If you’re in crisis, please remember that Conscious Shift is not an immediate crisis support service. For urgent assistance, you should reach out to your local general practitioner or emergency department.

Emergency Contacts (Australia):

• Emergency (Triple Zero): 000

• Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14

• Mental Health Triage: 13 14 65

• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

• 1800Respect (Domestic/Family Violence): 1800 737 732

• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636

• Headspace: 1800 650 890

• Child Abuse Report Line: 131 478

• Drug and Alcohol Services SA: 1300 131 340

• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800

• National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1800 880 052

• MensLine: 1300 789 979

• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression): 1300 726 306

• SHINE SA (Sexual Health): 8300 5300

If you’re outside of Australia, please contact your local emergency health services or GP for immediate support.

With deep reverence, we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live, work, and create. We pay our respect to Elders past and present, and honour their connections to land, sea, and community.

At Conscious Shift, we’re dedicated to making therapy accessible, flexible, and tailored to your needs. Here’s an overview of the services we provide:

• Psychology Consultations: A 50-minute session designed to create a personalized treatment plan for your mental and emotional wellbeing.

• Psychotherapy, Counselling, and Coaching Consultations: A 50-minute session focused on your individual goals, with a personalized approach to support your journey.

• Psychotherapy Drop-In Sessions: These 30-minute sessions are perfect for when you need quick guidance or are looking to check in. Ideal for clients not requiring a full session, those needing a brief follow-up, or if you want to extend an existing 50-minute session (contact us directly for this option).

• Couples Therapy: Strengthen your relationship with 50 to 80-minute sessions, inspired by the Gottman Method, tailored to help you and your partner(s) navigate challenges and deepen your connection.

• Specialised Packages: We offer a range of specialised services, including meditative experiences, perinatal support, and corporate wellness sessions. Please contact us directly to discuss these options.

We’re proud to offer the flexibility and privacy of telehealth. You can attend your sessions via video or phone call—whichever feels most comfortable for you.

What You Need to Know:

• Private Space: Choose a safe, comfortable spot for your session—whether at home, work, in your car, under a tree, or on a walk.

• Tech Check: Ensure you have a good internet connection and that your audio/video quality is clear.

• Access: You’ll receive a private meeting ID link before your scheduled session.

Global Access:
Our telehealth services are available globally. If you’re booking from outside Australia, please contact us directly to arrange a suitable time.

In-Person Appointments:
In-person sessions may be available depending on practitioner location. Please check our team page for individual availability.

Conscious Shift is committed to inclusivity and diversity. We welcome clients of all cultures, religions, genders, sexual orientations, and beliefs. Our practice is a safe space for everyone.

Clientele:
We work with clients across the lifespan, including children, teenagers, adults, and older adults. If you’re considering referring someone younger than a teenager, please contact us to ensure our services are appropriate for their needs.

Presentations We Work With:

• Anxiety, depression, trauma

• Relationship and addiction counselling

• Grief and bereavement

• Disordered eating, body image issues, self-esteem

• Sexuality and sexual health

• Chronic pain and illness

• Perinatal care and men’s mental health

• Workplace wellbeing, co-dependency, and more

Group and Corporate Sessions:
Our services aren’t limited to personal wellbeing. We also offer tailored packages for corporate settings, schools, and groups. Sessions can be individual or group-based, with a focus on the specific needs of the participants.

Please note: While we’re equipped to handle a wide range of issues, more complex cases that require higher levels of care may be referred to external services to ensure your wellbeing.

Session Length:
Individual sessions typically last 50 minutes. For couples, group, school, or corporate sessions, durations may vary.

Therapeutic Approach:
Every therapist is unique, and so is their approach. What remains constant is the safe, supportive space they’ll hold for you. In your first session, you’ll get to know your therapist, discuss your history, and begin shaping a plan for future sessions. From there, you’ll dive deeper into your journey, with practical strategies to support you along the way.

Personalized Treatment Plans:
We combine best-practice, evidence-based therapies with a holistic touch. Your plan might include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, meditation, and other techniques tailored to your needs.

Your privacy and confidentiality are our top priorities. We’re committed to maintaining a safe space where you can speak freely, knowing that your information is protected.

Confidentiality Explained:
We are legally and ethically bound to keep your sessions confidential. There are a few exceptions, such as if there’s an immediate risk of harm to you or someone else. If you have any questions about confidentiality, please feel free to ask.

Emergency Contacts:
When you sign up, we’ll ask for your GP and an emergency contact. This is solely to ensure your safety in case we ever need to seek help on your behalf.

Booking:
You can book online through our website or client portal. You’ll receive a confirmation email and a reminder three business days before your appointment.

Payment:
Payment is required at the conclusion of your session. Pricing is subject to change, and any available discounts are noted at the time of booking.

Cancellation:
We value your time and appreciate your mutual respect for ours. Cancellations are accepted until 9am the business day before your appointment (48 hours notice). Late cancellations will incur a $70 fee, and no-shows or cancellations within 2 hours of the appointment will forfeit $120. If you’re facing barriers to attending, please let us know so we can assist you.

Appointment Changes:
You can reschedule your appointment as needed (keeping the cancellation policy in mind). If your practitioner cannot attend due to unforeseen circumstances, we’ll notify you as soon as possible and offer a rescheduled time. In such cases, you won’t be charged for the session.

