Things people ask us.
About our name, our approach, therapy, assessments, appointments and care.
Every question, in one place.
Questions from every page of this site, gathered here. Search for a word, or choose a theme. Each answer links back to the page it came from. Still stuck? Ask us. No question is too small.
Getting started and appointments
Write instead of phoning
Email hello@liminalclinic.com.au and say you prefer written contact. We will not ring unless you ask us to.
From Accessibility
Have someone make first contact for you
A partner, friend, support worker, advocate or parent can get in touch on your behalf. You'll still register with us yourself, with help if you like. Therapy here is voluntary, and it needs to be you who wants to work with us.
From Accessibility
The intake questions in advance
In writing, to answer in your own time rather than on the spot.
From Accessibility
Forms done differently
On paper, in a session with help, or by phone with our Client Experience Team typing.
From Accessibility
Longer appointments
If 50 minutes is not enough time to arrive, settle, think and finish.
From Accessibility
Online, in person, or a mix
Whichever works, and you can change your mind.
From Accessibility
A quiet arrival
Wait somewhere quieter, or in your car and be messaged when it is time, or be met at the door.
From Accessibility
The room, your way
Lights off or dimmed, a lamp instead of the overhead, blinds, no scent, a different chair, the door open or closed. Move, stim, fidget, sit on the floor, skip the eye contact.
From Accessibility
Someone with you
A support person, interpreter or assistance animal. Assistance animals are welcome.
From Accessibility
Breaks, or ending early
Without it being a problem.
From Accessibility
What happens after I email?
Our Client Experience Team replies within 2 business days. If you'd like to become a client, we'll ask you to fill in the enquiry form, because that's how everyone starts.
From Contact
Do I have to use the form?
We prefer it, because it goes straight into our system. If forms are hard for you, tell us and our Client Experience Team will call and do most of your registration over the phone.
From Contact
Can I text or call instead?
Yes. (03) 7042 9820 during clinic hours. Voicemail is checked on business days; email and voicemail aren't monitored outside hours, so please don't use them in an emergency.
From Contact
Who will I talk to first?
Our Client Experience Team. They aren't clinicians, and they're very good at making the admin part painless.
From Contact
Where exactly are you?
386 Malvern Road, Prahran, inside BeingWell Prahran, between Prahran police station and The Victoria Clinic. Little Pantry café at the front of the building, is there if you're early.
From Contact
How do I get there by public transport?
Tram 72 stops on Malvern Road about a minute's walk away. Hawksburn station is about seven minutes' walk.
From Contact
Where do I park?
There is no clinic car park. Free 1 to 2 hour parking in the side streets; check the signs, as limits vary. Allow a few minutes to find a spot.
From Contact
Is it wheelchair accessible?
No. There are one step at the entrance, which a portable ramp can cover, then four steps inside to the room with no ramp or lift. If steps are a barrier for you, tell us before you book and we will offer telehealth, or help you find somewhere that works. Our accessibility page has every detail, honestly.
From Contact
What if I'm early, or running late?
Early: wait in the café or the reception area. There's no need to check in. Late: come in anyway; we'd rather see you for part of a session than not at all.
From Contact
Can I bring someone?
Yes. A partner, parent, friend, interpreter or support worker. Tell us in advance so we set the room up.
From Contact
What do I need for telehealth?
A device with a camera, a quiet room, and reasonable internet. We use Google Meet; the link arrives by email before your session.
From Contact
What if the connection drops?
We'll call you back on your phone. We ask where you are at the start of each session so we can help if something goes wrong.
From Contact
Can I keep my camera off?
Yes. Camera off, typing instead of speaking, lights down: all fine.
From Contact
Do you see people interstate or overseas?
Yes. Telehealth across every state and territory, and internationally where our registration allows.
From Contact
Do I need a referral?
Yes, every client does, including people paying privately. You don't need it to enquire. Before your first appointment, get a referral from your GP with your medications and medical history. Your GP is the hub of your care, and we need to be connected with them in case anything goes wrong. A Mental Health Treatment Plan, Eating Disorder Plan or Chronic Condition Management Plan is a separate document, and it's what unlocks a Medicare rebate.
From FAQs
How do I become a client?
Start with the enquiry form. New clients can't book directly. Our Client Experience Team reads every enquiry and replies within 2 business days. Then a short Getting To Know You questionnaire and a registration form (or an intake call if forms are hard). Once you're accepted and we have your GP referral, we book your first appointment.
From FAQs
How long until a first appointment?
Usually within one to two weeks of registration, depending on the clinician and whether you need daytime or evening times.
From FAQs
Can I choose my clinician?
Yes. Tell us what matters, whether that is language, gender, lived experience or a particular approach, and we match from there. If it doesn't feel right after the first session, say so and we'll change it.
From FAQs
Who do you work with?
Adults aged 18 and over. We don't see children or adolescents, and we don't accept referrals for anyone under 18. If you're under 18 we'll point you to headspace or Kids Helpline kindly.
From FAQs
Can I sit in on a session, or talk to their psychologist?
Only with the client's written consent. They decide who is involved and how much is shared. Support people are welcome in sessions when the client wants them there, and many people bring someone to the first one.
From FAQs
How do I refer someone?
Send the referral and the plan through HealthLink (our EDI is bxavierp) or by email to hello@liminalclinic.com.au, with a reply address. We acknowledge within two business days and send a separate acceptance email once we know we're the right fit. The For referrers page has the detail, including that we don't use fax.
From FAQs
How much notice do you need to change a session?
Two full business days. A Thursday appointment needs notice by the end of Monday. Moving to another time the same day, or switching between in-person and telehealth, is free.
From FAQs
What happens if I cancel late or miss a session?
