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2026 Clinical Fees

We want to start by acknowledging what a challenging time this continues to be for many families. We recognise that cost of living pressures, alongside the everyday demands of parenting, work, health concerns, and family life, mean that every dollar matters. We genuinely understand this because we're experiencing many of these same pressures ourselves.

Running a sustainable practice means we face our own rising costs – professional indemnity insurance, supervision requirements, maintaining our premises, clinical resources, and supporting our team. We're constantly balancing our commitment to keeping our services accessible with the reality of what it costs to provide quality care. It's not an easy balance, and we don't take these decisions lightly.

With this in mind, we will be implementing our annual fee increase from Monday 2nd February 2026. This timing aligns with the CPI index and means we've held our current fees for a full year since our last increase. Our 2026 fees will range from $140 - $300 (*not including Psychological Assessments) and will depend on the time of your appointment. Evening (after 5:00pm) and weekend sessions will incur a higher fee. Our clinician fees reflect their qualifications, experience, skills and expertise.

We know this matters, so here's what we want you to know:

We cannot offer fully bulk billed sessions and do charge a gap payment at our clinic. However, if you're experiencing financial hardship, please talk to us. We offer reduced fees for a number of clients in difficult circumstances (managed individually by each clinician). We also have a policy of following up any unpaid accounts separately from your clinical care, so financial issues won't impact your ongoing support.

If money is tight right now, please reach out. We're here to work with you to find solutions, whether that's exploring hardship arrangements or helping you connect with alternative services if that's more appropriate.

We're grateful for your trust in us and remain committed to supporting your family.

Booking Your Appointments in 2026

As we head into the new year, we wanted to remind you how easy it is to book your appointments with us. If you're an existing client, you can log into your Halaxy Patient Portal at any time to view available appointments and book directly. If you're new to the practice or prefer not to use the portal, you can also book online through our website. Of course, if you'd rather speak with someone, you're always welcome to give us a call or send an email and we'll be happy to help find a time that works for you.

Clinical Programs

Over the course of January, a number of our clinicians will be running two tailor made programs for our clients. Commencing on 22 January, Susan Saxe will be running a Teddy Bears picnic (social skills group) for young children (under 10yrs). The group will provide an opportunity to share your holiday experiences, reduce back to school anxiety and meet some new people. For more information on the program, click here. In addition, Salva Crusca will be running an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) intensive for clients who have experienced significant single incident trauma in their lives. For more information, click here.

What Gets Lost When We Type Our Feelings

Tim Jezard, Principal Psychologist/Director, NCPS

If you've found yourself turning to ChatGPT or other Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools when you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, you're certainly not alone. AI companions (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.) have rapidly become a go-to for millions of people seeking support, with many preferring them over talking to friends or family for serious conversations.

And I can totally understand the appeal. AI is available 24/7 when anxiety strikes or you just want some advice. It doesn't judge. It never gets tired of listening. And for many people, it feels safer to type out their worries than to say them aloud. I, myself, am a regular AI user, whether that be for summarising long documents, getting recipe or travel ideas, or information that I would have used google for previously.

As a psychologist who's spent over two decades working with people of all ages, I think it's worth having an honest conversation about what AI can and can't offer when it comes to mental health support. To read more, visit our blog here.

Autism webinars

This week, experts on Autism, Dr Tony Attwood and Dr MIchelle Garnett are hosting a number of webinars that may be of interest. The topics of interoception, Autistic Burnout and Trauma will be covered in three separate sessions, each featuring evidence-based insights and practical strategies. A number of our clinicians and families have participated in webinars hosted by Tony and Michelle and found them to be incredibly valuable. For more information on the webcasts, please click on the link here and scroll down to Upcoming Events.

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Newport Counselling & Psychology Service, 43 Challis St Newport, Victoria 3015 Australia

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