What is a Mental Health Care Plan?
What is a Mental Health Care Plan?
A step by step guide
A step by step guide
28/05/2026
28/05/2026
A Mental Health Care Plan is a structured plan developed collaboratively between you and your general practitioner (GP). It identifies your mental health needs, sets clear treatment objectives, and provides access to Medicare rebates for psychological therapy sessions, making professional care more accessible and affordable. Here's how to get one.
Step-by-Step: How to Obtain Your Mental Health Care Plan
Schedule an Appointment with Your GP: Begin by booking an appointment specifically to discuss mental health concerns. This signals the need for an extended consultation, giving you sufficient time to explore your situation thoroughly.
Discuss Openly and Honestly: Approach this meeting with openness. Your GP will assess your mental health, asking about your emotional state, symptoms, stressors, and the impact on your daily life. Clear communication here helps shape a plan that genuinely addresses your needs.
Assessment and Diagnosis: Based on your conversation, your GP may formally diagnose a mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, or adjustment difficulties. This diagnosis provides the necessary basis for your MHCP.
Develop the Mental Health Care Plan: Together, you will outline treatment goals and strategies, including recommended therapy modalities and supports. Your GP will then prepare the MHCP, detailing these objectives and actions.
Referral to a Psychologist: Your GP will typically refer you to a psychologist who aligns with your needs and treatment goals. With the MHCP, you become eligible for Medicare rebates for up to 10 psychological sessions per calendar year (with possible extensions under exceptional circumstances).
After Your Appointment: What Next?
Once your plan is in place, you can book your first session with your psychologist. Your psychologist will collaborate closely with you, building on the goals outlined in your MHCP, offering therapy tailored to your unique circumstances and aspirations.
Renewing and Reviewing Your MHCP
Regular review appointments with your GP help assess your progress, adjust your goals, and extend your plan as needed. Reviews typically occur after the first six sessions and periodically thereafter.
Embracing the Journey
Taking the step to obtain a Mental Health Care Plan is an act of courage and self-compassion. It is recognition of your inner resilience and a commitment to deeper psychological exploration and wellbeing.
At Nenya, we're here to support you through every step of this journey, providing thoughtful, innovative, and empathetic psychological care aligned closely with your values and life goals.
You are never alone in this exploration.
A Mental Health Care Plan is a structured plan developed collaboratively between you and your general practitioner (GP). It identifies your mental health needs, sets clear treatment objectives, and provides access to Medicare rebates for psychological therapy sessions, making professional care more accessible and affordable. Here's how to get one.
Step-by-Step: How to Obtain Your Mental Health Care Plan
Schedule an Appointment with Your GP: Begin by booking an appointment specifically to discuss mental health concerns. This signals the need for an extended consultation, giving you sufficient time to explore your situation thoroughly.
Discuss Openly and Honestly: Approach this meeting with openness. Your GP will assess your mental health, asking about your emotional state, symptoms, stressors, and the impact on your daily life. Clear communication here helps shape a plan that genuinely addresses your needs.
Assessment and Diagnosis: Based on your conversation, your GP may formally diagnose a mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, or adjustment difficulties. This diagnosis provides the necessary basis for your MHCP.
Develop the Mental Health Care Plan: Together, you will outline treatment goals and strategies, including recommended therapy modalities and supports. Your GP will then prepare the MHCP, detailing these objectives and actions.
Referral to a Psychologist: Your GP will typically refer you to a psychologist who aligns with your needs and treatment goals. With the MHCP, you become eligible for Medicare rebates for up to 10 psychological sessions per calendar year (with possible extensions under exceptional circumstances).
After Your Appointment: What Next?
Once your plan is in place, you can book your first session with your psychologist. Your psychologist will collaborate closely with you, building on the goals outlined in your MHCP, offering therapy tailored to your unique circumstances and aspirations.
Renewing and Reviewing Your MHCP
Regular review appointments with your GP help assess your progress, adjust your goals, and extend your plan as needed. Reviews typically occur after the first six sessions and periodically thereafter.
