Psychology clinic referral meeting: Clear Island Waters — ADHD/ASD assessment, MHCP, EMDR, Medical Objects and wait times
A GP-facing summary of a visit from a local Clear Island Waters psychology clinic — who they see, how to refer (Medical Objects preferred), ADHD/ASD and cognitive assessment costs and methods, gap fees, group/DBT plans, addiction and men’s mental health, and why electronic referral beats a sealed envelope that never arrives.
- Primary speakers
- Clear Island Waters psychology clinic liaison team (clinic opened ~1 year at the time of recording; near Q Super Centre / Clear Island Waters Health Precinct, two doors from the GP suite including Dr Max Poe). Referrals can go to Sophie or Talia (among others) for triage. Team names mentioned: Sophie (children predominantly), Talia, Joel (male psychologist — addiction / men’s mental health), Regina (clinical psychologist relocating credentials from Europe), Kyler (student placement — groups/assessments), plus two administrators.
- Session context
- Otter id
G2CZwOwdE3S1tLsvddF2FF7K17w· title Psychology Clinic Referral Meeting · ~29 min (1744 s) · recorded 2026-08-10. Informal practice lunch visit; trailing ASR is social noise — clinical content is from the liaison segment.
Key messages for GPs
- Local psychology clinic in Clear Island Waters (~10 minutes from the visited practice), ground floor, wheelchair accessible, lake views, parking — low foot traffic so they are actively visiting GPs.
- Broad scope: ADHD and ASD assessment, learning assessments, individual and group therapy (kids and adults), EMDR, postnatal work, trauma / complex trauma, anxiety/depression, marital conflict, parenting support for autistic families.
- Funding accepted: Mental Health Care Plans, CDM plans, eating disorder plans, NDIS, WorkCover, DVA (ASR “DBA”).
- Prefer Medical Objects (also email/fax/patient-brought sealed letter). Electronic referral lets the clinic chase no-shows — especially ADHD families who lose paper referrals.
- Some practitioners have immediate availability; busy named clinicians may take longer — often first appointment within 1–2 weeks depending on need.
- Gap quoted ~$110 out-of-pocket per session (similar to peers). ADHD assessment ~$500–600 without cognitive testing; +~$1000 if full cognitive battery (2 h testing + 2 h write-up).
Where and who
The clinic sits near the Q Super Centre, on the other side of the highway from the visited practice, beside the Clear Island Waters Health Precinct GP rooms. It opened about a year before the meeting with two psychologists who had worked together for years, then expanded to a mixed team (male and female clinicians, student placement, admin support). Therapy rooms overlook a lake with natural light — deliberately designed as a contrast to windowless rooms.
Services and funding streams
They described themselves as “pretty much across the board”: individual therapy, group therapy, kids and adults, EMDR, autism assessment and ongoing autism therapy / family support, and a large group room for programmes. Funding streams named: MHCPs, chronic disease management plans, eating disorder plans, NDIS, WorkCover, and DVA-type pathways.
How to refer
Send to Sophie, Talia, or the speaking clinician for triage — Medical Objects preferred; email or fax also fine; patients may bring a sealed envelope. Once referred electronically, the clinic can book and follow up if families forget. Online booking and questionnaires aim to reduce friction.
For ADHD especially, prefer Medical Objects over paper. Parents who lose a sealed referral often feel too embarrassed to return — the clinic can chase if they already have the details.
Wait times and gap
Wait depends on practitioner. Some have immediate space; Sophie and Talia were described as busier, with three other practitioners having room. Typical first availability framed as within a week or two for many needs. Out-of-pocket gap quoted at about $110 per session.
ADHD / ASD / cognitive assessment
ADHD assessment cost depends on whether a cognitive assessment is included:
| Package (as quoted) | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| ADHD assessment without cognitive testing | ~$500–600 |
| Adding cognitive assessment | + ~$1000 (≈2 h admin + 2 h write-up) |
Cognitive testing was framed as gold standard when intellectual or learning issues might explain inattention (e.g. child not understanding classroom content vs ADHD distractibility). If learning challenges are clearly absent and cost is limiting, they can omit it. ADHD workup uses objective attention metrics (impulsivity / sustained attention tracking), not interview and questionnaires alone. ASD assessment and therapy (including parenting support) were both offered.
Groups, addiction, trauma
- DBT groups — trying to get dialectical behaviour therapy groups running.
- Joel — male psychologist with interest in addiction and men’s mental health; clinic will triage to best fit if you send a general referral.
- Trauma / PTSD / complex trauma, attachment-related problems, anxiety, depression, postnatal work, marital conflict — all within scope for at least one clinician.
- Sophie sees children predominantly; the speaking clinician sees adults predominantly; both age groups are covered across the team.
Floor highlights
- Immediate capacity exists on some diaries despite busy named clinicians.
- ADHD packages: cheaper without cognitive testing; add cognitive when learning/intellect might explain inattention.
- Send Medical Objects so the clinic owns follow-up.
- They plan to drop back in to maintain the GP relationship.
Fees, wait times, and staffing change. Confirm current gaps, assessment packages, and clinician availability with the clinic before quoting patients. This page summarises one liaison visit only.