Clinical Psychology
“Our Psychologists are concerned with the effects of cancer on a person’s psychological health. They work collaboratively with patients and their families to address psychological responses to cancer at all stages of the disease and that of their families and caretakers.”
Making an appointment
All referrals to our psychology service are carefully triaged and allocated an appointment time as soon as possible. At times there may be a wait for an appointment. You will be contacted as soon as your referral has been triaged and our Administration team will discuss wait times with you at this time
To make an appointment please call Lift on (08) 7231 8000
Fees
Initial Visit: $260
Subsequent Visit: $260
Rebates
A rebate of $141.85 from Medicare will apply if you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP
Alternatively, you may be able to claim through your private health insurer (under your extras cover).
Please ask the Lift staff for more details if you are unsure of what your out of pocket cost will be
Cancellations
So that appointment times can be offered to another person, we ask that you provide a minimum of 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or re-schedule your appointment. If you do not attend your appointment without notice, or provide less than 24 hours notice, we reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee.
Who can see a Psychologist?
The simple answer is anyone. A cancer diagnosis often presents issues that require psychological support. This includes the person with cancer, their friends, family and loved ones. There is a very normal adjustment that happens when cancer is diagnosed and having help from an experienced Psychologists can be one of the most important decisions you make.
Referrals
You may refer yourself to our Psychology service. You may also be referred by your treating GP or your cancer specialist. You may be eligible for a GP Mental Health Care Plan, which is a referral you access via your GP. This type of referral allows you to access up to 10 Medicare subsidized sessions with a psychologist per calendar year
24 Hour Crisis Contacts
If you are intensely distressed, do not feel able to keep yourself safe, or are suicidal, please contact one of the following numbers:
Emergency Services: 000
Mental Health Triage: 13 14 65
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
Other supports
Should you require support while you are waiting to get an appointment with a Clinical Psychologist, the following services may be of use:
Cancer Council SA
Cancer Council offers a free and confidential telephone counselling service for people diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones. They also offer a service called Cancer Connect, which connects you with support from volunteers who have had their own experience with cancer. Both services can be accessed via the number below:
13 11 20 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)
The Cancer Council website also has a wealth of information and resources: www.cancersa.org.au
Cancer Care Centre
The Cancer Care Centre is a community based organisation providing complementary care services to people affected by cancer. They also offer workshops and courses on relevant topics, and provide counselling and support group services.
(08) 8272 2411