New Client Booking Procedure

New clients will be presented with available appointment times and invited to choose the one that best fits their needs. To get started, simply click the Request Appointment button on the services page and complete the form to book your first appointment.

As part of the onboarding process, you will be asked to provide your payment card details, which are entered and securely stored within our practice management software. Once your booking is confirmed, you’ll receive a welcome email containing a link to your personal client portal, the client handbook, and new client forms to complete prior to your initial consultation.

Please note: When card details are entered into our practice management system, they are securely stored and tokenised. Once captured, these details cannot be viewed by anyone within the clinic or by the software provider. For security reasons, if your card information needs to be updated, the full card number must be re-entered, as tokenised card data cannot be edited.

My fee is $220 per session and typically go for 45-55 minutes for individual therapy. Payment is required at the time of consultation. For clients eligible for a Medicare rebate, the full session fee must be paid before a rebate claim can be submitted.

Longer sessions, report writing, telephone consultations longer than 10 minutes, attendance to meetings or consultations you have requested, or the time required to perform any other psychological service you request will be charged on a prorated basis on the hourly fee of $220. 

Session fees are reviewed annually, and any changes will be communicated in writing 60 days before the new fees take effect.

Session fees are payable at the conclusion of each appointment. If, for any reason, a fee has not been settled at the end of a session, future appointments will be paused until all outstanding invoices have been paid.

 Under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (Better Access initiative), clients who have been assessed as experiencing a mental health condition may be eligible to receive Medicare rebates. To access these rebates, you will need a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a referral from a GP, psychiatrist, or paediatrician. Medicare provides rebates for up to 10 sessions per calendar year, with each referral allowing a maximum of six sessions at a time. Rebates cannot be claimed for sessions beyond the number authorised on the referral.

Some private health insurance policies offer rebates for individual therapy, depending on your insurer and level of cover. Please be aware that you cannot claim a private health rebate for sessions where a Medicare rebate is also being used.

As policies differ, it is recommended that you check directly with your health fund to confirm your entitlements. If you intend to claim through private health insurance, a receipt will be provided for you to submit to your insurer, as clients are responsible for lodging their own private health claims.

All personal information gathered by the psychologist during the provision of psychological service will remain confidential and secure except when: 

1.     A court subpoena or other disclosure is required or authorised by law

2.     Your consent cannot be gained due to a requirement to get you emergency services during a medical crisis

3.     If there is unauthorised access to data held by the clinic some limited information may need to be shared with the Office of the Information Ombudsman.  

4.     Failure to disclose the information would place you or another person at risk of harm

5.     Given your prior approval or consent of a parent or guardian who is legally authorised to act on your behalf to provide a written report to another professional or agency or discuss information with another person, e.g., parent or employer

6.     You have provided your consent to share your information for a specific reason and purpose.

7.     You would reasonably expect your personal information to be disclosed to another professional or agency, and disclosure is directly related to the primary purpose for which it was collected, such as to inform your GP of treatment and progress, to claim Medicare rebates on your behalf etc.

8.     Clinical supervision with another professional is required to provide better services. If this occurs, identifying details will remain confidential.  

If, during the course of therapy, your psychologist identifies a potential risk to your safety or the safety, health, or wellbeing of another person, they are legally and ethically obligated to notify the relevant authorities.

If information about you is needed from someone else—such as a parent, partner, or another support person—this will be discussed with you first, and your informed consent will be obtained before any contact is made. Please note that your psychologist will not interact with clients publicly or online in ways that could reveal their professional relationship with you. This is both to protect your privacy and to meet professional boundary requirements. If you need to contact your psychologist, please do so directly rather than through social media or public platforms.

Your personal information will not be shared with overseas parties unless you provide express consent or disclosure is required by law. Your information will never be sold, rented, or used for any purpose other than your care.

If your personal information is ever subject to unauthorised access, disclosure, or loss, your psychologist will enact a data breach response plan and take all reasonable steps to reduce any risk of harm.

In line with professional standards and ethical requirements, psychologists participate in ongoing supervision to support high-quality clinical practice. At times, your psychologist may consult with a colleague about elements of your treatment—such as planning or managing risk—to ensure you receive the most appropriate care. Any such discussions exclude identifying details, including your name, to maintain your privacy.

If you have questions about your psychologist’s professional responsibilities or how supervision is used, you are encouraged to discuss them directly. Please be aware that declining consent for your case to be discussed in supervision may impact the quality and safety of the care provided and, in some situations, may lead to treatment being discontinued.

If you'd like this to match a specific tone (more formal, more conversational, shorter, etc.), I’m happy to adjust it.

 Requests for reports or letters by clients or third parties will be responded to within 30 days of receiving requests in writing. Included in the response will be a quote for the cost of the letter or report, as well as a date for completion. Once agreed to, an invoice will be provided, and payment will be required prior to the release of completed documents. SJP Psychology does not provide documentation for use in court-related matters.  

 If, for some reason, you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please give at least 48 hours' notice. This practice has a policy regarding late cancellation. If less than 48 hours' notice is given, you will be charged a fee of $110. Settlement of this account is required prior to further sessions being scheduled.

Please note that every effort will be made to fill late cancelled appointments, in the event that an appointment can be filled, the cancellation fee will be waived.

No rebate from Medicare or private health will be available for cancellation fees. 

If you are late for an appointment your session may be less than 50 minutes in duration. Please note you will need to pay the full amount in these circumstances; however, your insurance rebate (if any) may be reduced.  