The full session fee applies, charged to you directly, as funders don't cover it. No fee with a medical certificate within 48 hours, in a bereavement, or if we can refill your slot. Once per client you can put the fee towards a replacement session booked within 7 days. Anything else, ask. Waivers are at the Director's discretion.
From FAQs
How do I cancel?
Online in the client booking portal, which confirms it straight away. Or phone (03) 7042 9820. We can't take changes or cancellations by email or SMS. A phone cancellation is confirmed only once our Client Experience Team or your clinician replies to say so. If Lyngo, our AI phone assistant, completes it during your call, the confirmation SMS or email confirms it. For the fee, a voicemail counts from when you left it. Texts can't cancel.
From FAQs
Can I get a certificate of attendance?
Yes. If you need one for work or study, ask at your session or email hello@liminalclinic.com.au and we'll send it. It confirms the date and time you attended and nothing else.
From FAQs
Will a complaint affect my care?
No. A complaint to us or to anyone else must not affect your appointments, fees, funding, access or your relationship with your psychologist. If you feel it has, tell us. That is itself a complaint.
Can I complain about someone else's care?
Yes. We always receive, record and acknowledge it. We can give a full outcome only with the client's written consent, or to their legal health decision-maker if they can't consent. Otherwise we confirm only that we received and considered it. We never confirm or deny that someone is a client.
Is there an appeal?
Not inside the clinic. If you're not happy with the outcome, go to the Health Complaints Commissioner or Ahpra. The outcome letter says how.
What about privacy?
You can go to the Health Complaints Commissioner, or the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) on 1300 363 992. Our Privacy Officer is the Director: privacy@liminalclinic.com.au. Our privacy policy has more.
What about discrimination or accessibility?
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (1300 292 153) or the Australian Human Rights Commission (1300 656 419). Barriers on this site or in our building: see Access and accessibility.
Is this a crisis line?
No. If you're in immediate danger, call 000. Lifeline is 13 11 14. Our crisis support page lists more.
What if I am early?
Sit in the waiting area, the quiet area, or the café at the front. Nobody will hurry you in.
From Finding your way in
What if I am late?
Come anyway. The session runs to its scheduled end time, and we would rather see you for thirty minutes than not at all.
From Finding your way in
Will someone say my name out loud?
Not if you check in on the tablet or by the link. Your psychologist will come and find you and can use whatever you have asked to be called.
From Finding your way in
Can I bring someone with me?
Yes. A partner, parent, friend, support worker or interpreter is welcome, in the waiting area or the room. Tell us beforehand so there is a seat for them.
From Finding your way in
Is there somewhere to be alone before a session?
The quiet area, down the hallway. Ask at reception or just use it.
From Finding your way in
What about the police station next door?
We mention it because some people would rather know before they arrive than after. It is a separate building and has nothing to do with us.
From Finding your way in
Can I do this by video instead?
Yes. Telehealth by video is available for most of what we do. We prefer cameras on; if that is a barrier for you, say so before you book and we will talk through what is possible.
From Finding your way in
Will there be a floor plan?
That is next on the list: an architectural-style drawing of the building so you can see the whole space at once. Until then, the videos above cover every part of the route.
From Finding your way in
Confirmation
You'll get a confirmation when your appointment is booked, an email reminder five days before and an SMS two days before.
From Getting started
Questionnaires
We send all new clients questionnaires to complete online, either before or after the first session. They arrive from NovoPsych, Client Forms or PracSuite, and they help us adapt our approach to you.
From Getting started
A message one hour before
You'll receive a message an hour before your appointment. Use it to check in. In person, you can also check in on the tablet at the reception desk. You don't need to speak to anyone. Reception staff are not part of The Liminal Clinic and won't know who you are.
From Getting started
Your referral
Send your GP referral, and your treatment plan if you have one, to hello@liminalclinic.com.au before your first appointment. You or your GP clinic can send it. We're a paper-free office, so there's nothing to bring on the day.
From Getting started
Funding and insurance details
NDIS plan, WorkSafe or TAC claim numbers, or private health details, emailed ahead the same way.
From Getting started
What to wear
Whatever you like, online or in person.
From Getting started
Fidgets
Bring your own if you want to. We have some in the room too.
From Getting started
Session length
50 minutes. Sessions that include EMDR can run up to 90 minutes.
From Getting started
In person to online
If you need to, an in-person appointment can be changed to online.
From Getting started
Device
Any device works. For a better experience, especially for EMDR, we recommend a laptop, computer or tablet.
From Getting started
Test your setup
Please test your camera, microphone and internet ahead of time, especially if you're using headphones. The Google Meet link arrives by email.
From Getting started
If the connection drops
We'll call you back on your phone.
From Getting started
Changing an appointment
Please give at least 2 full business days' notice. The quickest way is the client booking portal, which confirms the change straight away. You can also phone (03) 7042 9820. We can't take changes or cancellations by email or SMS. A phone change is confirmed only once our Client Experience Team or your clinician replies to say so: a voicemail on its own doesn't confirm it. If our AI phone assistant, Lyngo, completes the change during your call, the SMS or email confirmation you get confirms it. Short-notice changes and missed appointments are charged at the full session fee.
From Getting started
SMS
Replying to a reminder text can't change or cancel an appointment. Please phone or email instead. Don't send sensitive information by SMS.
From Getting started
Can I get a certificate of attendance for work or study?
Yes. Ask at your session or email hello@liminalclinic.com.au and we'll send one. It confirms the date and time you attended, and nothing about what was discussed.
From Getting started
Fees, rebates and funding
What does a session cost?
