If you need to find a free psychologist in Cheltenham, you’re in the right place. Better Place Australia is funded to provide free mental health services to support people who live, work or study in the City of Kingston or Cardinia Shire. These services are available from Better Place Australia Cheltenham, Narre Warren and Pakenham (Springs Centre).
See if you are in a suburb that qualifies you for seeing a free psychologist in City of Kingston.
See if you are in a suburb that qualifies you for seeing a free psychologist in Cardinia Shire.
If you are unsure or would like to enquire, simply contact Better Place Australia.
By car, it’s easy to get to Better Place Australia Cheltenham via Nepean Highway. We’re at 16 Park Road, right on the corner of the Nepean Highway, with free parking in the many side streets. By train, we’re less than 200m from Cheltenham train station. We’re also about a 10-minute walk from Southland Shopping Centre and the bus interchange at Southland.
Visiting a free psychologist in Cheltenham
When people experience a significant difficulty or setback in life, then getting help is the first step to recovery. Seeing a free psychologist in Cheltenham is a better place to start.
Working with a Better Place Australia psychologist can help you:
- recognise and learn to manage your own emotions
- reframe any negative self-talk you may be thinking or speaking out
- find healthy ways to cope with the challenges in your life.
Don’t go through the struggle alone. Better Place Australia provides safe and confidential spaces in our counselling rooms for you to speak with a psychologist.
Do you qualify to see a free psychologist?
Because we are funded by the government to provide this service, there is certain criteria that the government requires you to meet.
To see a free psychologist in City of Kingston or a free psychologist in the Cardinia Shire, you need to:
- live, work or study in the Kingston and Cardinia area
- have difficulty accessing or affording support services
- suffer from low to moderate mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, panic, stress, self-esteem, relationship issues, grief and loss or eating disorders.
Do you need a health care plan?
No, you do not need to have a current mental health care plan to receive this free service, and being free, you won’t need to apply for a Medicare rebate.
How does the psychologist help you?
A Better Place Australia mental health professional supports you in a variety of ways when you are experiencing a setback or difficulty. It starts with listening to you and assessing your concerns. The psychologist will discuss your therapeutic goals and work with you to determine a treatment approach.
During the sessions, the psychologist imparts:
- invaluable psychological coping strategies to manage the challenging times in your life
- tools for you to gain a greater understanding of yourself and why you think as you do
- ways for you to develop a better understanding of your behaviours and thinking patterns
- tools for you to enhance your sense of well-being and life satisfaction through developing strategies.
What won’t our psychologists do?
When accessing a free psychologist in Cheltenham, there are a few things the psychologist doesn’t do.
The psychologist doesn’t:
- give advice or become judgemental
- get emotionally involved
- diagnose mental illness or prescribe medication (only doctors can do that).
Do you need a referral?
You can self-refer if you’d like to see a free psychologist in City of Kingston or a free psychologist in Cardinia Shire. You can also get a referral from a GP or other primary health provider, school, social service or other organisation.
If you’d like to get a referral, you can call SEMPHN Mental Health Intake phone (business hours) on 1800 862 363.
Call Better Place Australia
If you want to self-refer, contact Better Place Australia free psychological services. We encourage people who are experiencing difficult times to do this sooner than later to help prevent the matter getting worse.
Notes for GPs
You can fax referrals and a mental health treatment plan on 9793 9052Â or call the Better Place Australia intake hotline for priority assistance on 1800 862 363.
Referral forms and clinical software templates are on the SEMPHN mental health intake resources. Other referral forms are accepted if they contain the relevant required information.
For more information on Accessible Psychological Interventions (API) services please visit SEMPHN mental health.
Fact Sheets
Download the Accessible Psychological Interventions (API) Fact Sheet