 A reminder message will be sent before your scheduled appointment as a courtesy. Please note that these reminders are not guaranteed. If you do not receive a reminder and subsequently miss your appointment, the usual cancellation fee will still apply. If you are ever unsure about an upcoming appointment time, you are welcome to email for confirmation. 

Cancellations or reschedules can be made via the online client portal and late cancellations (less then 48 hours) must be made via email to info@sjppsychology.com.au

Limitations of Service
Sarah Philippkowski operates as an independent provider of psychological services. All therapeutic support is delivered through scheduled, prearranged appointments. Sarah does not offer crisis or emergency support and has limited capacity to respond to messages or phone calls outside of booked sessions. As a result, she may be unable to reply to communication received between appointments. If you are experiencing a crisis or emergency, please use the contact details below to reach the appropriate services.

Sarah Philippkowski will only undertake work that falls within her professional training, scope of practice, and role as a private psychologist. If your needs extend beyond this scope, Sarah will assist you in identifying alternative services or practitioners who may be better suited to support you.

Sarah Philippkowski reserves the right to decline or discontinue services at any time, particularly in situations involving concerning or unsafe behaviour. Any form of aggression, violence, or inappropriate conduct—whether verbal, physical, or otherwise—will result in the immediate termination of the session and may lead to all services being discontinued.

Emergency Support
Please note that Sarah Philippkowski does not provide emergency response or crisis intervention, and communication channels are not monitored for urgent matters.

If you are in crisis or facing an emergency, please go directly to your nearest hospital emergency department or call 000. For further guidance, you may refer to the website for your local health district.

You may also find it helpful to access after-hours or immediate support through the following services:

• Lifeline – 13 11 14
• Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
• QLife – 1300 555 727
• MensLine – 1300 78 99 78
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Support (13 YARN) – 13 92 76
• 1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732
  

 The privacy policy of SJP Psychology outlines the practice’s commitment to managing clients’ personal information in accordance with best-practice standards. All psychological services provided are governed by the Australian Privacy Principles as specified in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and are delivered in line with these legal obligations.

To provide comprehensive and effective psychological services, SJP Psychology collects and records personal information that is relevant to your circumstances and necessary for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. This information allows your psychologist to understand your needs, document what occurs in your sessions, and deliver an informed and appropriate therapeutic service. 

The personal information collected may include your name, date of birth, address, contact details, gender and pronouns, details about your mental and physical health, relevant medical, family and social history, current medications, risk factors, and any previous mental health treatment. If applicable, Medicare details and referring GP information are collected for rebate purposes. Payment card details may be stored securely for processing fees associated with services provided. 

Information is gathered through a range of sources, including in-person and telephone conversations, referral letters, mental health treatment plans, client information and consent forms, emails, SMS messages, and, with your explicit consent, third parties such as family members, carers, or other treating professionals. Any information obtained from external sources is treated with the same level of privacy and protection as the information you provide directly. 

Client records are stored in accordance with psychological record-keeping requirements. Files are kept for a minimum of seven years after the completion of treatment. Records are maintained within SJP Psychology’s secure practice management system. Only your psychologist and, when necessary, authorised staff or personnel engaged by the practice may access your information, and only in accordance with relevant policies and procedures. These policies comply with Australian Privacy Laws. 

You are not obliged to provide all requested personal information. However, declining to share relevant details may affect the quality, appropriateness, or safety of the psychological service offered. In some circumstances, services may not be able to continue without sufficient information. Your psychologist will discuss any concerns you may have and the implications for your care. 

You are entitled to access the personal information held about you at any time. There may be limited circumstances in which access is restricted, as allowed by law. If you would like to review your information, please speak with your psychologist or submit a written request.

Clients are entitled to request access to the personal information held about them at any time. Your psychologist may discuss the contents of your file with you and, where appropriate, provide a copy, subject to the limitations outlined in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). If it is identified that any personal information is inaccurate, outdated, or incomplete, reasonable steps will be taken to correct it. 

Requests to access or amend personal information should be directed to your practitioner. All requests will be responded to in writing within 21 days, and if needed, an appointment may be arranged to clarify any details. Access to your file will be provided in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Privacy Act 1988.

 This practice allows clients to communicate via email and SMS for limited purposes. Any electronic communication exchanged with the practice will be added to your clinical record and managed in accordance with record-keeping requirements. Please note that email is not suitable for urgent or emergency matters and does not replace face-to-face or telephone/telehealth consultations. 

If you choose to communicate electronically, it is important to be aware of the potential risks. Emails cannot be guaranteed to reach the practice, as security software may filter messages or the intended recipient may unexpectedly be unavailable. Emails can be forwarded, circulated, or stored in both paper and electronic formats, and backup copies may still exist even after deletion. Messages may be misaddressed or received by unintended parties, and electronic communication can be intercepted, altered, or used without authorisation. In some instances, administration staff may view your email before it is passed on to your psychologist. 

The practice will take reasonable steps to protect the security and confidentiality of electronically transmitted information; however, due to the risks described above, complete privacy cannot be guaranteed, and the practice accepts no liability for any unintended disclosure that may occur through electronic communication. 

Clients are asked to respond to appointment reminder messages only by SMS. Any additional communication, including questions, updates, or administrative matters, should be directed to the practice by email or phone.

  If you have any concerns about how your personal information is being handled, you are encouraged to raise this with SJP Psychology. Upon request, you may access a copy of the Australian Privacy Principles, which outline your rights and the standards governing the management of personal information. 

If you wish to make a formal complaint regarding the collection, use, disclosure, or access to your personal information, you may do so through the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Complaints can be lodged by calling 1300 363 992, submitting an online enquiry through the OAIC website, or writing to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001.