Frequently asked questions
Welcome to Unison Mental Health’s FAQ page. Here, we answer common questions about therapy services at Unison Mental Health, including what services we offer, fees, types of therapy, and how to find the right therapist for you.
General
At Unison Mental Health, we offer therapy for individuals, couples, and relationship dynamics of two or more people. Our team of counsellors, therapists, and clinical psychologists provide trauma-informed, evidence-based, and relationship-focused support across a wide range of needs.
People come to us for support in a variety of areas, including communication and connection, trauma recovery, emotional regulation, identity and sexuality, and life transitions. Our services include:
Individual therapy for personal growth and mental wellbeing
Relationship therapy, including support for non-traditional or multi-partner dynamics
Sex therapy, offered within a safe, inclusive framework
Trauma therapy with clinicians trained in evidence-based methods
Sessions under a Mental Health Care Plan with our psychologists
Integration therapy and harm reduction for clients engaged in medicine-assisted treatment
We tailor every service to the individual or relationship, creating a space that supports exploration, insight, and long-term wellbeing.
Across our team, practitioners draw from a diverse range of therapeutic modalities to support insight, regulation, and connection. These include:
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Schema Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Psychodynamic Therapy
Gestalt and Somatic Therapies
Mindfulness-Based Approaches
Strengths-Based and Narrative Therapies
Attachment-Focused Therapy
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
Psychedelic Integration and Harm Reduction
Relationship Mediation and Gottman Method principles
Each practitioner brings their own training, lived experience, and therapeutic perspective. This diversity allows us to tailor sessions to each client’s goals while maintaining a trauma-informed, collaborative approach.
Generally, individual sessions last between 50 and 60 minutes, and relationship therapy sessions last between 65 and 75 minutes.
Not at all! Everyone at Unison Mental Health is fully trained in their relevant field of therapy and would be happy to support anyone regardless of identity or relationship style.
Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it! Our admin team would be happy to organize a call with a potential therapist to see if we’re a good fit.
Unison therapists are unable to provide any last-minute crisis support or after-hours support. For requests that are outside of our professional training or experience, we will be happy to refer you on to the best possible fit. Please see our resources page for 24/7 crisis hotline information.
Yes we do! While all of our therapists offer telehealth sessions, many also offer in-person sessions in Melbourne (either at our office in Windsor, or in Fitzroy North). There is an additional $20 service fee for in-person sessions on top of the session rate.
Many people report that they find telehealth unexpectedly easy to adjust to. There are many benefits to seeing your therapist from home, where you can relax in your own familiar environment and have your creature comforts nearby. We love to meet your pets, so feel free to have them around for cuddles.
At Unison Mental Health, we use a variety of software tools to manage appointment scheduling, maintain accurate client records, and document clinical notes. While many of these tools are widely recognised (such as email platforms, data processing software, and practice management systems), we also sometimes utilise AI tools to enhance efficiency and the quality of care. All tools are chosen with a strong focus on maintaining the highest standards of security and confidentiality. Currently, the only AI tool in use within the practice is Heidi, an AI dictation tool.
Important Information About the AI Software we use:
- Voluntary Participation: You may choose whether or not to allow AI tools to be used during your sessions. Your decision will not impact the care or services you receive.
- Compliance with Australian Privacy Laws: Any AI tools used in our practice comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) to ensure the highest standards of data protection and privacy. All data is end to end encrypted and the content is kept on a secure platform.
- Data Handling: We work with providers that uphold strict data privacy standards – currently, the AI dictation software we use is Heidi. To read more about how Heidi’s privacy policy works click here. https://www.heidihealth.com/au/legal/privacy-policy
- Evolving Technology- As AI technology becomes a part of everyday life, we will strive to ensure that your information remains secure and that you are informed of any changes to our policies or procedures.
