fees

Consultation fees are $250 per 50-minute session, payable at the time of consult. Medicare rebates are available (see below) that may considerably reduce your out-of-pocket cost (approx. $104.75 out-of-pocket). A full fee schedule is included below, including prices for extended sessions.

This fee is considerably less than the recommended fees of $318 and $330 per 50-minute session, recommended by the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc. The fee covers the assessment/therapy session itself, in addition to time spent to plan your session, complete clinical notes, and communicate with your GP and care team.

Unfortunately, I am unable to offer bulk billing.

Fee information included on this page is effective as of the 2025-2026 Financial Year.

fee schedule

REBATES

A number of rebates may be available to you that partially cover the cost of session fees. A summary is provided below, however please see your GP for further information and to determine if you are eligible for any of the available care plans. If you reach the Medicare Safety Net, out of pocket fees may be considerably reduced even further.

  • A MHCP is available to anyone with a diagnosed psychological disorder. To receive a MHCP, please see your GP for an assessment. If eligible, they will provide a referral that allows you to access up to 10 Medicare-rebated psychology sessions per calendar year (you will need to see your GP again after six sessions for another referral). With a MHCP, you will receive a rebate of $145.25 per session ($104.75 out-of-pocket).

  • An EDP provides Medicare rebates of $145.25 for up to 40 sessions per 12 month period (and up to 20 sessions with a dietitian). There is strict eligibility criteria to receive an EDP. Please see your GP to determine if you are eligible for an EDP. Eating Disorders Victoria and The Butterfly Foundation have compiled some great information here and here.

    Please note, I acknowledge that the criteria for receiving an EDTP is not an accurate indicator of severity of distress nor worthiness of receiving professional treatment for an eating disorder.

  • A CDMP is available if you have a chronic condition that has persisted for longer than 6 months and requires care from multiple professionals. Up to 5 sessions may be rebated from Medicare, at a lower rate than the MHCP or EDTP.

  • Some private health insurance policies provide rebates for a limited number of psychology sessions. Please speak with your private health insurance company for further information.

Cancellation Policy

At Dr Jodie Mechielsen Psychology, I deeply value providing high‑quality and ethical care for clients, alongside role-modelling my own self-care and boundaries. I do not over-schedule and only accept the number of clients that I have appointment slots available for. This allows me to protect your session time and offer consistent therapy, however it also means I am typically unable to fill cancelled appointments. I therefore rely on a clear and firm cancellation policy to ensure a sustainable practice. Thank you for respecting these guidelines.

  • If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please provide as much notice as possible. Regular attendance at therapy is important for you to get the most benefit. Late and/or frequent cancellations also mean that others waiting to access therapy are unable to do so. Cancellation fees are charged for cancellations with less than 48 hours notice. 

    Fees for Late Cancellations

    • Less than 48 hours but more than 24 hours notice: 50% of the scheduled session fee. 

    • Less than 24 hours notice: 100% of the scheduled session fee. 

    How to Cancel or Reschedule an Appointment

    Cancellations and rescheduling of appointments with more than 48 hours notice can be made via:

    • the link in your 'new appointment confirmation' or 'appointment reminder' email or;

    • your client portal; or

    • Email admin@drjmpsychology.com.au (you must clearly state that you want to cancel your appointment, emails that are ambiguous (such as querying other appointment availability without explicitly stating that you would like to cancel your scheduled appointment) cannot be accepted as notification of cancellation.)

    Cancellations and rescheduling of appointments with less than 48 hours notice can only be made via:

    • email admin@drjmpsychology.com.au (you must clearly state that you want to cancel your appointment, emails that are ambiguous (such as querying other appointment availability without explicitly stating that you would like to cancel your scheduled appointment) cannot be accepted as notification of cancellation.)

    Cancellation/reschedule requests made via phone (text or phone) are unable to be accepted. 

    Important Notes

    • Cancellation fees cannot be claimed under Medicare or Private Health Insurance.

    • Late cancellation fees are processed automatically using your securely stored card details in Halaxy (further information is provided in the Consent to Services, Fees, and Payment Processes form and upon request).

