Psychological assessments
A psychological assessment is a structured way of understanding what is happening for you and what may help. At Telehealth Psychology Australia, assessments are carried out by registered psychologists by secure video, anywhere in Australia. Depending on your needs, an assessment may help clarify a diagnosis, inform a treatment plan, or be written up as a report for you and, with your consent, for your GP or another provider. Individual experiences vary.
How assessment works at THPA
Every assessment is shaped around your individual presentation. There is no single fixed test that suits everyone, so your psychologist will explain what your assessment will involve before it begins.
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Make an enquiry
Tell us briefly what you are seeking an assessment for, so we can confirm whether we are the right fit and what the assessment would involve.
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Plan the assessment
Your psychologist will outline the purpose, the likely number of sessions, what information is helpful to gather, and the cost, so you can make an informed decision before starting. Some types of assessment cannot be completed by telehealth; if that applies to you, we will say so at this stage and discuss alternatives.
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Assessment sessions
Assessment is conducted by secure video. Assessment sessions often run longer than a standard 50-minute appointment, and most assessments take place over more than one session.
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Questionnaires
Where useful, you complete validated questionnaires online before or between sessions. These are self-report measures used alongside the clinical interview, not in place of it.
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Findings and report
Your psychologist discusses the findings with you and, where a written report is part of the assessment, prepares one. With your consent, a copy can be sent to your GP or another nominated provider.
Types of assessment we offer
Diagnostic and clinical assessment
An assessment of common mental health presentations, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and adjustment difficulties. This draws on a clinical interview, your history, a mental state assessment, and validated questionnaires to develop a formulation, a diagnostic impression where appropriate, and recommendations for treatment or support.
ADHD assessment
A structured assessment for people who think attention, focus, or related difficulties may be affecting their life. It uses a detailed clinical interview, a review of developmental and life history, and validated rating scales, and is written up as a report describing the findings and recommendations.
This is a psychological assessment. As registered psychologists we can assess and form a diagnostic opinion, but we do not prescribe medication. Medication for ADHD is prescribed only by a medical practitioner, such as a psychiatrist, paediatrician, or in some cases a GP, so we may recommend medical follow-up, and some people will still need to see a psychiatrist. Where it is helpful, we may ask for your consent to gather information from someone who knows you well, or to liaise with your GP.
Assessment to inform funding and support
As part of a clinical assessment, your psychologist can describe how your symptoms affect everyday functioning, such as work, study, and relationships, and include this in a report for your GP, NDIS, or insurer with your consent. This is a functional impact summary that forms part of clinical care; we do not provide standalone functional capacity assessments.
Progress and outcome measurement
We use brief, validated measures such as the K10, DASS-21, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 at the start of care and over time, so that progress can be tracked in a structured way alongside how you feel things are going.
What an assessment involves
- Assessment is conducted by secure video, the same way as our therapy sessions, with nothing to install.
- Some assessments are completed in a single session; others, particularly those that result in a detailed report, take more than one session plus questionnaire and report-preparation time.
- Your psychologist will tell you in advance how many sessions are likely and what the assessment will cost.
- Assessment is collaborative. You can ask questions at any time, and you can decide how much you share. Individual experiences vary, and an assessment describes a point in time rather than a fixed or permanent label.
Is telehealth suitable for assessment?
Interview-based assessment and validated self-report questionnaires can be conducted by secure video. Suitability depends on your individual circumstances, and individual experiences vary.
If any part of an assessment would be better completed in person, or with a different type of provider, your psychologist will tell you and discuss the options with you before going ahead. Suitability is always checked first.
Fees for assessment
Your psychologist will tell you the likely number of sessions and the total cost before you book, so there are no surprises.
- Assessment sessions are charged at the standard session fee of $230 (GST-free). An assessment that spans more than one session, or that includes a written report, will involve more than one session and may include a charge for report-preparation time.
- Medicare. Medicare’s Better Access initiative rebates eligible psychological treatment sessions when you have a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP. A standalone assessment and written report, such as a private ADHD assessment, is generally a private service and is usually not covered by a Medicare rebate. We will explain what applies to your situation, and the total cost, before you book. Please verify current arrangements with Medicare.
- NDIS and WorkCover. Where an assessment is funded under NDIS or WorkCover, this needs to be approved in advance by your plan manager, support coordinator, or case manager.
Who would conduct your assessment
Your assessment would be conducted by one of our Registered Psychologists with the Psychology Board of Australia through AHPRA. Both hold general registration with no area-of-practice endorsement, within a generalist scope.
Related
- How telehealth works · what a secure video session is like
- Service types and funding
- Information for referrers
Assessments, answered
A few things people often ask about assessments. If your question is not here, send us a message at directors@thpa.au.
Not always. You can self-refer for a private assessment. If you want to use a Medicare rebate for eligible treatment sessions, you need a GP referral and a Mental Health Treatment Plan. For NDIS or WorkCover funding, approval needs to be arranged in advance.
As registered psychologists we can conduct an assessment and form a diagnostic opinion about ADHD. We cannot prescribe medication. If medication is something you wish to consider, you would need to see a medical practitioner such as a psychiatrist, paediatrician, or GP, and we can include that in our recommendations.
No. Psychologists do not prescribe medication. Where medication may be relevant, we recommend you speak with your GP or a psychiatrist, and we can write to them with your consent.
It depends on what is being assessed. Some assessments are completed in one session; others take more than one session, plus questionnaires and report-preparation time. Your psychologist will give you an estimate before you start.
Where a report is part of the assessment, yes. We will tell you in advance whether a report is included and what it will cost. With your consent, a copy can be sent to your GP or another provider.
Medicare Better Access rebates apply to eligible treatment sessions with a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP. A standalone assessment and report is usually a private service and not rebated. We will explain the cost before you book. Please verify current arrangements with Medicare.
For most interview-based and questionnaire-based assessments, yes. If part of your assessment would be better done in person or by a different provider, we will discuss that with you first.
Enquire about an assessment
Tell us briefly what you are seeking an assessment for, and we will confirm whether we are the right fit, what it would involve, and the cost, before you book.
A 2-minute enquiry · a reply usually within one business day · no health details needed