Clinically reviewed by Bülent Ada, BSc.(Psychol.)(Hons.), MAPS · Updated May 2026

Cost is one of the most common reasons people delay — or avoid altogether — seeking psychological support. That hesitation is understandable. Mental health fees can feel opaque, the Medicare system has its own language, and it can be hard to know what you’ll actually pay until you’re already sitting in a waiting room.

This article aims to change that. We’ll walk through what psychology sessions actually cost in Australia in 2026, what Medicare covers, how gap fees work, and what options exist if cost is a genuine barrier. There are no hidden catches here — just clear information so you can make an informed decision about your care.

One thing worth saying upfront: the cost of not getting help is also real. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions carry significant personal, occupational, and relational costs when left unaddressed. Evidence-based psychological therapy has a strong research base for many conditions. This article is here to help you understand the financial landscape — not to pressure you in any direction.

The Two Numbers That Matter: Session Fee and Medicare Rebate

When you see a psychologist in Australia, two figures determine what you pay out-of-pocket:

1. The psychologist’s session fee — set by the individual practice
2. The Medicare rebate — a fixed amount the government pays back to you (if you have a referral)

The difference between the two is your gap fee, sometimes called the out-of-pocket cost.

Gap fee = Session fee − Medicare rebate

Medicare Rebates for Psychology (2025–26)

To access a Medicare rebate for psychology sessions, you need a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) — a document prepared by your GP after a mental health assessment. See our companion article on psychologist vs psychiatrist vs counsellor for more on how this process works.

With a valid MHTP, you are entitled to a rebate for up to 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year under the Better Access initiative. The rebates vary depending on the type of psychologist:

Psychologist Type	Medicare Item	Rebate (50 min session)
Clinical Psychologist	80010	$145.25
Registered (General) Psychologist	80110	$98.95

Rebates are current at the time of writing and subject to annual indexation. See our fees page for our latest schedule.

These rebates apply to 50-minute individual sessions. Different item numbers apply to other session formats (initial consultations, longer sessions, group therapy), and rebates differ accordingly.

What Do Psychology Sessions Actually Cost?

Psychology fees in Australia are not regulated. Each practice sets its own fees based on factors including the practitioner’s experience and specialisation, the location and overheads of the practice, and the complexity of the clinical work involved.

In Sydney in 2026, you can broadly expect:

Psychologist Type	Typical Fee Range (50 min)	Medicare Rebate	Typical Gap Fee
Clinical Psychologist (major city)	$220 – $350+	$145.25	$75 – $205+
Registered Psychologist (major city)	$160 – $280	$98.95	$61 – $181+
Clinical Psychologist (regional)	$180 – $280	$145.25	$35 – $135+

These are indicative ranges only. Fees at individual practices may fall outside these ranges.

For Mind Health Associates’ current fees, please visit our fees page.

How Does the Medicare Rebate Actually Work?

In practice, claiming your Medicare rebate is straightforward. Most psychology practices use an electronic claiming system, which means the rebate is processed on the spot — typically returned to your bank account within one to two business days. You pay the full session fee to the practice, and Medicare refunds the rebate directly to you.

Some practices offer bulk billing or direct billing, where they accept the Medicare rebate as full payment and charge you nothing. However, as explained below, this is rare in psychology.

You do not need your Medicare card physically present for every session — your details are stored in the system — but you will need your card when you first register with a practice.

Why Is Bulk Billing So Rare in Psychology?

Bulk billing means the psychologist accepts the Medicare rebate as their only payment, with no gap fee charged. In general practice (GP clinics), bulk billing is relatively common. In psychology, it is not — and for straightforward financial reasons.

The Medicare rebate for a Clinical Psychologist is $145.25. A 50-minute session may actually require 60–75 minutes of a psychologist’s time when preparation, clinical notes, correspondence, and supervision are included. At current rebate rates, bulk billing is not financially viable for most practices when operating costs (rent, insurance, staffing, professional development) are factored in.

Some practices do offer bulk billing to specific populations — healthcare card holders, students, or people experiencing financial hardship. Others offer a reduced-fee or “concession” rate that lowers the gap without eliminating it entirely. It is always worth asking — many practices are willing to discuss fee arrangements discreetly.

The Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) rebate rates have not kept pace with the real cost of delivering psychological services. This is a known issue, actively discussed in the profession and in policy circles, but it is the current reality.

The 10-Session Limit: What You Need to Know

Under Better Access, you can access up to 10 individually-funded Medicare-rebated psychology sessions per calendar year (January to December). These sessions are typically structured as an initial six sessions, with your GP reviewing your progress before referring for up to four more.

