Office Hours 9AM to 6PM , 7 Days A Week

Consult with a Qualified Psychologist in the privacy of your own home, office or farm.

Online psychology services are a convenient way for you to access therapy from the privacy of your home without needing to attend to appointments. Based in South West Victoria Australia, Retreat South offers online consulting services via Skype-to-Skype voice or video calls to all people in remote areas of Australia. All calls are encrypted, private & fully secure.

Convenient

Very Private

Completely Secure

Wide coverage area

Medicare rebates are now available

Australians who have been going without counselling services are now able to receive it along with the Medicare rebate. The Medicare rebate for psychological services via Telehealth will be available for patients living in Modified Monash Model regions 5 to 7, which covers most smaller country towns and remote and very remote locations.

An experienced & caring team

Ruth Magnusson
Founder & Director

Psychologist Ruth Magnusson., B.A. Dip.Ed., Dip., Applied Science.  M.A.P.S. Retreat South founder Ruth Magnusson has extensive experience in a wide variety of settings including education, rehabilitation, justice, forensic, trauma and Dual diagnosis. Ruth utilises a range of methodology developed over her years of experience in education, psychology and anthropology. She has a passion for supporting individuals to discover meaning in their lives and to reveal the depth and efficacy of their personal resources, skills and abilities. Ruth’s approach is supportive, generous and detailed encompassing all aspects of the person, their experiences and environment to ensure that their experience at Retreat South gives them the support, skills and knowledge that will carry them successfully into their future life.

Andrea Lane
Clinical Hypnotherapy

Dip Clinical Hypnotherapy Brainspotting Therapist Psychotherapist VER Practitioner EFT Practitioner

Ryan Dawson
Clinical Exercise Physiology

Bachelors Degree of Sports and Exercise Science Masters of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation) ESSA accredited Exercise scientist and Exercise physiologist As an accredited Exercise Physiologist my role is to prescribe exercise for people living with chronic/complex medical conditions. I tailor my intervention based on the unique traits of the individual presenting and aim to use exercise as a tool in a holistic approach to mental health rehabilitation at Retreat South. Specialty areas include Neurological/Neuromuscular, Metabolic conditions, Mental health and lifestyle modification.

Fiona Mc.Quie
Nutritionist & Catering

Fiona has worked in the food industry for over 25 years and has an extensive experience in various method of cookery. Currently studying to be a clinical nutritionist, Fiona is passionate about the pathway to health through nutrition.

Retreat South is one of Australia’s leading facilities for the treatment of trauma, PTSD and grief. We also specialise in effective and enduring treatment for depression, anxiety, stress and dual diagnosis with substance abuse

Personalised treatment for a range of conditions

Depression Anxiety Disorders

Mood Disorders

Bipolar Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Grief and Loss

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Fear, phobias and panic attacks

Women’s Mental Health

Men’s Mental Health

Drug & Alcohol Addiction

Pain Management

Phobias

Self Esteem Issues

Trauma

PTSD

Workplace Stress

Anger Management

All our therapists are professionally registered Psychologists with AHPRA and the Australia Board of Psychology.

What you will need

You will need a computer with or a tablet with camera and audio capacity. Internet connection is also essential for video connections. We use Skype to Skype which is available for iPad/iPhone and Android apps available. These are free for you to download. If you don’t have a computer or Internet connection, or simply do not want a video session, a phone consultation can also be arranged

Counselling services

At Retreat South, we provide accredited services to: Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) for businesses and organisations Victims of Crime WorkCover Transport Accident Commission – TAC Department of Veterans’ Affairs – DVA

Corporate services - training

Provision of training to organisations is available upon request. Please contact us to discuss and customise training needs for your organisation. Call us on +61 3 5568 4155 to make an appointment

Frequently asked questions

A referral from your doctor is not required in order to book and attend appointments. You can book as a private client. However, if you wish to make use of Medicare Australia rebates you will need to first ask your General Practitioner or Psychiatrist for a referral in the form of a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP). This is usually quick and straightforward.

Psychological Counselling fees

  • 90 minutes — recommended for adults:  $280
  • 50 minutes — for teenagers and adults:  $190
  • 30 minutes — for teenagers and adults on a budget:  $100

Payment is by cash, Visa, Mastercard or American Express.

The 2017-2018 national recommended rates for Registered Psychologists are $354 for 90 minutes or $246 for 60 minutes.  I try to keep my fees lower.

If you would like to claim Medicare rebates on your session fees, please ask your General Practitioner or Psychiatrist for a Mental Health Care Plan dated on or before your first appointment.  This is usually quick and straightforward to arrange.

The Medicare rebate for most patients is about $85 per session.  If you have reached your Medicare threshold your rebate may be higher, covering much more of your fee.

Private health insurers also increasingly have provisions for psychological services.  Please check your policy.

Please note that full fees are payable for sessions missed or cancelled without at least 24hrs notice.  Be sure to let me know at least one day ahead if you need to change your session time. Exceptions are only made for medical reasons.