Unsure about seeking support for your mental health? We have put together some frequently asked questions to show how we can help and support you. If you don’t find the answer you are looking for here, please contact our friendly team.
“ A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a Registered Nurse with the experience, expertise and authority to diagnose and treat people of all ages with a variety of acute or chronic health conditions. NPs have completed additional university study at Master’s degree level and are the most senior and independent clinical nurses in our health care system.
The title "Nurse Practitioner" can only be used by a person who has been endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
National standards for practice ensure that Nurse Practitioners are capable of providing high quality, patient centred care. They are also capable in clinical research, education and leadership as applied to clinical care and health service development.” Australian College of Nurse Practitioners
Mental Health NPs are highly trained professionals who independently assess and diagnose mental health conditions through thorough and holistic evaluations. When needed, they may request radiology or pathology tests to rule out physical health issues that can present with similar symptoms to mental illness.
NPs can offer a wide range of care, including psychological therapies, medication prescribing and deprescribing, ongoing treatment management, and monitoring of physical and metabolic health concerns often linked to psychiatric conditions.
As holistic practitioners, NPs prioritise seeing you as a whole person. We take the time to listen, understand, and explore your concerns from both biological and psychological perspectives. We also consider your emotional and social wellbeing, relationships, housing situation, trauma history and other relevant factors to develop recovery goals.
“A Credentialed Mental Health Nurse (CMHN) is a specialist nurse who has demonstrated meeting the credentialing criteria in relation to registration, education, practice experience, professional development, and professional integrity.” (Australian College of Mental Health Nurses)
A CMHN has post-graduate qualifications specific to mental health and must be successful in a rigorous re-credentialing process every 3 years, providing evidence of recency of practice in mental health, continuing professional development, and be supported by professional referees.
A CMHN has an extensive range of holistic skills including counselling and psychotherapy, medication administration and monitoring, and mental and physical health assessment.
The Nurse Practitioner partners with you holistically, encompassing your physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. A range of contemporary therapeutic approaches (counselling) are provided to support you, always making sure you are in charge of your recovery journey and care is driven by your preferences. Nurses are experts in collaboration and can help you identify and work with your support network, and services available in the community. NPs can work with you to review your medications, providing better understanding of the role of medications in your recovery, and also explain to you about your symptoms and any diagnosis you may have and what that means for you. A NP works as a key member of your healthcare team and with your consent can communicate with your GP and other health care professionals involved in your care if required.
While, psychologists also provide counselling services they also provide psychological testing for schools, courts and other entities. Psychiatrists usually provide limited talk therapy. They are a medical doctor specialising in the mental health field and are typically available for diagnosis and medication management of behavioural and emotional conditions. If medication is necessary, typically medication and counselling are used together. Medication therapy is not a replacement for counselling.
Sessions are typically 45-60 minutes in length.
Many people feel nervous before their first appointment, it can feel uncomfortable talking with a complete stranger! We will primarily want to hear why you made the appointment, what you have already done to try and overcome your challenges, and what outcomes you are hoping for. Your initial session usually involves completing some paperwork, and some discussion around policies and privacy and confidentiality.
To better understand you, we will likely talk about the important parts of your life (relationships, work, school, etc.) as well as information about your background. If you decide to continue working with us, we will begin to develop goals and a plan to work towards them. If you do not feel comfortable for any reason, please say so, and we will be happy to provide you with a referral to another trusted colleague.
Yes we have some availability outside business hours. Be sure to let us know any scheduling requirements you may have up front so we can best support you.
Individual sessions can be charged directly to you, no referral is needed to be a full fee-paying client. Medicare rebates are available for most consultations however there is an out of pocket expense. Please contact us directly for current pricing.
Cancellations are to be made no later than 24 hours prior to your appointment, to avoid charges.
Add an answer to this information about your sessions or what is discussed in the sessions is not shared with anyone without your permission. However, it is a requirement for us to provide some feedback to your referrer, and the details of this will be discussed with you. Notes about your sessions are kept as part of your clinical records. Kelly Health uses a 256-bit bank grade security and encryption computer software, meaning that your information is protected to the same level required for banks. There are some exceptions to confidentiality. If there is the possibility of harm to yourself or another person, or in cases of child or elder abuse, we are mandated to report certain information to the appropriate people to maintain safety. s item.
Here are a few points to consider to help you get the most out of your sessions.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.