Frequently Asked Questions

No. You can book directly with us without a referral. However, to claim Medicare rebates, you’ll need a referral and a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) from your GP or psychiatrist. We recommend checking with your GP first, as most people are eligible.

If your GP assesses that you would benefit from psychological support, they may prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan. With this plan and a referral, you can receive Medicare rebates for up to 10 sessions per calendar year. The rebate is $101.55 for registered psychologists.

You can read more about rebates and session fees here

Most people begin with a short course of therapy (around 6–10 sessions), while others find longer-term support more helpful depending on their goals and what they’re working on.

Your psychologist will check in regularly about how things are progressing and adjust the treatment plan as needed. For example, someone working through anxiety, depression, or trauma-related concerns may benefit from slightly different pacing depending on how symptoms respond to treatment.

If you’d like to understand more about how therapy looks for specific conditions, you can read about:

• Anxiety treatment

• Depression treatment

• Trauma & PTSD treatment

Yes. Everything you share in therapy remains confidential, with only a few exceptions:

• Risk of harm: if there is a risk of harm to yourself or others.

• Legal requirements: if we are required by law (e.g., a court order or subpoena).

• GP/Referrer communication: if you have been referred under a Mental Health Treatment Plan, we are required to provide brief progress reports back to your GP (or psychiatrist). These reports outline the number of sessions attended, progress made, and recommendations for ongoing support. They do not include detailed session content.

In all situations, your psychologist will discuss any necessary sharing of information with you wherever possible.

To support accurate and efficient record-keeping, MindSure Psychology uses Heidi, a secure Australian clinical note-taking system. Heidi helps your psychologist document sessions effectively while maintaining full professional control and confidentiality.

All records are encrypted and securely stored in Australia, in accordance with Australian Privacy Principles. Use of Heidi is consent-based, and you may opt out at any time without affecting your care.

Yes to after-hours: evening appointments are available at both locations, with Hornsby running to 8:30pm on Monday and Tuesday and Gosford to 7:30pm Wednesday to Friday. Telehealth is also available on weekdays, including daytime appointments on Monday and Tuesday. We don't currently offer weekend appointments. Please view our online booking system to check current availability.

MindSure Psychology works with adults in Gosford and across the Central Coast, as well as in Hornsby on the Upper North Shore.

• Psychologists: specialise in therapy and helping people develop strategies to improve mental health. They do not prescribe medication.

• Psychiatrists: are medical doctors who can prescribe medication and often manage people with severe or complex mental health conditions.

• Private Health: If you have extras cover for psychology, you may be eligible for rebates. Please check with your insurer.

• NDIS: We accept self-managed and plan-managed clients. Learn more about NDIS psychology support.

• WorkCover, DVA & Victims Services: Not accepted. MindSure is a private-fee practice and does not take third-party insurer or scheme referrals (including workers compensation, DVA, or victims of crime counselling).

Your first session focuses on understanding you: your background, current circumstances, and goals for therapy.

Many clients find that simply having space to share their experiences feels therapeutic in itself.

This initial session also helps identify the most suitable evidence-based approach for your needs. Typically, active treatment strategies begin from the second session onward.

To understand my approach, you can also read about my background and experience

MindSure uses evidence-based approaches matched to you, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Exposure Therapy, and EMDR for trauma. The approach is tailored to your goals rather than one-size-fits-all.

No. MindSure works with adults (18 and over). If you're looking for support for a younger person, your GP can refer to an appropriate service, and our Where to Get Help on the Central Coast page lists local options, including headspace for ages 12 to 25.

You don't need to be in crisis to see a psychologist. Many people come with everyday stress, low mood, worry, or a sense that something isn't quite right, well before things feel severe. If you're unsure whether therapy is the right step, that's a normal question, and the first session is a good place to explore it together.

You won't find client testimonials or star ratings here, and that's deliberate. As a registered health practice, MindSure follows the AHPRA advertising guidelines, which don't allow health services to publish testimonials about care. It isn't a reflection of client feedback, it's a professional standard we're glad to keep. If you'd like a feel for how we work before booking, the About page and the short videos across the site are the best place to start.

No. MindSure Psychology does not prepare reports for court or other legal proceedings. Our focus is on providing therapeutic support, not forensic or medico-legal assessment.

Court reports require a different process (often involving formal assessment, collateral interviews, and legal documentation standards), which are outside the scope of standard therapy sessions.

If you require a psychological report for legal purposes, we can provide referral information for appropriately qualified forensic or medico-legal psychologists.

No. MindSure Psychology is not a crisis service and we are unable to provide immediate or emergency support outside of scheduled sessions.

If you are in crisis or need urgent help, please call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department

You can also contact:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)

• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

• NSW Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511

We encourage clients to reach out to these services if they are in immediate distress, and to use therapy sessions with us for ongoing support and recovery.

For a full local guide to free and low-cost support, see where to get help on the Central Coast.

Simply call us (Gosford (02) 4313 1656, Hornsby (02) 8428 9210), email, or book online. If you are using a referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan, please bring these documents to your first session.