About
Fees & rebates
Fees and rebates
Sessions are 50 minutes, face to face in Melbourne or Woodend, online or by phone. You don’t need a referral, but with a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP you can claim a Medicare rebate on individual sessions.
Fees
Individual, first session
$160.50 after the $89.50 Medicare rebate
Individual, following sessions
$110.50 after the $89.50 Medicare rebate
Couples and partners
No Medicare rebate
How the rebate works
See your GP
Ask for a Mental Health Care Plan. Give your GP our email address, contact@martingladman.com, so they can send it to us.
Book your first session
Make an enquiry. Martin offers a free 10–15 minute phone call first, then we’ll find a time that suits you.
Pay after your session
The full fee is charged to the card you add when you join.
Rebate in 24–72 hours
We lodge your claim with Medicare. The rebate lands in your nominated account.
Help with costs
If you’re a full-time student, unemployed or experiencing financial hardship, please let us know when you make an enquiry. Bulk billing or a reduced fee may be available. We never want cost to be the reason you don’t get support.
Questions
Can I use a Mental Health Care Plan?
Yes. With a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP (officially called a Mental Health Treatment Plan), you can claim a Medicare rebate of $89.50 for each individual session.
The plan covers up to 10 individual sessions each calendar year. After your first 6 sessions, your GP reviews how you’re going and refers you for the rest. Please give your GP our email address, contact@martingladman.com, so they can send the plan to us before your first session. The plan doesn’t cover couples or partner sessions.
Do you offer free counselling?
Sessions aren’t free, but if you’re a full-time student, unemployed or experiencing financial hardship, bulk billing (no cost to you) or a reduced fee may be available. Please mention it when you make an enquiry.
If you need to talk to someone today, these free services can help:
- Lifeline 13 11 14, 24-hour crisis support
- Medicare Mental Health 1800 595 212, free advice and help finding a service, weekdays
- Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
- QLife 1800 184 527, LGBTIQ+ peer support, 3pm to 9pm every day
- MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78, 24/7
For alcohol, other drugs or gambling:
- National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline 1800 250 015, 24/7
- DirectLine (Victoria) 1800 888 236, 24/7 alcohol and drug counselling
- Family Drug Support 1300 368 186, for families and friends
- Gambler’s Help 1800 858 858, 24/7
For compulsive sexual behaviour, often called sex or porn addiction, free peer support groups meet online across Australia:
- Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA), saa-recovery.org
- Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA), slaa.org.au
In an emergency, call 000.
Is counselling bulk billed?
Sessions are not usually bulk billed, but bulk billing or a reduced fee may be available if you’re a full-time student, unemployed or experiencing financial hardship. Please mention it when you make an enquiry.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book without one. If you’d like a Medicare rebate, you’ll need a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP before your first session.
Can I claim through my private health insurance?
Some private health insurers cover these services, depending on your policy. Call your insurer and ask whether you’re covered for social work services, counselling services, clinical sexology or sex therapy, and couples counselling if it’s relevant to you.
If you’re covered, ask your insurer for the item codes they need and send them to us. We’ll include them on your invoice, which you can then claim with your insurer yourself.
Can I claim a rebate for couples sessions?
No. Medicare rebates are only available for individual sessions.