Embracing the Journey
Taking the step to obtain a Mental Health Care Plan is an act of courage and self-compassion. It is recognition of your inner resilience and a commitment to deeper psychological exploration and wellbeing.
At Nenya, we're here to support you through every step of this journey, providing thoughtful, innovative, and empathetic psychological care aligned closely with your values and life goals.
You are never alone in this exploration.
— Tony Nguyen, Psychologist & Founder of Nenya
— Tony Nguyen, Psychologist & Founder of Nenya
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Your questions.
Answered.
Not sure what to expect? These answers can help you feel more confident as you get started. You might also like to look at our social media for another way of understanding what we do.
Didn’t find your answer? Send us a message — we’ll respond with care and clarity.
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
Therapy isn’t just for crises. It’s for anyone curious about growth, clarity, or navigating life’s changes with more support and self-awareness.
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
Therapy isn’t just for crises. It’s for anyone curious about growth, clarity, or navigating life’s changes with more support and self-awareness.
What can I expect from the first session?
What can I expect from the first session?
The first session is mostly about understanding what brings you here. We talk through your history, what you are hoping for, and what has and has not helped before, at a pace that feels comfortable. There is nothing to prepare and no pressure to share more than you want to. By the end, you should have a clearer sense of how we might work together and what a useful way forward could look like. If it feels like a fit, we plan the next steps from there.
Do you offer both online and in-person sessions?
Do you offer both online and in-person sessions?
Yes. We see people in person at our rooms in East Melbourne, and online via telehealth across Australia. Many clients mix the two, meeting in person when they can and online when life gets busy. Online sessions are just as structured and confidential as in-person ones, and for most kinds of work they are equally effective. We can help you choose what suits your situation, and change it as your circumstances do.
How often should I come to therapy?
How often should I come to therapy?
It depends on what you are working on and what you can sustain. Many people begin weekly or fortnightly, which helps build momentum early on, then move to less frequent sessions as things settle. Some pieces of work are short and focused, while others unfold over a longer period. We agree on a rhythm together at the start, review it as we go, and adjust it to fit your life rather than a fixed formula.
Is everything I share kept private?
Is everything I share kept private?
Confidentiality is central to therapy, and what you share stays private as a rule. There are a small number of legal and ethical exceptions that every psychologist must observe, mainly where there is a serious risk to your safety or someone else's, or where records are formally requested by a court. We explain these clearly at the start. Outside of those rare situations, what happens in the room stays in the room, and if we ever need to share information, for example with your GP under a Medicare plan, we do so with your consent.
What does it cost, and can I claim a rebate?
What does it cost, and can I claim a rebate?
Fees depend on the type and length of session, and we are happy to share current fees when you enquire. If your GP provides a Mental Health Care Plan, you can claim a Medicare rebate on a set number of sessions each calendar year. We also work with other funding pathways, including NDIS, WorkCover, the TAC, DVA, and private health, depending on your situation. If you are unsure what you are eligible for, ask us and we will help you work it out before you commit.
Your questions.
Answered.
Not sure what to expect? These answers can help you feel more confident as you get started. You might also like to look at our social media for another way of understanding what we do.
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
Therapy isn’t just for crises. It’s for anyone curious about growth, clarity, or navigating life’s changes with more support and self-awareness.
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
Therapy isn’t just for crises. It’s for anyone curious about growth, clarity, or navigating life’s changes with more support and self-awareness.
What can I expect from the first session?
What can I expect from the first session?
The first session is mostly about understanding what brings you here. We talk through your history, what you are hoping for, and what has and has not helped before, at a pace that feels comfortable. There is nothing to prepare and no pressure to share more than you want to. By the end, you should have a clearer sense of how we might work together and what a useful way forward could look like. If it feels like a fit, we plan the next steps from there.
Do you offer both online and in-person sessions?
Do you offer both online and in-person sessions?
