FAQs

  • For all new clients please see this page and form.

    Ongoing clients have access to a client portal to book appointments online when suits them both online and in-person (Mornington Consulting Rooms)

  • A Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) is required for clients wishing to access Medicare Benefits. However, I do accept clients patients privately if they prefer. Please use MBS codes 80110 and 91170 (individual) and 80112 and 91177 (family and carer, in relation to child’s treatment).

    Madeline Black Sonder Peninsula Psychology PO Box 3001, Mornington 3931

  • With a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) through a GP, ongoing sessions are $131.05 out of pocket for clients. Initial appointments are $151.05 out of pocket. (These fee’s include the Medicare rebate, which is $98.95 for psychology sessions from July 2025).

    Client’s can access our services privately without a MHCP. Privately funded fee’s: Initial appointment are $250, subsequent appointments are $230.

    Our fees are set in accordance with the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and the Australian Association of Psychologists Incorporated (AAPi). Please note the APS and AAPi recommended fee for seeing a psychologist in 2025 at $311/hour. We have made an ethical decision to price below this.

    If you have reached your Medicare Safety net for the year, your rebate may be higher. You can check whether you have reached your medicare safety net through your myGov. Fees are subject to annual reviews in conjunction with the APS/AAPi recommended schedule of fees

  • No. You can certainly see a psychologist privately.

    However, if you would like to access a Medicare-rebate for your psychology sessions, you will need a valid referral from a GP for a MHCP

  • To receive a Medicare rebate, you will need to visit your GP who will assess your eligibility for a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP). If you are approved for a MHCP, you will then be entitled to Medicare rebates for up to 10 individual therapy sessions per calendar year. Family and caregiver’s may be able to access up to 2 separate sessions per calendar year through if they are able to be involved in their child’s treatment, otherwise attendance may be included in the child’s allocated 10 sessions.

    In 2025 the rebate amount is approximately $98.95 per session. Clients will be approximately $131.05 out of pocket for subsequent appointments.

    A dated and signed MHCP referral letter from your GP is required to receive the rebate. It must be dated on or before your first appointment. Please bring the referral letter to your first appointment or upload in the consent form through the client portal. If you don't have a MHCP, then the full-fee is required. ​

    Please be aware that the Medicare rebates offered with Mental Health Care Plans are for the treatment of individuals only and do not apply to Couples Counselling. There are no Medicare rebates for Couples Counselling.

  • In an effort to streamline our appointment system Sonder Peninsula Psychology has implemented a credit-card policy for appointments.

    Upon scheduling an initial appointment, clients are required to provide valid credit or debit card details to secure and confirm their appointment time. It is our practice policy that all initial consultations are to be paid in full at the time of booking.

    Subsequent appointments will be processed by your practitioner after appointments through Stripe our secure online payment system. If funds are not available on the credit card on file at the time, an invoice will be emailed to be paid within 7 days, or prior to next appointment if sooner.

    Sonder Peninsula Psychology will process Medicare rebates after appointments and full payment has been processed for eligable clients.

    Your appointment is specially reserved for you. Advanced notice is appreciated for cancellations or rescheduled appointments so that we can offer another client an appointment.

    Late cancellations (within 48 hours of appointments) will be charged 50% of the scheulded appointment, unless we are able to replace your appointment with another client. Non-attendance or cancellations within 24 hours of appointments will result in a full fee charge. If funds are not available on the credit card on file at the time, an invoice will be emailed to be paid within 7 days, or prior to next appointment if sooner. Medicare rebate is not available for late cancellations or no-shows.

    Any in-person appointments can be changed to telehealth with short notice to avoid late cancellation fees. Please email madeline.sonder@gmail.com directly to arrange.

    Please be assured that all credit card details will be handled with the utmost security and confidentiality. All card details provided will be stored securely and will not be shared with unauthorised third parties. Your credit card will not be charged unless specified under the above payment terms.

    Sonder Peninsula Psychology does not offer a bulk billing service.

  • Some private health funds do cover psychological therapy, however you need to find this information out directly from your private health fund/policy. They may inform you how much you may get back and what your budget for psychological services may be. If your service is covered by private health, your invoice will still need to be paid in full on the day of your appointment and claimed back through your insurer.

  • Feel free to reach out directly for any additional questions not answered here

    madeline.sonder@gmail.com