Book An Online Therapy Session
Questions? Give us a call on (02) 9212 5469 or email [email protected]
All sessions are in Sydney time (AEDT / AEST)
New to Indigo?
- To book your first video session with us, click the ‘Book Now (New Clients)‘ button below.
- Your first appointment with us requires pre-payment (See T&C’s). You won’t need to pre-pay for future sessions.
- First appointments are non-refundable. If you cancel this appointment, you will receive a credit that is valid for 90 days.
- After your first session, you become an Existing Client. You will be issued a code to use via the ‘Book Now’ (Existing Clients) button below for future sessions.
Existing Clients
- To book your future video sessions with us, click the ‘Book Now (Existing Clients)’ button below – no prepayment is required.
- Use your unique code found in previous confirmation emails to quickly fill out your details.
- Our therapists fill up quickly so we recommend booking at least 4-6 sessions in advance.
- Our 48 Hour Cancellation Policy Applies (See T&C’s)
- We are unable to honour first appointments booked via the ‘Existing Clients’ option
Sessions are set to Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) from the first Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April and Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) for the remainder of the year.
A few things you should know
If you are a New Client make sure you book your first session by clicking the ‘New Client’ button! Our practitioners have specific availability for new clients.
If you’re an existing client who’d like to see a new practitioner, please use the “New Client” option; or get in touch with us via phone or email to make a booking.
First appointments require a non-refundable prepayment. Should you need to reschedule your appointment, we can provide you with a credit (with at least 48 hours notice).
We cannot honour any first appointments booked using the ‘Existing Client’ option, so please double check you’re clicking New Client.
We’ve Got Loads Of Experts On Our Team, Let’s Break Down The Differences:
Psychologist
Psychologists with general registration are often mental health experts with additional skills, experience, and training in specific areas (e.g., anxiety, depression, grief). Medicare rebates are available with our psychologists.
Clinical Psychologist
A psychologist with a Clinical endorsement has further expertise in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health illnesses. (Perk alert: you receive higher Medicare rebates with Clinical Psychologists)
Psychotherapist
Psychotherapists explore and understand aspects of clients and their experience, e.g., how past experiences influence and shape one’s current responses to life events. The focus is on the here and now response, but the past provides the platform for understanding.
Counsellor
Counsellors offer talk-therapy and treatment of a specific problem. Counsellors listen empathically, reflect main themes and feelings, explore options, and may suggest strategies to deal with the problem or guide the person toward their own solution.
Relationship Coach
A relationship or life coach helps people improve their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives. Life coaches help clarify goals and overcome obstacles, often assisting in navigating a significant life change (e.g., you’re going through a breakup, or found a sweet new career change). Coaches do not treat mental illnesses.
Kick-start your wellness journey with one of our local, trained therapists today to get out of your head and back into life. Find your psychologist match and book an appointment to start your journey today. Give yourself the gift of peace of mind. You deserve it.
Our therapists have availability now – no wait times!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who to contact if you are in crisis
The Indigo Project is not a crisis service.
- If you are in a crisis, if you are experiencing suicidal or homicidal thoughts, or somebody else is in danger, DO NOT use this service.
- Call 000 or use these contacts for immediate crisis support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
Lifeline 13 11 14 - A crisis support and suicide prevention service for all Australians.
Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 - The Mental Health Line offers professional help and advice for everyone. Operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 - Beyond Blue provide support to address issues related to depression, suicide, anxiety disorders and other related mental illnesses.
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 - A free service for people who are suicidal, caring for someone who is suicidal, bereaved by suicide or are health professionals supporting people affected by suicide.
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 - A counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.
Parentline 1300 1300 52 - Parent Line is a free telephone counselling and support service for parents and carers with children aged 0 to 18 who live in NSW.
What if I need to cancel or want to reschedule my appointment?
Existing Clients - Cancellations & Reschedules
If you need to reschedule or can't make your appointment we will need AT LEAST 48 hours notice (or the full session fee will apply).
This gives us enough time to find someone to take your spot and not leave your practitioner without a filled appointment slot. Please note that we only accept cancellations over the phone or via email (sorry, no SMS).
Phone us at (02) 9212 5469 or [email protected].
If the original appointment was booked online via our online bookings calendar, the appointment can be cancelled online using the link provided in the online bookings confirmation email (as long as it is outside the 48 hour period). Otherwise please contact us to rearrange a new booking time.
New Clients - First Appointment Cancellations & Reschedules
A Non-refundable prepayment is required to secure your first telehealth session with your practitioner at the Indigo Project. After your first appointment, you will not need to prepay for future sessions. Subsequent telehealth sessions will require payment at the conclusion of your session.
If you need to reschedule your appointment, you can amend your booking by contacting us on (02) 9212 5469, provided it is outside the 48 hour notice period. Payment for your first session is non-refundable. If you need to cancel your first session outside of 48 hours we will provide you with a credit to be used within 90 days from the date of cancellation.
If you do not attend or cancel your appointment within 48 hours of your appointment time the full payment will be forfeited.
Refunds may be offered under extenuating circumstances, however this will be at the discretion of the Indigo Project.
Instructions on attending your video session via Healthdirect
We use Healthdirect to support your online therapy session. It is a safe, convenient and secure video and phone conferencing platform that delivers a seamless experience. View the guide before your session for more information.
How many counselling sessions do I need with my therapist?
There is no minimum or fixed number of sessions that you need to attend. Your counsellor or psychologist will make a treatment plan with you and will review this after the first assessment session.