Right to Withdraw: You may withdraw your consent to the use of AI tools at any time. If consent is withdrawn, further use of AI tools will cease, and any previously processed data will be managed in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988
Fees & Finance
For most appointments with our non-psychologist counsellors and therapists, we use a sliding scale fee structure that allows us to charge a rate that fits your personal financial situation. We never ask for proof of a person’s situation unless they are attending one of our limited concession slots for therapy. In that situation, all we ask for is a copy of a healthcare or concession card. Note – our concession spots are full at this time – we are adding new requests to a waitlist.
Here is a link to the sliding scale fee structure for relationship therapy
Here is a link to the sliding scale fee structure for individual therapy
For clients working with one of our Clinical Psychologists, the session fee is $265 for individual therapy. For sessions on a valid Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP), we charge the full $265 session fee, and process the Medicare claim for you in the amount of $145.25, resulting in an out-of-pocket cost of $119.75 for rebated sessions. Once the claim has been processed by Medicare, the rebate is sent directly to the client’s designated account.
**Some appointments follow the rates set by Worksafe, NDIS, Open Arms, ADF, and other external bodies, adhering to their fee structures and billing practices.**
If your financial situation changes and your session fees are based on the sliding scales, please let us know. We will happily adjust your rate if things change for you either way.
We do qualify for some private health fund rebates, please speak to your health fund to see what you may qualify for.
Our invoices have a 7-day processing window and we are unable to see a client for their next session until the current session’s payment is processed. Please reach out to our admin team if you have any issues and we will work with you.
Any cancellations or changes made more than 24 hours in advance are free and easy to do via your Halaxy portal or by writing to our admin team. For cancellations, changes, or no-shows within 24 hours of the appointment you will be charged the full-fee for the session.
Yes, we do! Please reach out for further information and to set up an appointment.
We offer several payment options for your convenience. Many clients choose to save their payment details to their profile, enabling automatic charges after each session. For those who prefer not to save a payment method, we send invoices via email with BPAY details or a payment link.
If your invoices are to be paid by a third party (NDIS, Open Arms, ADF, etc) we will follow their established invoicing process.
Individual and Couples Therapy
Individual therapy offers a confidential space to explore your experiences, emotions, and patterns of thinking or behaviour. Sessions are guided by what feels most important to you, whether that’s managing stress, understanding your relationships, or processing life changes. Your therapist will adapt their approach based on your preferences, needs, and pace, helping you reflect and gain new insight in ways that feel supportive and safe.
Couples therapy provides an opportunity for partners to reflect on their relationship in a supportive, neutral environment. The process can involve exploring patterns of interaction, communication styles, emotional needs, and areas of conflict or disconnection. The aim is to support understanding and collaboration – not to assign blame or take sides – while creating space for both partners to feel heard and respected.
Therapy with polycules or multi-partner relationships recognises the unique structures, agreements, and dynamics within these connections. Sessions may involve all partners or only some, depending on what feels most helpful. Together, we can explore communication between multiple partners, emotional boundaries, time management, and differing attachment needs, with the goal of fostering clarity, understanding, and mutual respect across the dynamic.
The length of therapy varies widely. Some people find a few sessions helpful for immediate concerns, while others prefer ongoing support or choose to pause and return when needed. Your pace, goals, and preferences shape the process. It’s common to revisit this from time to time to see what’s working best for you.
Our team draws on a range of trauma-informed approaches to support recovery and integration at a pace that feels right for you. Depending on your needs, this may include methods such as EMDR, Internal Family Systems (parts work), somatic and Gestalt techniques, or creative therapies like art-based exploration. Therapists may also use frameworks including DBT, Narrative Therapy, or mindfulness-based approaches to help build regulation and self-awareness.
We recognise that trauma can show up differently for everyone. Our role is to provide a collaborative, grounded, and compassionate space that supports safety, choice, and gradual healing.
If you’re unsure where to start, our admin team can help you connect with a therapist whose training and approach align with your needs. You can also request a short consultation to discuss what you’re looking for. Many people discover what feels right as therapy unfolds and can adjust their approach as their needs change.