First appointment in 1–2 weeks
That is the usual wait once we have matched your patient with a clinician who has space. If the best-fit clinician has a longer waitlist, we tell the patient how long in weeks and offer an alternative.
For GPs & referrers
Referring an adult patient to Unison.
We are a psychology, counselling and psychotherapy practice in Carlton, Melbourne, and we see patients by telehealth anywhere in Australia. This page covers who to refer, what to include, and what you will hear back from us.
Adults only
Individual and relationship therapy for adults, with particular experience in trauma, neurodivergence and LGBTQIA+ clients.
Short letters back
You will hear from us at intake, at plan review points and at discharge.
Who to refer
Patients most often come to us where trauma, identity, relationships, sexuality or neurodivergence are part of the picture — particularly if they have felt judged or misunderstood by a previous service.
If you want to check fit, current waitlists or funding before you refer, call or email us first.
- PTSD and complex trauma, including developmental and relational trauma
- Depression, anxiety, burnout and emotional dysregulation — including self-harm or suicidal ideation, provided outpatient care is appropriate for the level of risk
- Grief and life transitions
- Long-standing interpersonal difficulties
- Relationship and sexual concerns, including for non-monogamous patients and patients in kink or BDSM communities
- LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent patients, sex workers, and others who have had a poor experience with mainstream services
Which clinician type to refer to
You don't need to pick a clinician. Refer to Unison and we will allocate based on the presentation, how the patient is funding it, and who has space. The cards below are a guide if you do want to specify.
Clinical psychologist
On leave — not taking new referrals. Our AHPRA-registered psychologist or accredited mental health social worker can usually cover this work; call us if you are unsure which fits.
For trauma, complex presentations, elevated risk and long-standing difficulties.
- Medicare rebates apply with a Mental Health Care Plan
- CBT, ACT, EMDR and schema-informed work
Accredited mental health social worker
For patients whose mental health is tangled up with housing, work, family or the systems they are dealing with.
- Medicare rebates apply with a Mental Health Care Plan
- A good fit where psychosocial stressors or barriers to engagement are a big part of the picture
Counsellors and psychotherapists
For self-funded patients, relationship therapy, and presentations that do not need a Medicare pathway.
- Not Medicare-rebatable; some private health funds cover sessions
- Covers relationship, sexuality and identity concerns as well as individual work
Referral pathways
We accept GP referrals, third-party referrals and self-referrals. For a Medicare referral, addressing it to Unison Mental Health is fine — you can add a clinician's name if you know it. If you name a role, please check it matches the clinician (for example, "psychologist" versus "mental health social worker"), because Medicare can reject a claim when they differ.
- Medicare Better Access referrals for eligible clinicians
- Private health insurance where the patient fund and cover allow
- Self-funded referrals with no plan required
Active on HealthLink — our Medicare providers are registered on HealthLink for electronic referrals. Search for Unison Mental Health to send referrals directly from your practice software.
What to include
A short referral is fine. These details help us triage safely, and they save the patient from repeating their history at intake.
- The Mental Health Treatment Plan, or other funding details
- Provisional diagnosis and main presenting concerns
- Current medications and relevant history
- Any current risk or safety concerns, and anything that might make engagement harder
- A preferred clinician or modality, if you have already discussed one with the patient
What you can expect from us
Our letters cover formulation, treatment direction, risk, progress and next steps, and not much else.
- An intake letter: which clinician, the goals agreed with the patient, and the proposed approach
- Review letters timed to the plan review points
- A discharge summary with next steps, relapse-prevention notes and when to re-refer
- Progress, risk and recommendations — kept short
Send the referral, or ask us to check fit first.
We usually reply within one business day. Email referrals to contact@unisonmentalhealth.com.