You need a referral to see a psychiatrist, either for conventional or integrative treatment. A referral ensures communication with your GP, and also allows you to claim a rebate from Medicare.
However, you do not need a referral for either QEEG or neurofeedback, as there is no Medicare rebate for these services.
For consultations with a psychiatrist, you can claim a rebate from Medicare which you will be informed about at the time of booking. Please note that the Medicare rebate does not cover the complete cost of an appointment with a ZenWaves specialist.
For appointments with the social worker, If your doctor has given you a referral or a Mental Health Care Plan, you can claim a rebate from Medicare for up to 10 appointments per year.
There are no Medicare rebates available for QEEG or neurofeedback services.
Private health insurance in Australia does not usually cover the cost of psychiatric appointments outside hospital, nor does it cover the cost of QEEG or neurofeedback sessions.
We provide QEEG and neurofeedback services for children less than 12 years of age but we do not provide psychiatric consultation or ADHD testing for anyone under the age of 12.
First appointments with a psychiatrist are generally one hour long
ADHD testing sessions are usually 90 minutes long.
Ongoing appointments are usually 30 minutes for general psychiatry.
QEEG assessment sessions are usually an hour long, while neurofeedback sessions are usually booked for 45 minutes.
Your first appointment is when your treating psychiatrist meets you, learns about you and starts to make an assessment. It is an important step, since we need this knowledge to form an appropriate treatment plan.
Your psychiatrist will interview you to understand your perspective on your health issues, including your main concerns and priorities for treatment. They will also review clinical notes (including any brain scans) and medication history. At the end of the session, they will propose a plan to go forward. This may include more tests and assessments, often a QEEG assessment, to gather more information before confirming the full plan.
Yes, we offer telehealth sessions for general psychiatry appointments if needed. It is preferable to have the initial appointment in person.
All ADHD testing and QEEG assessments are in person, and usually neurofeedback sessions are in the office. We offer neurofeedback at home for some patients with some conditions. We require an initial consultation to confirm that treatment at home is a suitable option. This consultation can be remote. See ZenWaves.care for more information.
We generally do not accept interstate patients for psychiatric assessment or management as prescribing laws differ in each state. However, our QEEG and neurofeedback services are available to anyone across Australia.
ZenWaves does not provide crisis or emergency services.
You can call one of the following services:
In an emergency, or if there is serious risk of harm (to you or to someone else, from you or from someone else):