Client Consent and Intake Forms:
Before your first session, you’ll receive an intake and consent form. Please complete these forms at least 24 hours before your session. If they aren’t completed beforehand, you’ll need to fill them out during your session time.

Etiquette:
We ask that you respect our staff and services. If you’re late, your practitioner will wait, but your session will still end at the scheduled time. We do not tolerate aggressive or inappropriate behaviour. Please dress appropriately for your session. If inappropriate conduct occurs, the session may be ended at the practitioner’s discretion, and a full fee will be charged.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how many sessions you’ll need. Your therapist will work with you to create an individualized plan that you can review and adjust as needed.

General Guidelines:
We typically recommend starting with six sessions. Some clients find this sufficient, while others choose to continue for longer. Most people begin with weekly or fortnightly sessions and may space them out to monthly as they progress. For many, this amounts to 10-20 sessions over time, with intermittent check-ins as needed to maintain progress.

Booking Ahead:
We recommend booking 4-8 sessions in advance to secure your place in our calendar, as our schedule can fill up quickly. Our calendar is open for bookings two months in advance.

Session Fees:
Our psychology session fees are set below the APS recommended rate of $300 AUD. Please refer to your practitioner’s page for specific fees. Fees for global clients may vary—contact us directly for details. Fees are subject to change.

Cancellation Policy:
We have a strict cancellation policy to respect both your time and ours. Cancellations must be made by 9am the business day before your appointment to avoid fees. Late cancellations will incur a $70 fee, and cancellations within 2 hours of your appointment will forfeit $120. These fees help ensure that sessions are available for those who need them and that our practitioners can plan and provide the best care.

Rebates and Private Sessions:
For Australian residents, some practitioners accept Mental Health Treatment Plans (MHTP). When using an MHTP, please send your plan to your psychologist before your session. You’re responsible for tracking the number of sessions you’ve used and notifying us when you’re due for a renewal or extension. We’ll provide receipts for you to claim rebates through Medicare.

If you prefer not to use an MHTP, private sessions offer a higher level of confidentiality, as they are not recorded with your GP, government, or health provider. You can switch between private and MHTP sessions as needed, but you cannot use both for the same session.

Subsidised Fees:
We offer a sliding scale pricing structure, allowing access to therapy based on individual financial circumstances. This is an unusual practice in psychology and reflects our commitment to inclusivity. Subsidised sessions are limited and often prioritised for those with a valid healthcare card. If you believe you qualify, please contact us to discuss your options.

Global Clients:
Unfortunately, rebates are not available for clients outside of Australia. However, our fee structure reflects this, and we may offer sessions at an adjusted cost in line with our subsidised fees.

Conscious Shift are excited to offer a sliding scale pricing structure! This is unusual for psychology practices and stems from our desire to create different access points for our clients based on individual circumstances. We do not believe financial resources should be the only determining factor in accessing services and care and realise that clients may experience unexpected financial hardship during their treatment duration.

We are proud to offer this service but it thrives on trust. We want to trust in your honest assessment of your economic reality. If you accept an option at the lower end of the scale then you are limiting access to someone who truly needs it. Subsidised sessions are usually prioritised to people who can demonstrate proof of a valid healthcare card (in Australia).

Please read through this linked document developed by Alexis J. Cunningfolk. This tool will help you determine where you fall on the sliding scale. You will not answer ‘yes’ to every question, but the statement with the most ‘yes’ answers shows if you are eligible to consider our subsidised sessions.

Please note: each clinician in our practice provides a sliding scale, but subsidised sessions are only a certain percentage of their practice. Therefore, such spots are limited based on current caseload. Regardless of if they have space on their calendar for bookings, space for subsidised appointments may not be there.

These sessions are not bulk billed and no additional rebates apply. Please contact us directly to discuss booking, cost, or to be added to our waitlist. We encourage you to contact us to see if a place is available.

We offer ‘subsisdised’ fees and ‘helping hand’ fees with variation in cost.

What is an MHTP?
A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) or Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) is a government-backed initiative that provides a Medicare rebate for up to 10 individual sessions per year with a psychologist. It’s designed for those experiencing mental health issues that significantly impact their cognitive, emotional, or social abilities. MHTPs don’t cover couples or family counselling.

How to Get an MHTP:

1. Visit Your GP: Discuss your concerns and request a referral to a psychologist. You may need to complete a brief questionnaire.

2. Receive Your Referral: Your GP will write up a referral. If you have a specific psychologist in mind, let them know, or they can address it to ‘Conscious Shift.’

3. Start Your Sessions: Once your MHTP is with us, you can book your session. After each session, you can claim your rebate through the Medicare app.

Tracking Your MHTP:
It’s important to keep track of your sessions under your MHTP. You’ll need to get a new referral after you’ve used your allotted sessions (e.g., after 6 sessions, followed by a review plan for another 4 sessions). You can check your remaining sessions on MyGov under the Medicare claims history. Please notify us when you’re nearing the end of your plan so we can send the correct invoices.

Claiming Medicare Rebates:
We’ve left the process of claiming your Medicare rebate in your hands so you have control over receiving it promptly. You can claim through the Express Plus Medicare mobile app. Make sure your bank details are up to date, and use the invoice we provide after your session to complete the claim.

No MHTP? No Worries:
You’re welcome to access our services with or without an MHTP. Therapy is a valuable investment in your general wellbeing, and we’re here to support you on your journey.