How to find a psychologist: what to check and ask

Here is how to find a psychologist who suits you: check that they are registered on the AHPRA register, then look for experience with your concern and your age group, and have a short call to ask how they work. Fit matters as much as credentials, so it is fine to try one session and change if it does not feel right.

Prepared by Trevor Keen Founder and Physiotherapist · Reviewed 13 November 2026

Most people start by searching for a name, then realise they are not sure what to look for. This guide covers what to check, what to ask, what Medicare covers and how to tell whether it is working, for adults and for parents choosing for a child or teen.

How to find a psychologist: what should you look for?

A few things matter more than the rest. Start with these, in roughly this order.

• Registration. Psychologists must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to practise. See the next section for how to check.
• Experience with your concern. Anxiety, trauma, grief, ADHD, autism and parenting all call for different skills. Ask what share of their work involves people like you.
• The ages they see. Some psychologists work with young children, some with teens, some only with adults. This matters most for parents.
• Their approach. Common approaches include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). You do not need to pick one, but you can ask which they use and why.
• Fit. Do you feel listened to? This is hard to judge from a profile, which is why a short call or a first session helps.
• Practical things. Fees and rebates, location or telehealth, how soon they can see you, and whether they work with your funding.

If you want a psychologist who understands neurodivergence, or one of a particular gender, language or cultural background, say so. It is a reasonable thing to ask for, and a good practice will take it seriously.

How do you check a psychologist is registered?

Search for them on the AHPRA register of practitioners. You can search by name or registration number, and the entry shows whether they are registered and whether any conditions limit their practice.

The same entry is where you can see whether a psychologist holds an endorsement. The Psychology Board of Australia explains that an endorsement shows a psychologist has completed an approved postgraduate qualification and supervised training in one of nine areas, such as clinical psychology or counselling psychology. It also says endorsement is optional, and a psychologist can practise without one.

Medicare rebates can differ between general and clinical psychologists. We explain this in our guide to mental health care plans in SA.

What should you ask on the first call?

Most practices will happily answer questions before you book. You do not need all of these, so pick the ones that matter to you.

1. Do you see people my age (or my child's age) with this concern?
2. What does your approach look like in practice?
3. How many sessions do people usually have, and how do we decide?
4. What is the fee per session, and what is the gap after a Medicare rebate?
5. Can I claim from my private health fund, and is the rebate processed on the day?
6. How soon can I (or my child) be seen, and what days and times are there?
7. Are sessions in clinic, by telehealth, or both?
8. What is the cancellation policy?
9. If it is not a good fit, can I see someone else?

For a child or teen, also ask how parents are involved, and how the psychologist helps a young person feel comfortable. Our guide to what happens in your first psychology session explains what the first appointment is usually like.

What does a psychologist cost, and what does Medicare cover?

Psychologists set their own fees. Through Medicare's Better Access program, eligible people can claim a rebate for up to 10 individual sessions a year if they have a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a referral from their GP. Medicare does not cover more than that, but you can keep seeing a psychologist privately.

You can also book privately without a referral, and pay the full fee. Our guide to what a psychologist costs in Adelaide covers private health cover and the NDIS, and our care plan guide covers how to get a plan from your GP.

What about telehealth and location?

Distance can narrow the choices, so it helps to know your options. Better Access now allows individual telehealth sessions, where it is safe and clinically appropriate. Ask any psychologist whether they offer video or phone sessions, and whether the fee is the same.

CHSA sees people at our Salisbury and Seacliff clinics, and our team page says psychology therapy is also available by telehealth anywhere in Australia.

How do you know if it is the right fit?

Give it a couple of sessions, then check in with yourself. Signs it may be working include feeling heard, understanding what you are working on and why, and having goals you both agreed on.

Signs it may not be a fit include feeling unheard, judged or unsafe, or feeling your goals and consent are not respected. A mismatch does not mean therapy cannot help you. It often just means a different person or approach would suit you better.

You can raise it with your psychologist first. Many people find the conversation clears things up. If it does not, you are free to see someone else. If you have a Medicare plan, your GP can tell you how a change affects your referral.

How does CHSA match people with a psychologist?

This is how it works at our practice. You can book online or call us on 08 8166 4700. The first call with our team is free, and we usually reply within 1 to 2 business days. We talk through what you are looking for and suggest who may suit you, and you can ask for someone by name.

Your first appointment is with your psychologist, in clinic or by telehealth, and it is charged. We do not bulk bill. Our psychology fee is $252.99 an hour. With a Medicare plan and referral, the rebate is $101.55 (MBS item 80110, general psychologist, from 1 July 2026), so the gap is $151.44. Current fees are on our fees and funding page.

Our psychologists are registered general psychologists, so the general rebate applies. If the fit is not right, tell us and we will talk about other options. You can switch practitioner. See our team and our psychology services.

Common questions

Related reading

• What actually happens in your first psychology session
• How much does a psychologist cost in Adelaide?
• Mental health care plans in SA: how they work
• Psychologist, psychiatrist or counsellor: which do you need?
• Meet our team

Prepared by

Trevor Keen Founder, Conscious Healthcare SA · Physiotherapist (AHPRA PHY0002063374) · Master of Physiotherapy and Bachelor of Psychological Studies, Flinders University

Trevor is a physiotherapist whose lived experience of disability led him to found CHSA, bringing psychology, assessments, occupational therapy, behaviour support and dietetics under one roof in Adelaide. He has completed a Bachelor of Psychological Studies at Flinders University, is now studying psychology at honours level, and helps write our guides alongside the clinicians who deliver each service.

About TrevorLinkedInEditorial policy

Sources

1. AHPRA: Register of practitioners (opened 13 Nov 2026)
2. AHPRA: Practitioner search quick tips (opened 13 Nov 2026)
3. Psychology Board of Australia: Endorsement (opened 13 Nov 2026)
4. Psychology Board of Australia: Endorsement FAQ (opened 13 Nov 2026)
5. Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: Better Access initiative (opened 13 Nov 2026)
6. MBS Online: item 80110 (opened 13 Nov 2026)
7. Australian Psychological Society: How do I find the right psychologist for me? (opened 13 Nov 2026)

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

This guide is general information, not advice about your situation. Speak with your GP or one of our team about what's right for you.