, please contact your counsellor directly.
If you are in crisis, please contact Lifeline (13 11 14), the NSW Mental Health Line (1800 011 511), or QLife (1800 184 527, 3 pm to 12 am). If you need immediate assistance, please contact 000.
Is Imanadari accessible for wheelchair users and those with mobility needs?
At Imanadari, we believe that quality mental health care is something that should be accessible to all people.
The main entry to our premises contains a few steps in the foyer and hallway. However, there is a separate wheelchair accessible entry for wheelchair users and people with mobility needs. You can read more about accessing our premises here.
Does Imanadari accept external funding, such as NDIS?
Imanadari is able to accept most external funding arrangements, including NDIS. Unfortunately, we do not currently have any NDIS Registered Providers and as such, are only able to accept self or plan managed NDIS clients. If you have any further questions about external funding arrangements, please feel free to contact us