A standard 50-minute session is $150 with a Provisional Psychologist, $250 with a Registered Psychologist, $275 with a Clinical Psychologist, and $300 with our Principal Psychologist. Extended 80-minute sessions are 1.5 times the standard rate. Not every role is filled at any one time; the team page shows who is available now.
From FAQs
Is there an after-hours fee?
An additional $20 applies to evening (from 5pm) and weekend appointments, where available. There is no card fee, processing fee or surcharge of any kind.
From FAQs
When do I pay?
On the day of your appointment. New clients store a card securely with our payment processor, Tyro Health, before their first appointment; we only ask you to update it when it expires.
From FAQs
Can I get a payment plan?
Yes. Tell us before the appointment. Plans run for a maximum of two months on standard terms.
From FAQs
Do you bulk bill?
No. Our fees are private fees, with Medicare rebates available where you have a valid referral.
From FAQs
How much does Medicare give back?
Rebates are set by the Department of Health and change each 1 July. From 1 July 2026: no rebate with a Provisional Psychologist, $101.55 with a Registered Psychologist (including our Principal Psychologist), $149.05 with a Clinical Psychologist. If our figures ever differ from mbsonline.gov.au, MBS Online is right.
From FAQs
How many Medicare sessions can I claim?
Up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions per calendar year under Better Access. Your first referral covers up to six sessions before your GP reviews. Since November 2025 the referral needs to come from your MyMedicare practice, your usual GP, or a psychiatrist.
From FAQs
Do you take NDIS?
Self-managed and plan-managed participants, yes. We are not an NDIS-registered provider, so we cannot see NDIA-managed participants, and we'll help you find someone who can.
From FAQs
What about WorkSafe, TAC or DVA?
We see WorkSafe Victoria and TAC clients at our full private fee and do not accept funder fee caps; you remain responsible for the gap. We are not accepting DVA-funded clients in 2026.
From FAQs
Can I use private health insurance?
Some extras policies pay a benefit for psychology; ask your fund. You can't claim Medicare and private health for the same session.
From FAQs
How do you invoice a plan manager?
Directly, at the NDIS price limit or our private fee if that's lower. Send the participant's details and the plan manager's billing address with the referral, and nothing is paid on the day.
From FAQs
Do I need a referral?
You can contact us yourself. Anyone can. Before your first appointment, everyone gets a referral from their GP, so we're connected with the hub of your care; a Mental Health Treatment Plan, Eating Disorder Plan or Chronic Condition Management Plan is what unlocks a Medicare rebate.
From Fees and rebates
What is the gap with a Registered Psychologist?
$250 fee, $101.55 rebate, $148.45 out of pocket, until the safety net kicks in.
From Fees and rebates
Is there a rebate for a Provisional Psychologist?
No. Sessions are $150 with no Medicare rebate.
From Fees and rebates
What about private health insurance?
Many extras policies rebate psychology. We give you receipts to claim, and some funds allow direct claiming.
From Fees and rebates
Can someone else pay?
Yes. NDIS plan managers, WorkSafe Victoria, TAC, Victims of Crime and State Trustees can all be invoiced directly. See Funding.
From Fees and rebates
Therapy and approaches
Can I just have EMDR?
No. We do not offer EMDR on its own. It is one part of integrated therapy, and it comes after an intake, an assessment and enough stability to make it safe and useful. If you are looking for a stand-alone EMDR course, we are probably not the right fit. Our Client Experience Officers can help you think about where might be.
From EMDR therapy
Why would I start in 2027?
EMDR here is delivered by one psychologist, Brydan Xavier, who has limited capacity. He is accepting applications now for places in 2027, and we contact people in order as places open. Our Client Experience Officers can tell you roughly where things stand.
From EMDR therapy
Can I get support while I wait?
Yes. Our Client Experience Officers can talk through other options with you, and our crisis support page lists services that answer around the clock. Waiting for EMDR should not mean waiting for any help at all.
From EMDR therapy
Do I have to talk about what happened?
Not in detail. You need to be able to bring the memory to mind, but you do not have to describe it out loud. Many people find this the most important difference from other trauma therapies.
From EMDR therapy
How many sessions will I need?
It varies more than anything else here. A single-event memory can shift in a handful of processing sessions. Long histories take longer, mostly because the preparation takes longer. We review progress with you rather than leaving it open-ended.
From EMDR therapy
Is EMDR only for trauma?
No. It is best known for trauma and PTSD. It is also used for anxiety and panic, phobias, grief, depression and low self-worth: anywhere past experiences keep a hold on the present. The research is strongest for PTSD and growing for the others. We will tell you honestly where it fits for you, and when another approach would suit you better.
From EMDR therapy
Will I feel worse before I feel better?
You may feel tired or stirred up for a day or so after a processing session. Being knocked sideways for a week is a sign we went too fast, and we would change the plan.
From EMDR therapy
Does EMDR work online?
Yes. Online EMDR uses eye movements following a moving target on screen, or taps you do yourself. We make sure you have a private space and a plan before we start.
From EMDR therapy
Is it covered by Medicare?
EMDR is given in psychology sessions, so the Medicare rebate under a Mental Health Treatment Plan applies in the usual way. The rebate is paid per session, not per minute, so a longer session has a larger gap. Our Client Experience Officers will give you the exact figure before you start.
From EMDR therapy
Can I have EMDR through WorkSafe, TAC or Victims of Crime?
Often, yes. The insurer needs to approve EMDR specifically before it starts. We make the request with you.
From EMDR therapy
Is EMDR hypnosis?
No. You are awake, aware and in control the whole time, and you can stop at any moment.
From EMDR therapy
Where can I see an EMDR psychologist in Melbourne?