A few important nuances:

• Sessions do not roll over from one year to the next. Unused sessions in 2026 cannot be carried into 2027.
• The 10-session cap is per calendar year, not per referral.
• If your GP refers you after a review and you have used your 10 sessions, you will need to wait until the new calendar year.
• Some circumstances allow for additional sessions beyond 10 — most notably eating disorder treatment, where up to 40 sessions per year may be available under specific item numbers.

If you need more frequent or extended support than 10 sessions per year, your psychologist can discuss what ongoing care might look like outside the Medicare scheme, or explore other funding options.

Private Health Insurance: Is It Worth Claiming?

Many Australians have private health insurance with “extras” or “ancillary” cover that includes psychology. The rebate amount varies widely depending on your policy and insurer — but for most policies, the psychology rebate is modest (often in the range of $40–$80 per session, sometimes less).

Here is the key consideration: you cannot claim both Medicare and private health insurance for the same session. You must choose one or the other.

For most people, the Medicare rebate for psychology is higher than the equivalent private health insurance rebate. This means that if you have a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan, claiming Medicare is usually the better financial decision.

Private health insurance psychology benefits are worth considering when:

• You have used your 10 Medicare-funded sessions for the year and are continuing therapy out-of-pocket
• Your specific session type is not Medicare-rebatable (for example, certain extended consultations or session formats)
• Your policy has unusually generous psychology rebates

Check your policy’s schedule of benefits carefully, and contact your insurer to confirm the per-session rebate before making a decision.

NDIS Funding for Psychology

If you are a participant in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), psychology sessions may be funded under your NDIS plan — provided the support is related to your disability and is included in your approved plan.

Psychology support under the NDIS is typically funded under Improved Daily Living supports (formerly Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living). An NDIS plan does not automatically include psychology funding; it depends on your individual plan and whether the funding is deemed “reasonable and necessary” in relation to your disability support needs.

NDIS and Medicare cannot generally be used together for the same session. If you are an NDIS participant receiving psychology funded through your plan, this is usually separate from the Medicare Better Access scheme.

If you believe psychology funding may be relevant to your NDIS plan, it is worth discussing this with your support coordinator or NDIS planner, and asking your psychologist whether they are registered as an NDIS provider.

Mind Health Associates can discuss NDIS options as part of an initial consultation. Please contact us to enquire.

Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP): Free Sessions Through Work

If you are employed, check whether your employer offers an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). EAP is a confidential counselling and support service funded by your employer and provided by an external organisation.

Under a typical EAP arrangement, you can access three to six free sessions per year (sometimes more, depending on the scheme and your employer’s contract). Sessions are completely confidential — your employer does not receive any information about why you are attending or what is discussed.

EAP services vary in quality and in the range of issues they can address. They are typically designed for short-term, focused support — workplace stress, a difficult life event, mild to moderate anxiety or low mood. They are generally not designed for complex or longer-term clinical presentations.

EAP sessions are a genuinely valuable and underutilised resource. If your employer offers EAP, it is worth knowing about before you need it.

Concession and Reduced Fees

If cost is a significant barrier, there are several avenues worth exploring:

Healthcare card holders: Some psychology practices offer reduced fees for holders of a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. This is at the individual practice’s discretion.

University training clinics: Psychology training clinics at Australian universities offer sessions at significantly reduced cost, delivered by supervised student psychologists. Quality varies, but for some presentations and some clients, this can be a viable and helpful option.

Community mental health services: State government-funded community mental health services provide psychological and psychiatric support, typically without charge, for people meeting eligibility criteria (usually more complex or acute presentations).

Community organisations: Some not-for-profit organisations — including Headspace (for young people up to age 25), Beyond Blue’s referral network, and others — can connect people with low-cost or subsidised psychological support.

Open Arms: For veterans and their families, Open Arms (operated by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs) provides free mental health services, including psychology.

If cost is a barrier to you seeking support, please raise this when you enquire with any practice. Most clinicians would rather have that conversation openly than have someone go without care they need.