In general we recommend six counselling sessions to begin with but on many occasions more or less are appropriate. We believe that clients can take an active role in determining how many sessions are needed, depending on your goals and level of distress. While we’ll make recommendations you are ultimately in control.
While we don’t know how many sessions you’ll need before we meet you, we can get a pretty good idea of when more sessions are likely or unlikely to yield further benefit. Short term treatments often range from 4 - 12 sessions. Longer term treatments can also help with more complex or longer standing issues.
Most clients attend weekly or fortnightly, and will often drop down to monthly sessions when they feel they are ready. We believe that therapy is a long-term journey of commitment, growth and investment in yourself. After seeing your therapist for a while, you may continue to book occasional check-in sessions as you feel more confident in your day to day life with the knowledge and tools you have gained.
We recommend booking in between 4 - 8 sessions with your therapist in advance. Our calendars are open for a maximum of two months at a time and the calendar can fill up quite quickly.
GP Referral & Mental Health Care Plan
What’s the difference between a GP Referral and a Mental Health Care Plan?
A GP Referral acts as a cover letter from your GP to The Indigo Project (or your specific psychologist). It explains to us why you’re being referred, what type of plan you’re on (Initial, Review or Better Access Pandemic) along with the number of sessions with a psychologist you’re eligible for (6, 4 or 10).
A referral also includes your GP details, their provider number and their signature. Your Mental Health Care Plan isn’t valid without one of these.
A Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) is a more structured document with specific sections for the GP to fill out regarding your circumstances and medical history. It needs to specify a Medicare item number as this will tell your practitioner whether it is your initial plan or a review. It should also be signed and dated by your GP.
What information do I need on my referral for it to be valid?
Initial plan
- Your GPs provider number, address, phone number, full name and signature
- Your full name and date of birth.
- Date of Initial Plan.
- The type of referral and the number of sessions it provides, e.g. Initial = 6, Review = 4, Better Access Pandemic = 10.
We also need your GP to provide a Mental Health Care Plan to go with the referral. This includes more background information about you which will help your practitioner create the best strategy to support you.
Review Plan
- Needs to contain the GP details (provider number, address, phone number, full name and signature)
- Addressed to the Indigo Project
- Specifies an item number eg 2712 or specifies type of plan eg 'review'
- Needs to specify the number of sessions (4 - 6)
BAPS Referral
- Needs to contain the GP details (provider number, address, phone number, full name and signature)
- Addressed to the Indigo Project
- Specifies an item number eg 2712 or specifies type of plan eg 'review'
- Specifies it is a Better Access Pandemic Scheme (BAPS) review
- Allocates 10 sessions
Can I use my Mental Health Care Plan Referral if it is addressed to another practitioner or clinic?
Unfortunately, no. Medicare will not allow us to accept a referral unless it is addressed to either The Indigo Project or to your specific practitioner.
When do I need to get a new referral/Mental Health Care Plan?
You need a new referral and mental health care plan when you have used up the number of sessions on your current plan.
For example, your initial plan will be for 6 sessions, followed by a review which will give you 4 sessions, followed by another review for the pandemic scheme which will give you another 10 sessions. (This means you’re now eligible to claim for 20 sessions per calendar year, which is pretty cool).
Understanding Medicare Rebates
What’s a Medicare rebate and can I get one?
Medicare rebates allow you to get a chunk of your session fee paid for by the Aus government. You can qualify for a rebate by grabbing a referral from a GP, along with an up-to-date Mental Health Care Plan.
Please note, this applies only when you see one of our Psychologists/Clinical Psychologists (Psychotherapists, Counsellors & Coaches, unfortunately, don’t qualify for the rebate).
How much are the Medicare rebates?
The Medicare rebate depends on the type of psychologist you see.
If you’re seeing a registered or senior psychologist, the rebate is approximately $89, but if you’re seeing a clinical psychologist, it’s about $131 (check out the table below…)
How it works is, you pay the up-front full fee to us, and then claim the rebate following your session (directly through Medicare).
Type of Psychologist | Up-front Full Fee | Medicare Rebate | Total out of pocket expense as of 1 July 2021 |
Registered Psych | $220 | $89.65 | $130.35 |
Senior Psych | $255 | $89.65 | $165.35 |
Clinical Psych | $295 | $131.65 | $163.35 |
How do I claim my Medicare rebate payment?
After you’ve paid the up-front full fee and have had your session with us, we’ll send you an invoice.
This invoice will have all the information you need to lodge your claim directly with Medicare using the Express Plus Medicare App on your smartphone. Check out our blog which shows a simple step-by-step guide on how to set this up.
Once you’ve lodged your claim correctly, you’ll receive a rebate payment from Medicare directly into the bank account that you have linked to your MyGov account.
How long does it take to get my rebate?
It can take up to 7 days for the rebate to land in your bank account, however, the average wait time is 24 - 48 hours.
Do you offer Bulk Billing?
We do not currently offer Bulk-Billing services. Best to ask your GP about clinics that offer bulk billing near you.
How many sessions can I claim on Medicare?
In a cool move by the Aussie government, you are now eligible to claim rebates for up to 20 sessions with a psychologist per calendar year (e.g. Jan 2022- Dec 2022).
An Initial Mental Health Care Plan and a GP Referral Letter will qualify you for 6 (Initial) sessions with a psychologist before you’ll need to go back to your GP for a Review.
Once you’ve had your review with your GP you’ll be eligible for another 4 (review) sessions with your psychologist.
After those 4 (review) sessions, you’ll need to go back to your GP again for another review which will release the extra 10 (Better Access Pandemic) sessions.