Here, in person at our Prahran clinic or online anywhere in Australia. EMDR is offered as part of integrated therapy, not on its own, and Brydan is accepting applications for 2027. Our Client Experience Officers can take yours.
From EMDR therapy
How often will I come?
Weekly, fortnightly or monthly, whatever fits your life and the work. Most people start fortnightly and loosen from there. Nothing is locked in.
From FAQs
How long does therapy take?
We're a medium- to long-term service. The Liminal Model has five phases, but they're a map, not a schedule, and nobody is moved along to free up a slot.
From FAQs
What approaches do you use?
Trauma-informed CBT, Schema Therapy, ACT, DBT skills, and EMDR and EMDR 2.0, adapted to how your mind actually works. EMDR is delivered by our Principal Psychologist as one part of integrated therapy, usually in a standard session and sometimes up to 90 minutes.
From FAQs
Can I keep my camera off, or type instead of talk?
Yes. Stim, mask, unmask, type, bring a support person, keep the lights down. You shouldn't have to ask.
From FAQs
Do you screen everyone for neurodivergence and trauma?
Yes. Every new client is screened at intake for different forms of neurodivergence and for trauma, so nothing important is missed for years. This helps us provide neurodivergence- and trauma-informed care, and is based on Australian guidelines, research and evidence.
From FAQs
Do you practise ABA?
No.
From FAQs
Do I get to choose the approach?
You get a say. We'll recommend based on what you bring, explain the reasoning, and adjust if it's not fitting.
From Therapy approaches
Is EMDR only for trauma?
It's most established for trauma and distressing memories, but it can be useful for other specific, memory-linked difficulties too, and we'll tell you if it's a fit.
From Therapy approaches
What if I've tried CBT before and it didn't help?
That's useful information, not a dead end. We'll ask what specifically didn't land and consider a different approach rather than repeating it.
From Therapy approaches
Will therapy always follow a strict manual?
No. Approaches give us structure and evidence, not a script. Sessions still respond to what's actually happening for you.
From Therapy approaches
Do you offer schema therapy in Melbourne?
Yes. Schema therapy is one of the approaches we use, in person at our Prahran clinic in Melbourne and online anywhere in Australia. It suits patterns that have been running for years.
From Therapy approaches
Gender-affirming care
Do you write WPATH letters?
Yes. WPATH-aligned readiness assessments and letters for hormone therapy and surgery, typically 3 to 6 sessions, written in plain language for the clinician who needs them.
From FAQs
Do I have to prove my gender to you?
No. Your identity is not a diagnosis. We oppose conversion practices in all their forms.
From FAQs
Do I have to want to talk about gender?
No. Plenty of people come to us for anxiety, grief, work or relationships, and gender barely comes up. Gender-affirming care means you are safe here whatever we are talking about.
Do I need a letter to start hormones?
Often not. Many adults in Australia start through a GP or sexual health clinic using an informed consent model. Some prescribers still ask for one. Ask us first and we will help you work out whether you need it.
How many sessions does a letter take?
Usually three to six. It depends on what the letter is for and what the surgeon or insurer asks for, not on proving anything.
Do I need a diagnosis of gender dysphoria?
Some surgeons and insurers want letters that use the DSM-5-TR or ICD-11 terms. We talk with you about the wording and why it is being asked for before we use it.
Can I get a letter if I have other mental health conditions?
Yes. Depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD or autism do not rule you out. Where something could make recovery harder, we plan the support together.
Do I have to be sure, or binary?
No. You can come to us while still questioning, and non-binary people are as welcome as anyone.
Can this happen online?
Yes, therapy and letter assessments both, anywhere in Australia.
Will you use my name and pronouns?
Yes, from the first conversation, including in anything we write. If your legal name has to appear on a form, we will tell you where and why.
What does it cost?
Therapy fees are on our fees page. Assessments and letters are quoted in full before anything starts, so there are no surprises.
Can my partner or family come?
If you want them to, yes, for some or all of a session. It is your call, not theirs.
I am under 18. Can you help?
We see adults only. QLife and Minus18 can help you find support for young people.
Are you LGBTIQA+ affirming psychologists in Melbourne?
Yes. Every psychologist here works in a gender-affirming, LGBTIQA+ affirming way, in person at our Prahran clinic in Melbourne and online anywhere in Australia. You can contact us to start the process, and you need a GP referral before your first appointment.
Do you see trans, gender diverse and queer clients in Melbourne?
Yes. We are trans-affirming and queer-affirming psychologists, in person at our Prahran clinic in Melbourne and online anywhere in Australia. You can bring anything, and gender only comes up if you want it to.
What if you think I am not ready?
This is not pass or fail. If something needs more support, such as your recovery plan, we tell you openly and make a plan together. You can also ask for a second opinion, and we will help you find one.
Do I have to talk about my body in detail?
Only as much as the surgery needs. You can pause, skip or come back to anything.
Do I have to be sure, or binary?
You need to understand and consent to the surgery you are asking for. You do not need to fit a particular idea of gender.
How much personal detail goes in the report?
Only what the surgeon needs to see that the standards are met. You read the draft and can ask us to change how things are said.
Can this all be online?
Yes, anywhere in Australia.
Can my partner or a support person come?
Yes, if you want them to, for some or all of a session.
I have an intersex variation. Is that okay?
Yes. Tell us if you want to, but you do not have to. We will not assume anything about your body or history.
Can I read more first?
Yes. Download our free guides, including the full *Surgery readiness assessments* guide, from our client guides page. You can also ask to be contacted about becoming a client there.
Can you write a WPATH letter for top surgery?