    • Outstanding cancellation fees must be paid before future appointments can be booked. If cancellations fees are not paid within 3 days, future appointments may be cancelled. Unpaid invoices will follow the same process outlined in the Consent to Services, Fees, and Payment Processes. 

  • If you are running late, please notify Jodie as soon as possible via email (admin@drjmpsychology.com.au), text, or phone call (0493 986 052).

    Clients arriving more than 15 minutes late without prior agreement will be considered a no show and charged the full fee.

    Important Notes

    • At my discretion, and when clinically appropriate, a shorter session may be offered. However, the full fee still applies and you may not be eligible for Medicare/Private Health rebates.

    • Late attendance/no show fees are processed automatically using your securely stored card details in Halaxy (further information is provided in the consent forms and upon request).

    • Outstanding late attendance/no-show fees must be paid before future appointments can be booked. If cancellations fees are not paid within 3 days, future appointments may be cancelled. Unpaid invoices will follow the same process outlined in the Consent to Services, Fees, and Payment Processes. 

  • Please notify myself (Jodie) of any planned breaks from therapy. Unless otherwise arranged, I cannot hold your regular timeslot if you:

    • Cancel, reschedule, or do not attend more than 2 consecutive scheduled sessions, or

    • Cancel, reschedule, or do not attend 3 sessions within 3 months.

    I will discuss with you whether it may be best to change to another appointment time, to book appointments on an ad-hoc basis, or to conclude therapy and resume at a later date when you are able to regularly attend appointments. It is recommended that you maintain regular contact with your GP during any extended pause in therapy.

  • Illness and Emergencies

    I understand that genuine emergencies occur and these will be handled with compassion and understanding.

    Examples of emergencies:

    • Serious illness or injury;

    • Serious illness or death in the family;

    • Car accident;

    • Unanticipated extreme weather. 

    Examples not considered emergencies:

    • Mild to moderate sickness in which you are still able to participate in therapy;

    • Work or school meetings;

    • Sports or extracurricular events;

    • Family activities or holidays;

    • Expired referrals / Mental Health Care Plans / Eating Disorder Plans;

    • Internet connection difficulties.

    Repeated illness or emergency‑related cancellations:

    To ensure fairness and clinical consistency, I may:

    • Request a medical certificate (submitted within 48 hours);

    • Move you to ad‑hoc booking rather than a recurring timeslot;

    • Recommend a referral to another service that is better able to accommodate frequent late cancellations. 

  • I recognise that financial difficulties can occur. While this does not exempt you from session and cancellation fees, it will be handled with understanding. Please let me know during session or via email and we can discuss payment options and/or alternative lost-cost services. 

 Cancellation policy FAQs

  • Cancellations and rescheduling of appointments with more than 48 hours notice can be made via:

    • the link in your 'new appointment confirmation' or 'appointment reminder' email or;

    • your client portal; or

    • Email admin@drjmpsychology.com.au (you must clearly state that you want to cancel your appointment, emails that are ambiguous (such as querying other appointment availability without explicitly stating that you would like to cancel your scheduled appointment) cannot be accepted as notification of cancellation.)

    Cancellations and rescheduling of appointments with less than 48 hours notice can only be made via:

    • email admin@drjmpsychology.com.au (you must clearly state that you want to cancel your appointment, emails that are ambiguous (such as querying other appointment availability without explicitly stating that you would like to cancel your scheduled appointment) cannot be accepted as notification of cancellation.)

    Cancellation/reschedule requests made via phone (text or phone) are unable to be accepted. 

  • Reminders are sent as a courtesy only and should not be relied upon. Clients are responsible for keeping track of their appointments and cancellation/no-show fees still apply in the event that a reminder email isn't sent or received. 

  • Because your appointment time is reserved exclusively for you and typically cannot be reallocated. This protects:

    • Your continuity of care;

    • Your clinician’s wellbeing and caseload;

    • Fair access for clients wanting to commence psychology treatment.

    The cancellation policy is consistent with many policies used by other allied health private practices.

  • To be fair to all clients and avoid myself “judging” whether one person’s reason for cancelling is worthy of the fee being waived versus another’s, cancellation fees will rarely be waived. In rare cases involving serious illness or emergency and where reasonable notice could not be given, fees may be waived. Documentation (e.g., medical certificate) may be required.