The Assessment Process
Individual circumstances differ, but in principle, every psychological assessment has four parts: (1) a clinical interview to obtain information on current challenges and the personal as well as medical history, (2) a series of psychological questionnaires and tests, (3) the explanation of results and (4) a report. With written permission of the client, we also interview partners and caregivers, in addition to the review of previous assessments and records. As part of the assessment, and with the explicit permission of the client, we also consult with other providers such as GPs, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, social workers and speech pathologists. It is important to note that an assessment does not only include the direct contact between clinical psychologist and client, it also includes the scoring of tests, the interpretation of results, the review of documents and writing a report.
Typically, the clinical interview and the psychological tests are done in one session, however, it is possible to have several hour-long appointments. In this case, we conduct the assessment over several weeks and we request a payment at our hourly rate before each individual appointment. Please note that the costs for assessments may vary based on individual circumstances.
We do not require a referral from a GP to work as psychologists in Australia, however, a referral from a medical provider is necessary for Medicare rebates. Also, please note that psychological assessments differ from medical assessments. While both are essential for comprehensive care, medical assessments may involve additional procedures and, consequently, may incur additional charges.