A Cost Comparison at a Glance

Funding Pathway	Who It Applies To	Sessions Available	Your Out-of-Pocket
Better Access (Medicare) — Clinical Psychologist	Anyone with a GP MHTP	Up to 10/year	Gap fee ($75–$205+ typically in Sydney)
Better Access (Medicare) — Registered Psychologist	Anyone with a GP MHTP	Up to 10/year	Gap fee ($61–$181+ typically in Sydney)
Private (no Medicare)	Anyone (no referral needed)	Unlimited	Full session fee
Private health insurance extras	Policy holders (no Medicare same session)	Per policy limits	Gap above insurer rebate
NDIS	NDIS participants (plan dependent)	Per plan	Nil (if funded in plan)
EAP	Employees (employer-funded)	Typically 3–6/year	Nil
Bulk billing	Where offered (limited availability)	Per referral	Nil
Concession/reduced fee	Healthcare card holders, students (practice discretion)	Per referral	Reduced gap

Planning a Course of Therapy: What to Budget

If you are accessing psychology through the Better Access Medicare scheme in Sydney, a realistic budget for a 12-month course of therapy (10 Medicare-funded sessions plus two or three additional sessions) might look like this:

• 10 sessions at a $120 gap fee = $1,200 out-of-pocket (for the year)
• Additional sessions out-of-pocket = session fee in full

This is a meaningful financial commitment. It is also, for many people, one of the more significant investments they make in their own wellbeing and functioning. The evidence base for psychological therapy — particularly CBT and related approaches — suggests that a focused course of therapy can produce lasting change, not just symptomatic relief during the treatment period.

Many people find that investing in a shorter, more intensive course of evidence-based therapy has long-term benefits that outweigh the upfront cost.

Getting the Most from Your Medicare Sessions

A few practical suggestions:

Be clear about your goals. Before your first session, think about what you most want to address. Clear goals help you and your psychologist work efficiently and track progress.

Keep your GP in the loop. Your GP is part of your mental health care team under the Better Access scheme. Attend your scheduled review appointments so your MHTP can be renewed if needed.

Use the sessions. Between-session practice — applying what you’ve worked on in therapy to real situations — is strongly associated with positive outcomes in research on CBT and related therapies. The sessions are most effective when the work continues outside the consulting room.

Ask questions about fees upfront. Any reputable practice will be transparent about their fees, the Medicare rebate, and your likely out-of-pocket costs before you book. You should not need to guess.

Mind Health Associates Fees

For our current fee schedule, Medicare item numbers, and information about concession arrangements, please visit our fees page.

We are transparent about costs and welcome questions about fees before or at your initial appointment. If you would like to discuss whether our services are suitable for your needs, contact us or use our online enquiry form.

You can also explore our self-assessment tools if you would like some initial orientation to how you are travelling before booking an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a psychologist cost in Australia in 2026?

Fees are unregulated and set by each practice. In Sydney, clinical psychologists typically charge around $220 to $350-plus per 50-minute session, and registered psychologists around $160 to $280. With a Mental Health Treatment Plan, Medicare rebates reduce the out-of-pocket gap. Always ask a practice for its fees and your likely gap before booking.

How much is the Medicare rebate for psychology?

With a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan, the rebate is approximately $145.25 per session with a clinical psychologist (item 80010) and around $98.95 with a registered psychologist (item 80110). These figures apply to 50-minute sessions, are current at the time of writing, and are indexed annually, so confirm the latest amounts with Services Australia.

Why don’t psychologists bulk bill?

Bulk billing means accepting the Medicare rebate as full payment. Because the rebate has not kept pace with the real cost of delivering therapy, including preparation, notes and overheads, it is not financially viable for most practices. Some offer reduced or concession rates for healthcare card holders or those experiencing hardship, so it is worth asking discreetly.

Can I claim both Medicare and private health insurance for psychology?

No. You must choose one or the other for a given session. For most people the Medicare rebate is higher than the private health insurance extras rebate, so claiming Medicare with a Mental Health Treatment Plan is usually the better option. Private cover can be useful once your ten Medicare-funded sessions are used.

How many Medicare-rebated psychology sessions can I get per year?

Under the Better Access initiative you can access up to 10 individually-funded sessions per calendar year. These are usually structured as an initial six, with a GP review before a further four. Sessions do not roll over to the next year. Some situations, such as eating disorder treatment, allow additional sessions under specific items.

What can I do if I can’t afford a psychologist?

Several options exist. Employee Assistance Programs offer free sessions through some employers. University training clinics provide reduced-cost sessions. Community mental health services, Headspace for under-25s, and Open Arms for veterans may help. NDIS may fund psychology if related to your disability. It is always worth raising cost openly when you enquire.

Related reading

• How to get a Mental Health Care Plan
• Psychologist vs psychiatrist vs counsellor
• NDIS psychology funding explained

About the author: Bülent Ada is the Principal Psychologist and Founding Director of Mind Health Associates in Parramatta, Sydney. With over 20 years of clinical experience, Bülent specialises in anxiety disorders, trauma, mood disorders, and complex adult presentations. Learn more about Bülent

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please consult a qualified health professional.

Ready to take the next step? Mind Health Associates offers evidence-based psychological support in Parramatta and via telehealth across Australia. Contact us to enquire about appointments.