FAQ

MeHelp is your gateway to connecting with experienced Australian psychologists, carefully selected to provide support for a diverse range of mental health challenges.

Our platform facilitates meaningful conversations with qualified professionals who tailor your individual needs throughout your mental health journey.

MeHelp is run by Phillipa Brown (MProfPsych), a registered psychologist accredited by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

With 15 years of dedicated experience in the mental health field. Phillipa has been a psychologist for six years. Her passion for improving access to mental health care across Australia, irrespective of geographical barriers, led her to establish MeHelp Psychology. Through the convenience of telehealth psychology services, Phillipa’ss vision is to make quality mental health support readily available to all Australians.

MeHelp can help in the following ways:

• Convenience and Accessibility: MeHelp psychology provides easy access to mental health support from the comfort of your own space. This eliminates the need for travel, making it accessible to individuals who might otherwise face geographical or mobility limitations.
• Flexible Scheduling: Online sessions often offer more flexibility in scheduling, allowing you to find appointment times that better suit your needs and daily routine including after hours, weekends and holiday periods.
• Anonymity and Comfort: Some individuals may find it easier to open up and express their thoughts and feelings in the comfort and privacy of their own environment. This can lead to more honest and productive therapy sessions.
• Range of Therapeutic Approaches: Online psychologists are equipped to offer various therapeutic approaches, just like in-person sessions. They can help with a wide range of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, stress, relationship issues, and more.
• Continuity of Care: MeHelp psychology can ensure consistent care, even if you move locations or regularly travel between states or locations. This is especially valuable in situations where regular therapy is essential. Travel anywhere while maintaining continuity with the same psychologist, no matter your location.
• Access to Specialised Support: MeHelp psychology can connect you with experienced psychologists who are qualified to provide effective therapy in areas of specialisation that may not be available in your local area.
• Support for Diverse Requirements: MeHelp psychology can be tailored to meet individual needs, whether it's individual therapy, couples therapy, or group therapy, ensuring that you receive the support that suits your specific circumstances.
• Areas we can help with: View information about the types of mental health services we can assist you with.

Telehealth psychology services and therapy offer you the opportunity to engage with a registered psychologist through video calls, phone conversations, or text messages.

You can receive professional mental health support without the necessity of an in-person visit, making it easy to access support from the comfort of your own home, workplace, or any preferred location.

Our qualified Australian psychologists provide telehealth services, and if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, Medicare rebates may be available to assist with the costs.

MeHelp is available for adults, couples, and teenagers who wish to speak with someone about improving their mental health and developing frameworks to better understand their needs, and ways they can overcome or manage a range of mental health concerns.

Rest assured; all of our psychologists are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Our rigorous quality assurance process guarantees that every psychologist on our platform maintains active registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

If you wish to delve further into the credentials and qualifications of any specific psychologist, you can access their information on the AHPRA database. This transparency in our psychologist's qualifications is a testament to our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and quality in therapy services.

Check AHPRA to see a your qualified psychologist we assign to you.

MeHelp is not suitable for those who require emergency services or crisis intervention. If you require emergency services, please call 000. If you require 24-hours crisis support or suicide prevention services, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Yes. Security and confidentiality are the cornerstone of what we do at MeHelp and something we take very seriously.

MeHelp utilises a user friendly, secure video and phone service that is compliant with all required laws and fully encrypts and authenticates each session to ensure it is only you and your qualified psychologist present.

Our qualified psychologists also treat each discussion with confidentiality and discretion, no different to speaking with your doctor or other medical professional.

In terms of your private information, privacy is our top priority. We understand the importance of creating a secure space for your mental health journey. Here's what you need to know about how we handle data, security, and privacy:

• Robust Security and Encryption: Your data is shielded by state-of-the-art security measures and encryption. We employ bank-grade security protocols to ensure that your information remains confidential and protected from unauthorized access.
• Card Details Protection: As an added layer of security, your card details are stored through our trusted partners and not directly within the MeHelp system. This means that payment data is not retained within client records, and MeHelp cannot access or retrieve your card details.

