To start with, your doctor will refer you for 6 sessions. They don’t approve all 10 at the start because they will want to check in with you and see how you are progressing as you commence your help-seeking journey.

After session 6, your psychologist will need to write a brief letter to your doctor to share your progress and share their recommendations as to whether you need any additional sessions.

After session 6 if you do want to access more sessions you will need to make another appointment with your doctor to review the letter your psychologist has sent them, and they will likely ask some similar questions as in your first appointment. They will want to see how you are travelling, how well the counselling and current care plan is working and whether to adjust or tweak the plan based on how you are going.

Once your doctor has approved more sessions, they will send a letter (or give one to you) letting the psychologist know they have been approved to offer you up to 4 more sessions. As with your original Mental Health Care Plan, this will also need to include a referral letter.

It might involve a few steps, but once you have one you are eligible to access up to 10 sessions per calendar year. A Mental Health Plan allows Australian residents who hold a valid Medicare card to access crucial treatment for mental health concerns at a more affordable rate.

As of 2025, if you have an eligible Mental Health Plan, the government will provide you with a rebate or pay part of the costs for accessing psychological services:

• If you see a Registered Psychologist, you will get back $98.97
• If you see a Clinical Psychologist, you will get back $145.25

A Mental Health Care Plan helps cover a part of the cost of psychology sessions through Medicare. Some psychologists offer bulk billing, which means you won’t have to pay anything—but not everyone qualifies for this. You can check if you’re eligible for bulk billing on our bulk billing page. Other psychologists may charge a gap fee, which is the amount you pay after the Medicare rebate.

Yes – My Mirror supports care plans for online mental health care. Our platform connects you with Australian-registered psychologists for virtual sessions covered by Medicare rebates.

Currently, Australians are eligible for up to 10 sessions per calendar year under the Better Access initiative. You will need to see your GP again after your sixth session for a review before accessing the remaining four.

They're essentially the same – a Mental Health Care Plan is the formal name used within Medicare guidelines and a Mental Health Treatment Plan is often what your GP will call it. This Mental Health Treatment or Care Plan is what allows you to claim your subsidised psychology sessions.

You can self-claim rebates for your psychology sessions by submitting a claim through Medicare. To submit your claim you'll need your myGov login details, a valid Mental Health Plan & referral letter, and your Paid Invoice which is emailed to you from My Mirror after each psychology session.

Learn how to make your Medicare claim

In most instances, you will have to pay the gap between what the psychologist charges, and how much Medicare rebates you. 

Some psychologists or psychological services also offer bulk billing which means you will not be out of pocket for attending your appointment. Generally, there are criteria that have to be met to qualify for bulk billing. This can differ between psychologists and practices, so check out their website or give them a call to find out exactly what is required to consider you for bulk billing. Please note that bulk billing services can attract a longer waitlist, so ensure you find that out when you are making your enquiries.

If you or someone you care about needs immediate mental health support, please contact: 

• Lifeline:  Visit the website or call 13 11 14 
• Beyond Blue: Visit the website or call 1300 22 4636 
• Suicide Call Back Service: Visit the website or call 1300 659 467 

These services are available 24/7 across Australia.