Yes. We write WPATH SOC8-aligned letters for top surgery, bottom surgery and other gender-affirming procedures. Check first whether your surgeon accepts a letter from a Registered Psychologist, or only from a Clinical Psychologist or psychiatrist. You can contact us to start the process, and you need a GP referral before your first appointment.
Neurodivergence and assessment
Is 2e a real diagnosis?
No, and we would rather be straight about that. It is a descriptive term from educational psychology, not a DSM category. The underlying conditions, such as autism, ADHD and learning differences, are diagnosable. 2e describes how they present alongside high ability.
I was assessed before and told nothing was found. Should I bother again?
Possibly, yes. The most common reason for a miss in this group is an overall score in the normal range concealing a very wide spread. If you can get the original report, we will read it with you before you commit to repeating anything.
I do not think I am gifted. Does this still apply?
It might. The word puts a lot of people off, and many 2e adults reject it because their results never looked exceptional, which is precisely the mechanism. What matters is the gap between what you can do in the right conditions and what comes out.
What use is a diagnosis at my age?
It reframes decades of feedback that was inaccurate, it makes workplace and study adjustments accessible, and it changes what support actually fits. Most people describe it as one of the more significant things they have done.
Does the assessment cost the same as a standard one?
Ask us when you enquire and we will tell you plainly before you book anything. A Mental Health Treatment Plan covers eligible therapy sessions, not assessment.
My child was just diagnosed and I recognised myself.
That is one of the most common routes to this page. We work with adults; where your own assessment would help, we can do that part.
Can I do therapy without an assessment?
Yes, and plenty of people do. The patterns respond to treatment whether or not anything is formally named.
What if I only meet some of it?
Then we work with what is there. Nothing here is gated on clearing a threshold.
Do you see twice exceptional adults in Melbourne?
Yes. We work with gifted, neurodivergent adults, in person at our Prahran clinic in Melbourne and online anywhere in Australia. You can contact us to start the process, and you need a GP referral before your first appointment.
Do I need a diagnosis to start therapy?
No. Plenty of people work with us on attention, structure and the flow-on effects of ADHD without ever being formally assessed. You do still need a GP referral for the first appointment, like every client.
From ADHD
Does a Mental Health Treatment Plan cover the assessment?
No. It covers eligible therapy sessions. The assessment is a separate cost, which we will tell you plainly before you book anything.
From ADHD
I was diagnosed as a child. Do I need to be reassessed?
Not necessarily. We can usually work from an existing diagnosis. A fresh assessment is worth it if you need current, detailed documentation, for example for medication or study adjustments.
From ADHD
Can ADHD and autism overlap?
Yes, often. We screen broadly rather than assuming one explains everything, and it is common to hold both.
From ADHD
Do you prescribe medication?
No. We are psychologists, not prescribers. Where medication looks relevant we will talk about it, help you prepare, and liaise with your GP or a psychiatrist.
From ADHD
What if I do not meet the criteria?
You still get a written outcome explaining what we found and what would help. Sitting just under the threshold is common and does not mean nothing is going on.
From ADHD
Is an assessment done online?
Yes. The interview works well by video, and the questionnaires are completed online either way.
From ADHD
Will you write letters for work or study?
Yes, where the assessment supports it: reasonable adjustments, exam provisions, and letters your employer or university can act on.
From ADHD
Do you do ADHD assessments for adults in Melbourne?
Yes. We assess adults for ADHD in person at our Prahran clinic in Melbourne, and online anywhere in Australia. There is currently a waitlist. You can contact us to start the process, and you need a GP referral before your first appointment.
From ADHD
Is an ADHD psychologist different from a psychiatrist?
Yes. An ADHD psychologist assesses, diagnoses and provides therapy. A psychiatrist can also prescribe medication. Our report can make a later psychiatry appointment quicker and more focused.
From ADHD
Can I have an ADHD assessment online?
Yes. Adult ADHD assessments work well online for most people, anywhere in Australia. You can also come to our Prahran clinic in Melbourne.
From ADHD
Can you assess for ADHD and autism together (AuDHD)?
Yes. ADHD and autism often occur together, so we can consider both in one assessment. Many people who find this out are AuDHD.
From ADHD
I have friends, a job and a partner. Can I still be Autistic?
Yes. None of those rule autism out. Masking, intelligence and effort can produce a life that looks ordinary from outside and costs far more than it should from inside.
From Autism
Do I need a diagnosis to work with you?
No. Self-identification after careful reflection is taken seriously here. You do still need a GP referral for a first appointment, like every client.
From Autism
Can you assess me if I am ADHD as well?
Yes. We assess both together when that is the question, and we screen for one whenever we are assessing the other.
From Autism
What about the NDIS?
A diagnosis with a support level, and a report describing functional impact, are what the NDIS looks for. We write reports with that use in mind when it is your goal.
From Autism
Will you tell me I am Level 1 and that is that?
Levels describe current support needs, which change, and we explain what the level means for you rather than leaving it as a number.
From Autism
Is the assessment done online?
Yes. The interview works well by video, and the questionnaires are online either way. Camera on is preferred but not required.
From Autism
What if the assessment says I am not Autistic?
You still get a written outcome and a feedback session, and support for whatever is going on. Not meeting criteria does not mean nothing is there.
From Autism
Do you do ABA or social skills training?
No. We work with Autistic people, not on them.
From Autism
Do you do autism assessments for adults in Melbourne?
Not at the moment. We aren't taking new clients for standalone autism assessments. We offer neurodivergence screening, which can help you decide on next steps, and Autistic-affirming therapy in Prahran and online.
From Autism
Can I have an autism assessment online?
Not at the moment. We aren't taking new clients for standalone autism assessments. We offer neurodivergence screening, which can help you decide on next steps, and Autistic-affirming therapy in Prahran and online.
