Our consultant psychiatrists provide expert assessment, diagnosis, medication initiation, review and ongoing management for children, adolescents and adults. They work alongside our psychologists and with your GP, so that therapy, coaching and medical treatment pull in the same direction.
Psychiatry appointments require a referral from your GP, which also means a Medicare rebate applies.
First appointments are in person at our Nedlands rooms and are longer. Your psychiatrist will have thoroughly reviewed all of your clinical documentation beforehand, so the time is spent understanding your history, your current concerns and what you would like from treatment. Reviews may be in person or, where clinically supported, by telehealth.
Your psychiatrist may ask your GP for recent blood tests, an ECG or other pathology relevant to your appointment.
We believe specialist care should be accessible and affordable. That is why our psychiatrists work with your GP rather than in place of them.
Your psychiatrist reviews all of your documentation beforehand and spends unhurried time with you, clarifying the diagnosis and talking through treatment options – including whether medication is likely to help, what you can realistically expect, and how medication works alongside our holistic approach of self-help support, lifestyle considerations and evidence-based psychology where relevant.
Where medication is part of the plan, your psychiatrist initiates it and, if needed, you may have one or more review appointments until treatment is established and stable.
Where it is clinically appropriate, your psychiatrist hands day-to-day management back to your GP with a clear written plan. For most of our clients this means fewer specialist appointments, lower ongoing costs, easier accessibility and care that stays close to home.
Your psychiatrist remains available for review if your needs change, and our psychologists and therapists provide therapy or coaching alongside your treatment where it helps.
To claim a Medicare rebate you need a referral from your GP. The rebate depends on the type and length of the consultation. BeWell is not a bulk-billing practice, so there is a gap between our fee and the rebate; we confirm your fee and rebate when you book. See Fees and Rebates for more.
We acknowledge referrals promptly, send a letter after the assessment and after each review, and provide a clear written shared care plan when management is handed back. Our psychiatrists are easy to reach if questions come up, and they refer back.
GPs and patients can send a referral through our Make a referral page, or call us on 1300 451 494 to ask about availability.