Rest assured that your privacy and data security are fundamental to our commitment to providing you with a secure and trustworthy platform for your mental health needs.

We offer a complimentary 15-minute phone call with Phillipa Brown (AHPRA registered psychologist and founder of the MeHelp platform) to help assess your needs and learn a little more about you, your desired goals and outcomes from speaking to an online psychologist.

Phillipa can then help connect you with a hand-chosen psychologist that specialises in your needs and meets any individual requirements you may put forward. For instance, you may have some particular preferences and traits that make you feel more comfortable in your sessions.

MeHelp then proceeds to secure a highly qualified psychologist that has specific training in helping you achieve your mental health goals and facilitate your ongoing sessions to speak with them via telehealth (phone or video).

If you wish to get started with your complimentary 15-minute phone call, simply book your preferred time online by clicking here.

Of course, your comfort and connection with your psychologist are paramount. If you feel that your current psychologist may not be the right fit for your needs, we fully support the option to switch to a different psychologist within our network.

We understand that the therapeutic relationship is essential, and finding the right match is crucial for your progress.

Simply reach out to our support team at info@mehelp.com.au, and they will guide you through the process of selecting a new psychologist who aligns with your preferences and objectives.

Your well-being and satisfaction are our top priorities.

Our therapy sessions, whether conducted via phone or video, typically run for approximately 50 minutes.

The frequency of your appointments is flexible and can be tailored to your unique counselling needs. You have the option to book sessions on a weekly, fortnightly, or any other schedule that best suits your individual requirements.

Your psychologist will work closely with you to develop a counselling schedule that aligns with your specific needs, availability, and budget. The goal is to provide you with a personalised and effective therapeutic experience, ensuring that you receive the support you need, precisely when you need it.

Your first therapy session is designed to be a collaborative and supportive experience.

During this initial session, your psychologist's primary objective is to get to know you better, understand the concerns or challenges you're facing, and work with you to create a tailored counselling plan. This plan will include setting goals and targets that align with your personal objectives for therapy.

You don't need to take any specific actions to prepare for your first session. Your psychologist will guide you through the entire process, from start to finish. The psychologist’s expertise lies in facilitating a safe and constructive environment for you to explore and address your concerns. Your well-being and progress are the primary focus of this initial session and the therapy journey that follows.

For more information, please see our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Our privacy policy explains how we store and use data, and how you may access and correct your personal information. If you would like any further information about our privacy policies or practices or would like to report any issues, please contact us at info@mehelp.com.au.

Booking a Discovery Call to be matched with a qualified online psychologist is entirely free of charge.

Please note that sessions with your chosen psychologist will incur costs, which can slightly vary based on the specific type of counselling required whether it’s individual or couples therapy. To obtain an accurate cost tailored to your counselling needs, we encourage you to schedule a Discovery Call to discuss your requirements in detail.

To provide you with an estimate of potential out-of-pocket expenses, you can anticipate a range between $86.00 and $136.00 per session.

Private Health Providers:

Some private health insurance providers may offer funding for psychology sessions. The coverage and requirements vary among different providers, so it's advisable to contact your health fund to determine your eligibility and the rate of reimbursement you may receive for psychology services.

Medicare and Health Fund Rebates:

It's important to note that you cannot simultaneously use both Medicare and health fund rebates for the same therapy session. If you have an active Mental Health Care Plan prepared within the last year, you may be required to utilise these Medicare benefits first. Once you have utilised the 10 sessions covered by Medicare, you can then explore the benefits offered by your health fund.

Billing Item Numbers:

Different health funds may use distinct billing item numbers. To ensure proper billing and reimbursement, we recommend contacting your health fund to determine the specific item numbers your psychologist needs to list on the invoice receipt.

We encourage you to reach out to your health insurance provider for comprehensive information regarding your coverage and benefits, as these details can vary significantly between insurance plans. This will help you make informed decisions about the financial aspects of your psychology sessions.

To be eligible for Medicare-subsidised online psychology appointments, you will need to fulfil the following requirements and actions:

1. Be an Australian or New Zealand Citizen or hold Australian permanent residency, while residing in Australia.
2. Meet with your local doctor (GP) to discuss your mental health and request a mental health treatment plan (often referred to as an MHTP or MHCP).