From Autism
Do you assess adults who suspect they were missed as children?
Yes. Many of the adults we see are late diagnosed, often after years of masking. Women, trans and gender diverse people are especially likely to be missed.
From Autism
Do you assess ADHD and autism in adults?
Yes. Screening if you aren't sure yet: questionnaires, education and a 25-minute discussion with a summary email. Full assessments for ADHD, autism and AuDHD, written for real life, not just the file.
From FAQs
What does an assessment cost?
Assessments and reports are charged at an hourly rate and quoted in writing before anything starts. You will not be charged more than the quote without agreeing first. Contact us for current pricing.
From FAQs
Are assessments recorded?
Formal assessments not conducted by the Director are video recorded so they can be reviewed for quality. We ask for your consent at the time, you can decline, and recordings are deleted after 12 months.
From FAQs
Mental health and trauma
Is my anxiety bad enough to bother with?
If it is costing you things you would otherwise do, it is worth treating. There is no severity threshold for being allowed to ask.
From Anxiety
Will you make me do things I am terrified of?
No. Exposure is planned with you, ordered by you, and started well below the hard end. Being pushed does not work; it teaches your system that the fear was justified.
From Anxiety
Can you just tell me nothing bad will happen?
We could, and it would help until about Thursday. Reassurance is one of the things maintaining the loop, so we will do something more useful instead.
From Anxiety
Are panic attacks dangerous?
No. They are among the most unpleasant experiences there are and they are not harmful. Understanding what is physically happening usually reduces their intensity on its own.
From Anxiety
Do I need medication?
Not necessarily. Psychological treatment alone works well for most anxiety disorders. At the severe end, or where anxiety is preventing you engaging with therapy at all, medication can help. That is a GP or psychiatrist decision and we will support either way.
From Anxiety
How long does it take?
Anxiety responds faster than most things we treat. Specific phobias can shift in a handful of sessions. Generalised or long-standing social anxiety takes longer. We review progress rather than assuming it.
From Anxiety
What if my anxiety is about something real?
Plenty is. Health, money, discrimination and safety are real risks for real people. The work then is not about whether the risk exists, but about whether the worry is doing anything useful about it, which it usually is not.
From Anxiety
I am autistic or ADHD. Is this different?
Yes, meaningfully. Anxiety driven by sensory overload, unpredictability or the cost of masking needs the environment addressing too, not just the thinking. Standard anxiety protocols applied without that adjustment tend to fail, and then get blamed on the person.
From Anxiety
Does it work over video?
Yes. Some exposure work is actually easier to do from home, because we can practise in the environment where it happens.
From Anxiety
Do you have a psychologist for anxiety in Melbourne?
Yes. We work with anxiety in adults, in person at our Prahran clinic in Melbourne and online anywhere in Australia. You can contact us to start the process, and you need a GP referral before your first appointment.
From Anxiety
My life is fine. Can I still be depressed?
Yes. Depression is not proportional to circumstances and does not require a justification. The belief that you have to earn the right to struggle is itself a common symptom.
Should I be on medication?
That is your GP's or psychiatrist's call, not ours, and it depends heavily on severity. For moderate to severe depression the evidence favours medication and therapy together. For milder depression, therapy alone does well. We will give you our honest read and support either choice.
I have been like this for twenty years. Is it too late?
No. Long-standing depression responds more slowly, not less. People who have never known a different baseline often get the most out of treatment, precisely because nobody has ever addressed it.
What if I cannot manage the between-session tasks?
Then they were the wrong size and we make them smaller. Not completing something is information about the plan, not evidence about you.
How long until something shifts?
Behavioural work often produces some movement within a few weeks. The deeper patterns take longer. If nothing has changed after a reasonable stretch, we change the approach rather than repeating it.
Is it depression or burnout?
They overlap and the distinction matters. Burnout is tied to a context and tends to lift when the context changes; depression travels with you. Autistic burnout is different again. We work this out with you rather than guessing.
Can therapy work over video?
Yes, and for depression it removes a real barrier. Getting out of the house is often the hardest part of the week.
What if I am having thoughts of not wanting to be here?
Tell us. It is more common than people think and saying it does not end the conversation or trigger anything automatic. We will talk about it directly and make a plan with you. If it is urgent right now, please use our crisis support page or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call 000.
Do you have a psychologist for depression in Melbourne?
Yes. We work with depression and low mood in adults, in person at our Prahran clinic in Melbourne and online anywhere in Australia. You can contact us to start the process, and you need a GP referral before your first appointment.
I am not underweight. Do I count?
Yes. Most people with serious eating disorders are not underweight, and the restrictive conditions that occur at higher weights carry the same medical risks. If a service has told you otherwise, that was a failure of that service.
Will you weigh me?
Not as a matter of course, and never without discussing it with you first. Where weight monitoring is clinically necessary, it is usually your GP's role, and it can be done without you seeing the number if you prefer.
Do I need a diagnosis?
No. Plenty of people work with us on their relationship with food and their body without ever meeting criteria for anything.
I am a man. Is this for me?
Yes. Men are under-identified, diagnosed later and treated less, largely because the public image and some of the screening tools were built around a narrow group. We also have a page specifically on eating and body concerns in men and trans people.
I am trans or non-binary and I cannot tell what is dysphoria and what is an eating difficulty.
That is a common and genuinely difficult question, and it does not have to be answered before starting. We hold both at once rather than treating either as a symptom of the other.
Will I have to give up my rules all at once?
No. That would not work and would not be safe. Change is gradual, agreed in advance, and paced by you.
Do I need a dietitian too?
Often it helps, particularly with ARFID or long-standing restriction. We will talk about whether it is worth it rather than referring reflexively.
