Clinical Psychology Services in Barossa Valley and Online.

Yes - We offer face-to-face and telehealth appointments.

Yes – you do not need a referral to engage in services at Zest Psychology & Well-Being.

Prior to your first appointment, visit your GP to assess if you are eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan. When making this GP appointment booking, ensure you advise staff you are seeking assistance with a Mental Health Care Plan, as they often require a longer appointment time. To find out more about what this appointment will involve, see here.

This Plan entitles you to a rebate of $141.85 per session, for up to 10 sessions per calendar year (January 1 to December 31). 

To process your rebate, we will need a copy of your referral letter AND your Mental Health Care Plan. You can request that your GP send this directly to Zest Psychology & Well-Being, or you can email it yourself. We will not be able to process the rebate if the referral, plan, and bank lists are not established at the time of processing payment.

Your first GP referral is for up to 6 sessions. After these sessions are used, your psychologist will write a letter to your GP updating them of your progress. You will then need to meet with your GP to discuss your progress. Your GP can then refer you for an additional 4 sessions, meaning there are 10 claimable sessions in a calendar year.

Typically, you can use the same referral, however you will need to:

1. Check how many sessions you have used up on your Mental Health Care Plan (call Medicare on 13 21 50) and advise your new psychologist how many sessions you saw with your previous psychologist (as this impacts what item codes the new psychologist uses to process your rebates).

2. Visit your GP to update the referral information (the Plan will need to have the name and location of your new psychologist). 

A partial rebate may be available through your private health insurance. Each provider is different in terms of coverage and individual policies, so please check with your provider to confirm what you are eligible to access. Please note that you can claim your session from either Medicare OR your private health fund, but not both at the same time. 

We welcome referrals from self-managed NDIS participants; however, please note that Zest Psychology & Well-Being is not a registered NDIA provider and agency-managed scheme participants cannot pay for services using their NDIS funding.

There are certain situations where I may not be the best fit for a client based on my expertise, the setting in which I work, and current professional interests. 

• I do not provide treatment for eating disorders. However, I can support individuals who may have an eating disorder or disordered eating habits who are looking for support with co-occurring concerns, such as anxiety, depression, or stress. Australia has a credentialing system in place to ensure quality care for people with an eating disorder and you can find a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician here.

• I do not provide family therapy. If you are seeking support for family therapy, Relationships Australia and Bower Place (SA) may be appropriate options. 

• I do not offer psychological assessments, including cognitive assessments, ADHD assessments, or Autism assessments. However, we can explore initial screening options. 

I take special care in reviewing potential new clients experiencing more complex mental health needs and allocate a limited case load capacity for relevant individuals. These processes help me (a) determine if the presentation is appropriate for the setting I work in, and (b) ensure that I can provide the highest quality of care and support for those with complex needs. I deeply believe in offering personalised, compassionate support, and by keeping my caseload manageable, I can ensure that each person receives the time and attention they deserve. If you're unsure whether my services are the right fit for you, reach out over email and we can discuss further.

• Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), University of South Australia

• Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology), University of South Australia

• Master of Psychology (Clinical), University of South Australia

• Area of Practice Endorsement (AoPE) in Clinical Psychology, Psychology Board of Australia

The goal of this first session is to gain a holistic view of your situation and to develop a plan for moving forward. The first session is an intake/assessment session where we’ll take the time to understand your current situation and the challenges you're facing. You’ll be asked about various aspects of your life, such as your social relationships, work or school life, family dynamics, emotional well-being, and lifestyle factors (sleep, movement, interests), to name a few. We may also discuss any past experiences or patterns that might be relevant to your current concerns. Once we have a clear understanding of your challenges and goals, we can begin setting specific objectives for future sessions. Future appointments will focus on addressing your goals.

Some people attend therapy for a single/specific concern or brief intervention, and in these cases, a brief assessment may be appropriate, which means we can begin exploring focussed strategies shortly after. 

Some people don’t always know what they want out of therapy, and that’s completely okay. It’s normal to feel uncertain about the process or not have a clear idea of what you need when you first start. Therapy can be a place to explore your thoughts, feelings, and challenges, and together we can work to uncover what you want to focus on. Sometimes, just having a space to talk openly and reflect can help clarify direction over time.

Yes, your privacy and confidentiality are of utmost importance. As a clinical psychologist registered in Australia, I am bound by strict ethical guidelines and privacy laws, including the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988. This means that all personal and health information you share during your sessions is kept confidential, except in specific circumstances. These exceptions include:

• Risk of harm: If I believe you are at immediate risk/harm to yourself or to someone else, I may need to share information to ensure safety. 

• Legal obligations: In some cases, I may be required by law to disclose information, such as a court order, or if you disclose that you own an unregistered firearm. 

• Your consent: If you provide written consent, I can share relevant information with other healthcare professionals involved in your care.

• MHCP reporting requirements: If you are using a Mental Health Care Plan for Medicare-funded sessions, I am required to share relevant information with your GP about your treatment, as part of the required reporting process. 

Confidentiality extends beyond the sharing of information. If we happen to encounter each other in the community, I will respect your privacy by not initiating contact or acknowledging you. Of course, if you choose to acknowledge me, I will respond!

You will be required to complete an intake form, which includes sections for your personal details, informed consent, and a baseline screener called the DASS-21. Please remember to complete your intake forms prior to the session. This will help ensure we’re able to get started right away and provide the best support for your needs. If you’re not confident with digital forms, that’s ok! We can complete them together at the beginning of the session. It’s important this information is collected before we begin. 

While it’s not necessary or expected, some people find it helpful to bring certain things to therapy to support their journey. This might include notes, journals, or any specific thoughts or concerns they want to explore. Some clients also find it useful to bring in reflections from the week, such as personal challenges or achievements, to guide our discussions. Whatever you choose to bring -or not bring - is entirely up to you.

We are unable to provide crisis or emergency supports. If you are in an emergency and need immediate support, call 000. You can also call Mental Health Triage (13 14 65) (SA) and the Urgent Mental Health Care Centre (SA): 08 8448 9100

Other options for confidential support include:

• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 

• Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14 

• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 

• Men’s Line Australia: 1300 789 978 

• FriendLine (feeling lonely, just want to connect/chat): 1800 424 287

• 1800RESPECT (support for domestic abuse/violence): 1800 737 732

• Griefline (grief support 8am-8pm): 1300 845 745 

• 13YARN (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples): 13 92 76