Frequently Asked Questions

We offer four standard assessment options, and a handy flowchart here if you're unsure of your needs. However, we are more than happy to work with you if you require something different. Please contact us, and we'll be in touch with some options and pricing asap.

We believe that our Iived experience, coupled with the natural setting of The Burrows, allow us to cultivate a unique therapeutic approach. We are nestled within 3.5 acres of bush and trees, surrounded by native flora and fauna, and frequently use our surroundings as a tool for regulation and exploration of client feelings and unmet needs. Even in our cosy clinic room, we take a sensory-based approach, aligned with our firm belief in supportive and holistic care for all, regardless of neurotype. We believe in differences, rather than disorders.

The Burrows is located on a 3.5 acre hobby farm in outer north-east Melbourne. We welcome in-person sessions, however we also offer telehealth services using Zoom.

The Burrows is located on a semi-rural hobby farm in outer north-east Melbourne. We are a five-minute taxi/uber ride from Hurstbridge train station. However, you may find that driving is the most accessible way to get here, and we have plenty of on-site parking!

Our approach to neuroaffirming care prioritises the individual, holistic needs of our clients in a non-pathologising way. The foundation of our practice is cultivating your safety in a non-judgemental, and caring manner. We use evidence-based practice, supported by our own lived experience of neurodivergence, to support you to live your best life, rather than pathologise or 'treat' you.

Yes, absolutely! Being neuroaffirming means that we welcome every neurotype, and hope to support you in a holistic and individualised way to suit your needs.

At The Burrows Psychology we take our responsibilities and obligations to our clients seriously. We recognise that supporting your needs is a privilege, and a great deal of trust is placed in us. All of our team have the relevant police checks, working with children checks, and all Psychologists are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). We abide by the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics, and the Psychology Board of Australia's Code of Conduct. We also outline our commitment to affirming care here.

Please reach out to our friendly team by email, or by completing a contact form. We aim to respond with availability options within 48 hours.

When you book your first appointment, you will receive a confirmation email detailing the date, time, and location of your session. Our friendly team will also send you a link to complete some intake forms, providing us with some personal information, such as your contact information, and medicare details. We also ask you to give us some background information on what you have been experiencing, both now and in the past. You will also be asked to read some information regarding consent and confidentiality and let us know whether you agree or disagree. If you have any questions or queries, you are always welcome to email us for more information!

If you're unwell and you have booked an in-person appointment, please let us know by email or text, and we will switch your session to a telehealth/online appointment.

The exact timing of your assessment will depend on your clinician's availability, and the pace at which you wish to progress. For some people, it is broken down into several weekly sessions, as an assessment can be tiring. For others, one long session is preferred given the sometimes intimidating nature of the assessment process! We encourage you to discuss the approach with either our friendly admin team upon booking, or with your clinician during the screening session. We aim to finalise your report, and book in your feedback session within four weeks of completing your assessment.

The Burrows Psychology does not offer standalone ADHD assessments, because for most clients seeking an ADHD diagnosis they are also hoping for treatment via medication. We feel it is unethical to expect clients to pay twice for a diagnosis from both a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist. Therefore, we suggest that clients seeking ADHD diagnosis only, engage directly with a Psychiatrist who can offer both diagnosis and discussion of medication options. For individuals seeking broader understanding of their neurotype, we do assess for ADHD as part of our neurodevelopmental assessments alongside other neurotypes including autism, obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette's syndrome and other tic disorders.

Sessions are 50 minutes long.

All therapy, coaching & mentoring sessions have the option to involve support animals in session. This might involve having Atka or Lilo in the room with us during a session, to support sensory co-regulation. Alternatively, we might visit the ducks and chickens in their coop to support exploration of relationships and social connections. We can also spend time walking and observing the wild animals such as skinks, fairy wrens, rabbits and white-winged choughs as we process feelings and talk through what is coming up for you.

Of course! Your safety and comfort are the most important things to us, and there is never any obligation to interact with the animals. We can spend sessions in the clinic room surrounded by squishmallows instead!