What if I am not ready to change my eating?
Ambivalence is the normal starting position, not a barrier. Plenty of useful work happens before anyone is certain they want to let go of it.
Can you treat this over video?
Yes, with the caveat that medical monitoring has to happen in person with your GP. Many people find doing this work from home considerably easier.
Do you have an eating disorder psychologist in Melbourne?
Yes. We work with eating and body image concerns in adults, in person at our Prahran clinic in Melbourne and online anywhere in Australia. An Eating Disorder Plan from your GP can give up to 40 Medicare-rebated sessions if you are eligible. You can contact us to start the process, and you need a GP referral before your first appointment.
I have thoughts I am too ashamed to say. Do I have to?
Eventually, in some form, because the ones kept hidden tend to be the ones driving it. But not in the first five minutes, and you can start by naming the theme rather than the detail. We have heard it before.
If I tell you I have thoughts about harming someone, what happens?
Nothing automatic. Intrusive thoughts are not intentions, and OCD is one of the best-understood conditions there is in this respect. Distinguishing it from genuine risk is a routine clinical judgement. Withholding it is far more dangerous to you than telling us.
Is it OCD or am I just tidy?
If it is a preference, it is a preference. OCD involves distress, a lack of choice, and time you would rather have back. Tidiness that feels good is not OCD.
Will ERP mean touching toilets?
Only if that is genuinely your trigger and only when you choose to. Exposure is built around your actual fears, in your order. Most of it is far less dramatic than the internet suggests.
Why will you not just reassure me?
Because reassurance is a compulsion, and giving it would make us part of the loop. We will be direct about that when you ask, and it is not us being withholding.
Can OCD be cured?
Many people reach the point where it no longer meaningfully shapes their life. Others get very substantial reduction and keep a plan for flare-ups. Either outcome is a good one and both are realistic.
Do I need medication?
Not necessarily. ERP alone works well for many people. At the severe end, combining it with an SSRI often does better. That is a GP or psychiatrist decision, and we will work alongside either choice.
I am autistic. Are my routines OCD?
Often not. Autistic routines usually regulate and feel good; compulsions are driven by dread and performed to prevent something. Many autistic people have both, and working out which is which changes what we do. Removing a helpful routine because it was mistaken for a compulsion does real harm.
Does ERP work over video?
Yes, and sometimes better, because much of the exposure belongs in the environment where the rituals actually happen.
Do you have an OCD psychologist in Melbourne?
Yes. We work with OCD in adults, including exposure and response prevention, in person at our Prahran clinic in Melbourne and online anywhere in Australia. You can contact us to start the process, and you need a GP referral before your first appointment.
Do I need a PTSD diagnosis to start?
No. Most people we see for trauma do not have one and many never get one. A diagnosis matters for insurance and some funding, not for being taken seriously here.
From Trauma & PTSD
Do I have to talk about what happened?
Not in detail, and not before you want to. Some effective approaches need very little content at all. You control what is said and when.
From Trauma & PTSD
Will therapy make it worse?
Done badly and too fast, it can. That is why we build stability first and go at a pace you set. Feeling stirred up for a day or two after a processing session is normal; being knocked sideways for a week is a sign we went too fast, and we would change the plan.
From Trauma & PTSD
Can I have PTSD without one big event?
You can certainly be traumatised without one. The ICD-11 diagnosis of Complex PTSD exists precisely for harm that was prolonged and hard to escape rather than sudden and singular.
From Trauma & PTSD
What is EMDR actually like?
You hold an image or feeling in mind while following a side-to-side movement or tapping, in short sets, with breaks to check in. It is structured, you stay awake and in control, and you can stop at any point. It is woven into your wider therapy with our senior psychologist, usually in a standard session and sometimes up to ninety minutes.
From Trauma & PTSD
I am making a statement or going through a court process.
Tell us early. We work carefully around statements, evidence and hearings so that therapy does not complicate a legal process, and we can time the work around it.
From Trauma & PTSD
What if I dissociate in session?
We expect it, we will have talked about it beforehand, and we will have practised bringing you back. It is information, not a problem.
From Trauma & PTSD
How long does this take?
Honestly, it varies more than for most things we treat. Single-incident trauma can resolve in a handful of processing sessions. Trauma that ran for years usually takes longer. We review it with you rather than leaving it open-ended.
From Trauma & PTSD
Does it work over video?
Yes, including EMDR. For some people home is the safer room. We check that you have somewhere private and that we have a plan if a session gets difficult.
From Trauma & PTSD
What if I need help outside sessions?
We are not a crisis service and we do not answer after hours. Our crisis support page lists the services that do, around the clock, and we will build a plan with you for those hours.
From Trauma & PTSD
Do you have a trauma psychologist in Melbourne?
Yes. Our psychologists are trauma-informed and work with trauma, PTSD and complex PTSD, in person at our Prahran clinic in Melbourne and online anywhere in Australia. We go at your pace, and safety comes first. You can contact us to start the process, and you need a GP referral before your first appointment.
From Trauma & PTSD
Do you work with complex trauma and C-PTSD?
Yes. We work with complex trauma and complex PTSD, including identity-based trauma, at a pace that keeps you steady. EMDR, schema therapy and other approaches can be part of it.
From Trauma & PTSD
Access and accessibility
Questions before a session
So you can prepare.
From Accessibility
A written summary afterwards
Plain-language notes, so you do not have to hold everything in memory.
From Accessibility
Documents in another format
Large print, plain text, a Word file rather than a PDF, or read aloud.
From Accessibility
Reminders that work for you
SMS, email, more, fewer, or none.
From Accessibility
Preferences recorded once
So you do not have to ask again.
