You’ve got your Mental Health Care Plan sorted. You’ve found a psychologist. Then the receptionist asks: “How many sessions are you approved for?” And you realise — you have no idea.
It’s a fair question, and the answer is a little more nuanced than most people expect. Here’s a clear breakdown of how the Medicare rebate system works for psychology sessions, so you’re not caught off guard.
The Short Answer: Up to 10 Sessions Per Year
Under a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP), Medicare subsidises up to 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year. The year runs from 1 January to 31 December — not from the date you start your plan.
But here’s the catch: you don’t get all 10 upfront.
How the Sessions Are Structured
Sessions 1–6: Your GP refers you for an initial block of up to 6 sessions when they create your Mental Health Care Plan. You can use these across a period of time — they don’t expire quickly, but they are tied to a calendar year.
Sessions 7–10: After your 6th session, you return to your GP for a review. Your psychologist will often send a brief summary letter beforehand. If your GP agrees more sessions would be beneficial, they can extend your plan by up to 4 additional sessions, bringing your total to 10 for the year.
Group sessions: Medicare also covers up to 10 group therapy sessions per year, separate from individual sessions. These run concurrently, so they don’t eat into your individual session count.
What’s the Medicare Rebate?
The rebate amount depends on who you’re seeing:
- Registered psychologist: approximately $92 per session (as of 2026)
- Clinical psychologist: approximately $137 per session
- Other eligible mental health professionals (social workers, occupational therapists with mental health training): approximately $80 per session
The difference between the rebate and what your psychologist charges is your out-of-pocket gap fee. Some psychologists bulk bill — meaning they accept the Medicare rebate as full payment and you pay nothing — while others charge above it.
What Happens When I Use All 10?
Once you’ve used your 10 Medicare-subsidised sessions for the year, the rebate stops — until the new calendar year begins on 1 January. At that point, your count resets and you can get a new Mental Health Care Plan from your GP.
After 10 sessions, some people choose to continue seeing their psychologist privately (paying full price), access lower-cost services like MindSpot or phone counselling through Beyond Blue, or take a break and consolidate what they’ve learned.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
You’re not locked into one psychologist. If the first person you see isn’t the right fit, you can change. Just let your GP know and they can update your referral.
Telehealth counts. Video and phone sessions with eligible psychologists count the same as in-person sessions toward your Medicare rebate.
Children and adolescents can also access Medicare-subsidised sessions through a Mental Health Care Plan created by their GP or paediatrician.
There’s no means testing. The Mental Health Care Plan system is available to all Australians with a Medicare card, regardless of income.
Making the Most of Your Sessions
Ten sessions in a year doesn’t sound like much, but used well, they can be genuinely transformative. To get the most out of them:
- Come prepared — note down what you want to discuss before each appointment
- Practice the strategies your psychologist suggests between sessions
- Don’t wait until you’re in crisis — regular, proactive sessions tend to be more effective
- Track how you’re feeling over time so you can give your psychologist real, useful information
That last point matters more than people realise. Many Australians are now using health tracking apps to log symptoms, mood, and physical wellbeing between appointments. Having a record of how you’ve been — rather than trying to recall a month’s worth of feelings from memory — helps your psychologist understand your patterns and adjust your treatment accordingly.
For more on how to get your Mental Health Care Plan in the first place, read our full guide: Mental Health Care Plan Australia.
And if cost is a barrier to accessing care, our guide to free and low-cost options is worth reading: How to Access Free Mental Health Support in Australia.
Your Next Step
If you haven’t already, start with your GP. Get your Mental Health Care Plan sorted, ask about psychologists who bulk bill, and make the most of the sessions you’re entitled to. Mental health support shouldn’t be out of reach — and for most Australians, it doesn’t have to be.