FAQs
The Practice:
Where is the practice located?
Claire Hurwitz Psychology is located at Suite 3, 83 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction.
Is there street parking available?
Yes, there is metered street parking outside the practice. There is also 1 to 2 hour free parking on streets just off Bronte Road - Birrell Street, Allens Parade, and Hollywood Avenue.
Bookings:
How do I make a booking?
Bookings and enquiries can be made by phone +61 406 662 783 or email clairehurwitzpsychology@gmail.com
Can I have online sessions?
Absolutely! Claire offers online (Telehealth) sessions via video or phone. Sometimes clients are initially hesitant to have Telehealth sessions as they believe it won’t be as effective as in-person. However, once they try it out, they very quickly realise that when there is a connection with the therapist, that outweighs the potential cost of communicating via technology.
Do I need a referral?
No. However, if you would like to claim Medicare rebates for your therapy sessions, you will need a referral and a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP. See below questions and answers for further information.
How long is each session?
50 minutes.
Payments:
How much does a session cost?
Our fees are set below those recommended by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Please contact us for further information about our current fees.
When is payment required?
The full session fee is payable at the completion of each session. Payments are made using a secure online payment system via Stripe.
Is bulk billing available?
We do not offer Bulk-billing services.
What is a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)?
Medicare offers rebates for 20 individual therapy sessions per year under Medicare’s Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative. This means that the Australian Government pays for a portion of your session fee. A MHCP is a structured document completed by your GP with specificry questions about your circumstances and medical history. If you are eligible for a MHCP (i.e., if you are currently experiencing a mental health problem), you will be able to receive Medicare rebates for both in person and Telehealth sessions, for up to 20 individual therapy sessions per year. You will need to obtain an initial MHCP and referral letter prior to your first session to be able to claim your Medicare rebates. The initial MHCP will allow you to claim for 6 sessions, and then you’ll need to return to your GP for a review and to obtain another 4 sessions. After those 4 sessions are used (totalling 10 sessions thus far), you will need to go back to your GP again for another review to get the additional 10 sessions. Please bring your MHCP and referral letter along to your first session, or alternatively, email it through clairehurwitzpsychology@gmail.com
What is the Medicare rebate?
Clients with a MHCP can receive a Medicare rebate of $129.55 per session. Please note that we will lodge your Medicare claim on your behalf and Medicare will reimburse you to your nominated bank account linked with Medicare. Read more.
Can I use private health insurance?
Some private health funds offer rebates for psychology services. The amount of your rebate depends on the level of your cover. You will need to make a claim directly from your private health insurance by logging into your online account and submitting the invoice we provide you from your session. Please note that you cannot claim from both Medicare and private health insurance for the same session.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellations made with less than 48 hours notice will incur a late cancellation fee. Where you give less than 1-day notice (less than 24 hours), a 100% cancellation fee is incurred. Where you give less than 2 days’ notice (less than 48 hours), a 50% cancellation fee is incurred. Please note, cancellation fees are not covered by Medicare.
Common Questions:
What happens at the first session?
The first session is about getting to know you and your history, and what led you to wanting to see a psychologist. We develop a shared understanding of your story and circumstance. I’ll discuss my treatment approach with you, and you will also have the opportunity to ask me questions.
How long does therapy take?
There is no concrete answer for how long therapy takes. The length of treatment will vary from one individual to another. Acute difficulties typically require sessions than do more longstanding difficulties. My personal belief is that with anything that requires change, time is key. The way I work is to establish an understanding of what drives the problem, so that we can treat the source and not just the symptoms. To give therapy a proper chance, 12+ sessions is necessary. Research indicates that individuals show more significant positive change with increasing treatment length, with an average of 15 to 20 sessions required to achieve treatment goals.
Will my details be kept confidential?
Psychologists are bound by a professional Code of Ethics. All information collected by Claire Hurwitz Psychology will be securely stored. Disclosure of information will only occur if your records are subpoenaed by a court, failure to disclose information would place you or others at risk, or with your prior written approval.
What is the difference between a psychologist and psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor and is able to prescribe medication. A psychologist focuses on providing talk therapy to assist clients and is unable to provide medication.