From Accessibility
Do I need a diagnosis or a letter?
No. You do not need a diagnosis, a report, a letter or any evidence. You do not need to explain why, or use the word disability or accommodation. “Can we do it this way instead?” is enough.
From Accessibility
Will it go on my record?
Nothing you ask for goes into a record as a problem. Asking is not a complaint, and it will not change how you are seen or treated.
From Accessibility
When can I ask?
Before you book, at booking, at intake, in your first session, or any time afterwards. Tell whoever you are dealing with, or email hello@liminalclinic.com.au. You can change what you have asked for.
From Accessibility
What if you can't do it?
We will tell you plainly why and look for another way, rather than leaving you with a no.
From Accessibility
Is the clinic accessible?
One small step at the entrance (we can put a ramp out), then four steps with handrails into the therapy room, which is not wheelchair accessible; telehealth is. An accessible toilet is on site. Sensory adjustments are easy to arrange: lights down, no scent, fan off. Just ask.
From FAQs
Where are you?
386 Malvern Road, Prahran, inside BeingWell Prahran, between the police station and The Victoria Clinic. The 72 tram stops about a minute away (Surrey Road stop 32 heading west, Hobson Street stop 33 heading east); Hawksburn station is seven minutes' walk. One-hour parking on Malvern Road, two-hour in the side streets. See Contact.
From FAQs
Do you work interstate or overseas?
Yes. Telehealth across Australia, and internationally where our registration allows.
From FAQs
Privacy, safety and technology
Who can see my file?
Only the staff who need it to provide your care, all bound by confidentiality. We share information outside the clinic only with your explicit written consent, or where the law requires it: a court order, mandatory reporting, or a serious and imminent risk to someone's safety.
From FAQs
Where is my information stored?
Your clinical record lives in PracSuite, on servers in Australia. Some tools we use (email, video, payments) operate overseas under agreements that meet Australian privacy standards. Full detail is in our Privacy Policy.
From FAQs
How long do you keep my records?
Seven years from your last appointment, then they're securely destroyed.
From FAQs
Can I see or correct my records?
Yes. Write to our Privacy Officer, Brydan Xavier, at privacy@liminalclinic.com.au. We respond within 30 days.
From FAQs
What about the identity map on your homepage?
Nothing you type into it is stored unless you ask us to email you the picture, and even then we keep your words only if you tick the box.
From FAQs
Do you use AI in sessions?
With your consent, we use Heidi Scribe to draft session notes. No audio is kept, transcripts are deleted after 12 months, and your clinician approves every note before it enters your file. You can decline at any time with no effect on your care.
From FAQs
Is there an AI on the phone or email?
Our reception assistant, Lyngo AI, handles first-contact enquiries by phone, chat and email. It makes no clinical decisions. A person handles anything about your care. It is not a crisis service.
From FAQs
Do you put my details into ChatGPT?
Never. Identifying client information is never entered into public AI tools. We use them only for administrative drafting.
From FAQs
How do telehealth sessions work?
Google Meet, from any device. If the connection drops we call you back on your phone. We'll ask where you are at the start of each session, so we can help if something goes wrong.
From FAQs
Are you a crisis service?
No. If you're in immediate danger call 000. Lifeline 13 11 14, Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, 13YARN 13 92 76. We don't monitor email or voicemail outside business hours. More on our Crisis support page.
From FAQs
I'm worried about someone. What can I do?
If they're in immediate danger call 000. Otherwise the support services directory lists lines for carers and family as well as the person themselves, and you can filter it by who you are. We can't discuss an existing client with you without their consent, but we can point you to the right service.
From FAQs
For referrers
How do I refer?
Through HealthLink (EDI bxavierp), by secure email to hello@liminalclinic.com.au, or with the referral form on this page. Include a reply address. We don't use fax.
From For referrers
Our practice usually faxes. Can we still refer?
Yes. Send the referral by HealthLink (EDI bxavierp) or secure email. Most practice software can do this. We send acknowledgements and progress reports the same way, by HealthLink or secure email, so we can't send reports by fax. If that's a problem for your practice, ring us on (03) 7042 9820 and we'll work it out.
From For referrers
How quickly will you respond?
An acknowledgement within two business days of receiving the referral, and a separate acceptance email once we have determined we are a good fit. Two emails, deliberately: the first is a receipt, the second is an answer.
From For referrers
Do you provide progress reports?
Yes, with a short summary at the top for busy GPs and the comprehensive detail underneath. People are complex; you should not have to read four pages to find the one thing you needed.
From For referrers
Do you copy clients into reports?
Yes, into all emailed progress reports, so everyone supporting the person is working from the same information. This is deliberate and it is not negotiable. It is what client-centred means here.
From For referrers
Do you screen for anything routinely?
Neurodivergence and trauma, with every new client, as part of the first phase rather than as an add-on someone has to know to ask for.
From For referrers
Are you NDIS-registered?
No. We are not registered with the NDIA. Self-managed and plan-managed participants are welcome and we invoice the plan manager directly; agency-managed participants can't use us at this time.
From For referrers
Can you provide certificates of attendance?
Yes. Where a client needs one for work or study, we provide a certificate of attendance on request. We also provide them for CPD sessions we deliver to your team.
From For referrers
Can I refer someone who lives interstate or overseas?
Yes, by telehealth. WorkSafe claims are Victorian-only; Medicare and private arrangements work anywhere in Australia, and we see people internationally at our private fee.
From For referrers
Nothing matches that. Try a shorter word, or ask us. No question is too small.
Still wondering.
Email hello@liminalclinic.com.au or call (03) 7042 9820. No question is too small, and nobody needs to know why you're asking.