Upon receiving a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you will be eligible for subsidised psychology appointments that enable you to get a portion of the costs refunded to you via Medicare.

A Mental Health Treatment Plan (previously known as a ‘mental health care plan’) is a plan put in place between your doctor (GP) and yourself, to assist with a mental health concern may be experiencing.  By meeting with your doctor (either in-person or via their own telehealth service), you can jointly identify what areas of help you need, creating a wholistic plan to achieve your goals, which may include meeting with an online psychologist.

Your doctor can issue you with a copy of your Mental Health Treatment Plan, which can then be provided to MeHelp for subsidised sessions.

You can learn more about Mental Health Treatment Plans at Services Australia.

No, you do not require any type of referral to use MeHelp or speak to an online psychologist. Referrals (such as a Mental Health Treatment Plan) are only required if you wish to claim rebates from Medicare to have subsidised sessions at a lower cost. Alternatively, you may choose to pay privately, which does not require a GP referral.

If you do wish to claim your sessions, please seek to meet with your doctor to put a Mental Health Treatment Plan in place.

We do offer bulk billing for therapy sessions, but it is available on a case-by-case basis. Please be aware that there may be a waitlist for bulk-billed sessions, and it may take some time for a spot to become available.

We are committed to providing accessible mental health support, and we do our best to accommodate your needs. If you are interested in bulk billing, please reach out to us, and we will work with you to determine the availability of these sessions and assist you accordingly.

You have multiple convenient options for processing payments for your sessions. You may securely save your card information on file, or we can generate an invoice following your session. With this invoice, you have the flexibility to perform a bank transfer or utilise the provided payment link to make a secure online payment.

Before your scheduled appointment, you will receive our client intake forms in your email. As a standard procedure, you'll need to input your Medicare information into our secure database.

After the successful processing of your payment, your rebate will be promptly and automatically credited to your account. If you have not provided your card details in our system, the rebate will automatically be processed to the card that is connected to your Medicare Account.

Follow these steps to find or update your bank details through Medicare if required.

Under a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), you can access up to 10 Medicare-covered sessions.

Following your visit to a medical professional, you will typically be allocated an initial six sessions. Subsequently, you will need to return to your General Practitioner (GP) for a review, and this review will be transmitted to your psychologist before your appointment.

Depending on the assessment from your psychologist's review, you may qualify for an additional four sessions to support your ongoing treatment.

We have a structured cancellation policy in place to accommodate the dynamic nature of your plans and the demands of your schedule.

To ensure effective time management, we require a minimum of 24 hours' notice for appointment cancellations. If you do not notify us within this 24-hour timeframe, a fee equivalent to the full session rate will be charged.

This policy allows us to better serve all our clients and make efficient use of our resources.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

You will receive a link the day prior to your appointment with details on how to join and connect with your online psychologist.

It is as simple as finding a comfortable and quiet location to join, clicking the link, and joining your session with your qualified online psychologist.

We suggest finding a noise and distraction free room in your home, workplace or desired location that has strong Wi-Fi coverage or mobile phone reception. For additional privacy, you may wish to consider wearing your headphones or headset.

The use of technology for your online psychology sessions comes at the risk of a network drop-out, or other computer/phone issues. If this were the case and you are unable to log back into your session. Your psychologist will attempt to get in contact with you via email or phone to either help fix the issue, or perhaps book another appointment at a different time. Your next appointment time may be booked for the remaining minutes that were missed, this can be booked and adjusted by your psychologist to ensure you are not billed twice.

If you’re finding yourself with ongoing issues, you can also call MeHelp on 1300 323 411 or email info@mehelp.com.au for further assistance.

As your video link is issued the day prior, we suggest clicking on the link and testing that it works for you ahead of your scheduled online psychology session.

It’s important to note that you will only be able to access the link 15 minutes prior to the appointment. It is very unlikely the link won’t work for you, but we are here to help you if you become stuck.

Simply call 1300 323 411 or email info@mehelp.com.au.