Yes. We see people in person at our rooms in East Melbourne, and online via telehealth across Australia. Many clients mix the two, meeting in person when they can and online when life gets busy. Online sessions are just as structured and confidential as in-person ones, and for most kinds of work they are equally effective. We can help you choose what suits your situation, and change it as your circumstances do.
How often should I come to therapy?
How often should I come to therapy?
It depends on what you are working on and what you can sustain. Many people begin weekly or fortnightly, which helps build momentum early on, then move to less frequent sessions as things settle. Some pieces of work are short and focused, while others unfold over a longer period. We agree on a rhythm together at the start, review it as we go, and adjust it to fit your life rather than a fixed formula.
Is everything I share kept private?
Is everything I share kept private?
Confidentiality is central to therapy, and what you share stays private as a rule. There are a small number of legal and ethical exceptions that every psychologist must observe, mainly where there is a serious risk to your safety or someone else's, or where records are formally requested by a court. We explain these clearly at the start. Outside of those rare situations, what happens in the room stays in the room, and if we ever need to share information, for example with your GP under a Medicare plan, we do so with your consent.
What does it cost, and can I claim a rebate?
What does it cost, and can I claim a rebate?
Fees depend on the type and length of session, and we are happy to share current fees when you enquire. If your GP provides a Mental Health Care Plan, you can claim a Medicare rebate on a set number of sessions each calendar year. We also work with other funding pathways, including NDIS, WorkCover, the TAC, DVA, and private health, depending on your situation. If you are unsure what you are eligible for, ask us and we will help you work it out before you commit.
Didn’t find your answer? Send us a message — we’ll respond with care and clarity.
Your questions.
Answered.
Not sure what to expect? These answers can help you feel more confident as you get started. You might also like to look at our social media for another way of understanding what we do.
Didn’t find your answer? Send us a message — we’ll respond with care and clarity.
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
Therapy isn’t just for crises. It’s for anyone curious about growth, clarity, or navigating life’s changes with more support and self-awareness.
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
Therapy isn’t just for crises. It’s for anyone curious about growth, clarity, or navigating life’s changes with more support and self-awareness.
What can I expect from the first session?
What can I expect from the first session?
The first session is mostly about understanding what brings you here. We talk through your history, what you are hoping for, and what has and has not helped before, at a pace that feels comfortable. There is nothing to prepare and no pressure to share more than you want to. By the end, you should have a clearer sense of how we might work together and what a useful way forward could look like. If it feels like a fit, we plan the next steps from there.
Do you offer both online and in-person sessions?
Do you offer both online and in-person sessions?
Yes. We see people in person at our rooms in East Melbourne, and online via telehealth across Australia. Many clients mix the two, meeting in person when they can and online when life gets busy. Online sessions are just as structured and confidential as in-person ones, and for most kinds of work they are equally effective. We can help you choose what suits your situation, and change it as your circumstances do.
How often should I come to therapy?
How often should I come to therapy?
It depends on what you are working on and what you can sustain. Many people begin weekly or fortnightly, which helps build momentum early on, then move to less frequent sessions as things settle. Some pieces of work are short and focused, while others unfold over a longer period. We agree on a rhythm together at the start, review it as we go, and adjust it to fit your life rather than a fixed formula.
Is everything I share kept private?
Is everything I share kept private?
Confidentiality is central to therapy, and what you share stays private as a rule. There are a small number of legal and ethical exceptions that every psychologist must observe, mainly where there is a serious risk to your safety or someone else's, or where records are formally requested by a court. We explain these clearly at the start. Outside of those rare situations, what happens in the room stays in the room, and if we ever need to share information, for example with your GP under a Medicare plan, we do so with your consent.
What does it cost, and can I claim a rebate?
What does it cost, and can I claim a rebate?
Fees depend on the type and length of session, and we are happy to share current fees when you enquire. If your GP provides a Mental Health Care Plan, you can claim a Medicare rebate on a set number of sessions each calendar year. We also work with other funding pathways, including NDIS, WorkCover, the TAC, DVA, and private health, depending on your situation. If you are unsure what you are eligible for, ask us and we will help you work it out before you commit.