CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY | TELEHEALTH + BERWICK, VIC
Your first session
What to expect before, during, and after your first appointment with Kate.
Before your appointment
There are a few practical things to take care of before your first appointment
01
Book your session
Book directly via the online portal. Select a time that works for you - no referral is required to book. A Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP is needed only if you would like to access the Medicare rebate.
02
Complete your intake forms
After booking, you will receive a welcome email with your intake and consent forms. Please complete these before your first appointment. If the email does not arrive, check your junk folder or email Dr. Kate to have the forms resent - there is no penalty for needing them again.
03
Join your session
Sessions are conducted via Coviu, a secure video platform - no download required. A few minutes before your appointment, find a quiet and private space, open the link from your booking confirmation, and get your browser ready. Telephone is available as a backup if needed.
Attending in person (Berwick area)? Contact Dr. Kate directly to confirm your appointment details: katharinesmith@mindwiseworkplacesolutions.com.au
WHAT TO EXPECT
What happens in the first session
The first session is a conversation. It is not a test, an intake checklist, or a commitment to a particular way of working - it is the beginning of a shared understanding.
I will listen to understand what has brought you here: your situation, your context, and what feels most pressing. We will talk about your background and history where that is relevant. You do not need to have everything worked out before you arrive, and you do not need to know exactly what is wrong. That is part of what the session is for.
By the end of the first appointment, we will have an agreed working plan: a shared sense of where to begin, how often to meet, and what the work will focus on.
Nothing is locked in permanently at this stage - the plan is reviewed and adjusted as the work progresses.
What the first session is not
It is not a psychological assessment or a formal report. It is not crisis support - if you are in crisis, please use the resources listed at the bottom of this page. It is not a commitment to ongoing therapy until you decide it is.
A note on pace
The first session is deliberately unhurried. If something feels too much to cover in one appointment, that is fine. The work is collaborative and the pace is yours.
Between sessions
Sessions are the primary space for the work. Between appointments, you are not expected to be actively working through things, though it is common to notice things come up - thoughts, feelings, or situations that feel relevant. You are welcome to note these to bring into the next session.
infoContact between sessions
Between-session contact is brief and administrative - confirming appointments, managing rebooking, or asking a quick practical question. It is not therapy by email or text, and I am not available for clinical support between sessions. If something feels urgent between appointments, please use the crisis resources below.
infoResponse times
Appointment queries are responded to during business hours, Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
infoIf something doesn't feel right
Raising a concern about how therapy is going is not rude. It is part of the work, and it is taken seriously.
If something lands wrong in a session, if the pace feels off, or if you are unsure whether the approach is right for you, I would rather you say so than sit with it. These conversations can often be the most productive ones. If the fit is genuinely not right, I can assist in finding a more appropriate referral.
Raising a concern formally:
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the regulatory body for psychologists in Australia and provides a formal avenue for concerns about registered health practitioners.
AHPRA website:ahpra.gov.au
AHPRA enquiry line:1300 419 495
Other Important Information
infoCancellations and rescheduling
Please provide as much notice as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Full details of the cancellation policy are included in your intake documentation.
If you need to reschedule, contact Dr. Kate directly: katharinesmith@mindwiseworkplacesolutions.com.au
infoSession fees
Fee and payment information is provided below for reference:
Standard 50-minute session: $280 AUD
Medicare rebate: $145.25 (as at 1 July 2025 indexation)
Out-of-pocket gap: $134.75
✓ Telehealth included
✓ Medicare eligible (with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP)
✓ No referral required to book
✓ WorkCover accepted
✓ NDIS accepted
✓ Private health extras may apply (subject to your fund and level of cover)
Note: Payment is due at the time of session. A Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP is required to access the Medicare rebate. This plan allows for up to 10 individually funded sessions per calendar year. For WorkCover and NDIS clients, please confirm funding arrangements before your first appointment.
Ready to book your first session?
You can book directly via the online portal. Select a time that suits you, and your intake forms will be sent automatically after booking. If you have any trouble with the portal, email katharinesmith@mindwiseworkplacesolutions.com.au and I will confirm your booking.
Questions first? Read the FAQs →