For people with an autistic neurotype, there may be NDIS funding and support available, depending on the level of functional disability. The Autism CRC National Guidelines denote that best prac tice assessment involves a multi-disciplinary team, including other professionals such as an Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, Psychiatrist, or Paediatrician. Therefore, our comprehensive report can be used as support for an application to the NDIA, but may require further assessment. If you are seeking assessment as you intend to apply for NDIS funding, we would encourage you to discuss this with your clinician during the screening session so that an appropriate approach can be agreed.

To become a registered Psychologist in Australia, clinicians are required to study for six years, often undertaking three degree programs (Undergraduate, Honours/4th year, and Masters). Completing a Masters program also involves two years of full-time study, and over 1,000 hours of unpaid clinical work. Registration with AHPRA attracts a considerable fee, plus the requirement for ongoing supervision and professional development throughout the year. Unfortunately the costs quickly add up, so even before clinical rooms and consumables, the hourly rate paid by clients is eaten up by all the costs associated with providing the highest quality service possible. The fee to see a psychologist at The Burrows is substantially lower than the recommended rates by the Australian Psychological Society ($311; 2024/25) and the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc ($315; 2024/25). The Burrows Psychology is committed to keeping our fees as low as possible, to improve equitable access to mental health supports. We also offer lower cost alternatives including Mentoring and Coaching, and hope to expand this offering to Counselling services in the future.

We endeavour to keep our fees as low as possible, however we are a private practice and currently unable to provide bulk-billing services. There are some funding options available to you if you are a Medicare card holder, have Private Health 'Extras' cover, or have a self-managed NDIS plan. Please visit our Fees & Rebates page for more detail. We offer a small amount of low-cost neurodevelopment assessments for those most in need and/or most greatly impacted by systemic and intersectional disadvantage. However, there may be a long wait time for these assessments. Please reach out to us for further information.

We sure can! If you provide us with your Medicare details, we will store them on our practice software (Halaxy) and process your claim as soon as payment is received.

If you are accessing a Medicare rebate under a care-plan then you will require a referral from your GP for services with a Psychologist. You may self-refer yourself for privately/self funded therapy, assessment and coaching sessions. If you have a self-managed NDIS plan, you may also be able to self-refer for therapy or coaching services, however we recommend you check with your Local Area Co-ordinator if you are unsure.

We require 48-hour's notice to cancel an appointment. Cancellations after this time will incur a charge equal to the fee of the service booked. We will send all clients a reminder by email three days before their booking, and a further text message 24-hours before the scheduled appointment. All clients agree to these terms when signing our consent form as part of the intake process.

Here at The Burrows Psychology we understand that life can be busy, and sometimes last-minute cancellations are unavoidable. This might mean a cancellation fee feels unfair. However, although The Burrows does operate a wait-list it is unlikely that cancellations or reschedules received less than 48 hours before your booked session time can be offered to, and accepted by another client. This means that other people may miss out on care and support that they may have accessed with a little more notice. We are passionate about the equitability of services, which means keeping our fees to you as low as possible. To do this sustainably, we need to cover the costs and overheads of running a private practice (everything from lighting and heating, the costs of software, toys and equipment, and snacks and coffee in the kitchen). This requires planning and some consistency around income to keep the lights on and our doors open. Most importantly, engaging in therapy or coaching can be hard work requiring consistent, regular work and check-ins. We know that where we don't see clients for an extended period of time, progress can be limited as we spend time going back over strategies, or reminding clients of supports that we may have covered previously. We are also very happy to offer online sessions where clients might not be able to visit us as normal, which can be a good alternative for times where you might not be able to make an appointment in person.

The fee for 2025 to see a Psychologist at The Burrows is $230. With a Medicare Mental Health Treatment Plan, Eating Disorder Management Plan, or Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder plan the out of pocket 'gap' fee is $131.05 (Rebate $98.95). With a Chronic Condition Management Plan, the out of pocket 'gap' fee is $168.20 (Rebate $61.80). NB - Gap fees may be lower with the Medicare Safety Net.

We only collect the personal data absolutely necessary to provide our services. The data we do collect is completely confidential, and will never be shared without your written permission. All data is stored in Australia, with further details outlined in our Privacy Policy.

Our terms and conditions are outlined here. By making a booking with The Burrows Psychology, you agree to abide by these terms and conditions.