Therapy & Assessments for Adults and Adolescents
About Therapy & Assessments
I offer therapy sessions to clients aged 14+. Medicare rebates are available with an eligible referral.
I offer neurodiversity-affirming autism and ADHD assessments to clients aged 14+
You can attend in-person in Warana, Sunshine Coast or online Australia-wide.
Everybody has something different that they want to get out of seeing a psychologist. Whether you're looking to address past trauma, explore your neurotype, learn how to manage intrusive thoughts, stop cycles of burn out, or something else, we can work together on making meaningful change in your life. You might not even know what your goals are yet! That's okay. We can figure that out together.
Therapy
My therapy approach is trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming, and will be adapted to your individual needs.
I welcome clients experiencing a range of concerns, including those seeing me for support with:
Anxiety and stress
Autism and ADHD
Challenges managing emotions
Mood difficulties
Neurodivergence / Neurodivergent masking
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and intrusive thoughts
Perfectionism
Phobias
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Relationship and interpersonal challenges
Social anxiety
Trauma (including complex PTSD)
Women's mental health
I use a range of evidence-based interventions and techniques depending on your challenges and goals. This may include:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Schema Therapy
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Attachment-based techniques
Therapy FAQs
The fee for therapy appointments is $250 per session (50-minute duration). Payments are due at the time of consultation.
If you have a valid referral from your GP under the Better Access to Mental Health initiative (Mental Health Care Plan), you can receive a Medicare rebate of $141.85 for up to 10 sessions in a calendar year, which makes the fee as follows:
- Total fee to be paid by you on the day: $250
- Medicare rebate you will receive back to your nominated bank account: $141.85
- Total out of pocket fee: $108.15
Some private health funds cover psychology services. Please check your eligibility and claiming process with your fund and let me know if you plan to claim so I can provide the appropriate receipt.
It depends!
If you wish to claim a Medicare rebate for your therapy sessions, you'll need a referral from your GP under the Better Access to Mental Health initiative (Mental Health Care Plan). You can book an appointment with me before getting your referral, but please make sure to get the referral from your GP before attending your first session.
If you don't want to claim a rebate, you don't need a referral for therapy. This just means you will pay the full fee yourself.
Referrals can be sent to admin@jennifermorrissey.com.au or to Jennifer Morrissey (Warana, QLD, 4575; Provider Number 6202425A) on Medical Objects.
Assessments
My comprehensive psychological assessments are designed to help you understand yourself better and empower you to improve your wellbeing. I have a particular interest in supporting high-masking individuals (internalised presentations) to understand their neurotype.
I offer the following comprehensive diagnostic assessments:
Autism assessments (using the MIGDAS-2)
ADHD assessments
Combined auDHD (autism and ADHD) assessments
Please note, I do not provide court reports, work capacity assessments, or intelligence testing.
Assessment FAQs
The fees below cover the complete cost of a standard assessment, which includes all consultation hours, reviewing of information, and report writing as outlined in the "What's involved in an assessment?" FAQ below.
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ADHD Assessment: $1600
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Autism Assessment: $1800
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Combined AuDHD (ADHD and Autism) Assessment: $2250
Additional fees are unlikely but may apply if the standard assessment format doesn't meet your needs. If this occurs, it will be discussed directly with you before or during the assessment process, as soon as the need for additional time is identified.
Please note, fees are subject to change.
You do not need a referral for an autism and/or ADHD assessment, but it can be helpful for your GP or an allied health professional to send a referral if they have relevant history to share. It's up to you.
Referrals can be sent to admin@jennifermorrissey.com.au or to Jennifer Morrissey (Warana, QLD, 4575; Provider Number 6202425A) on Medical Objects.
It is very important to me that you feel as comfortable as possible during the assessment. I understand that an assessment can be daunting and anxiety-inducing for many people, which can make it hard to explain things succinctly or remember all the details you wanted to share. That’s why I have designed my assessment process in a way that allows us plenty of time and opportunities to communicate as needed.
In addition to assessing for autism and ADHD, I also screen for common co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety and OCD. This helps me to provide you with recommendations that fit your individual needs.
The assessment process typically involves 3-4 sessions, each lasting 1-2 hours. Sessions can be conducted in-person or via Telehealth, or a mix of both.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Getting to Know You: We’ll start by talking about your background and history. This helps me understand you as a person and get a clear picture of your challenges and life experiences.
- Exploring Traits: I will gently navigate you through an exploration of your potential autism and/or ADHD traits using clinical assessment tools, plus identify any areas that may need further investigation.
- Questionnaires: You will complete some questionnaires to complement the information gathered through our conversations.
- Additional Information: You will be asked to provide any relevant prior assessment reports/letters and school reports. With your consent, I may gather additional information from your family members/friends or other health professionals.
- Time for Report Writing: I will take time to review all the information we’ve gathered, make decisions about your diagnosis (if given), and prepare your detailed report and recommendations.
- Feedback Session: We will review your report together in detail to make sure you understand the results. There is plenty of time for us to discuss any questions and plan your next steps based on the results.
- Final Report: After the feedback session, you’ll receive your comprehensive report with recommendations, plus a summary letter if needed (e.g., for sharing with other health professionals, or your workplace, school or study provider).
Important note: I cannot prescribe medication as a psychologist. If you are looking for an ADHD assessment with the option to discuss medication, please see your GP for a psychiatry referral or reach out to me if you’d like to discuss your options further.
Important note: If you believe you have additional assessment needs above the standard format outlined above, please contact me to discuss prior to booking to ensure I am the most appropriate service for you.
If you’re considering a formal assessment for autism and/or ADHD, you’re in the right place. There are many reasons people seek assessment. You may have been spending a lot of time wondering if you’re neurodivergent or another health professional may have recommended an assessment. The correct diagnosis can guide you to helpful supports or accommodations that can improve your day-to-day life.
If you unsure if an assessment is right for you, please get in touch to have a chat!
Please note, completing an assessment does not guarantee a diagnosis. I will always aim to provide helpful insights and recommendations whether or not a diagnosis is made.
That's ok! I'm here to help.
If you’re unsure whether you'd like an assessment for ADHD, autism, or both, we can start with one assessment and add the other later if needed. If you decide to add a second assessment, additional fees will apply, up to the total amount for a Combined AuDHD Assessment, as detailed in the "What are your fees for assessments?" section above.
You're welcome to email me with an enquiry if you're feeling unsure!
Yes! I am a clinical psychologist trained in diagnosing autism and ADHD, and have years of experience working with neurodivergent people.
Completing an assessment does not guarantee diagnosis or eligibility for NDIS funding. After your assessment, if you are eligible to apply for NDIS funding then yes, your report is suitable to provide as evidence of diagnosis for your application. Please note this does not guarantee that your NDIS application would be successful, as this is decided by the NDIA. You may still require a report from your treating professional or doctor.
- If you are specifically looking for an assessment for NDIS purposes, please contact me to discuss further to ensure I am the right service for your needs.
Values
Here's a brief look at some of the things you can expect when you see me
Listening and understanding
Feeling safe to share your story is at the heart of building a supportive relationship with your psychologist. A large part of this is trusting that you will be really heard and acknowledged. I make a commitment to listen non-judgmentally and take time to understand you throughout our work together.
I also take time to learn from people with lived experience, so that I am continuously developing a better understanding of my clients' challenges and needs.
Embracing neurodiversity
I work under the neurodiversity-affirming paradigm, which means I view variations in neurotype (e.g., autistic brains) as differences and not deficits. I recognise that neurodivergent people experience challenges in environments that are typically set up with neurotypical brains in mind, such as most work and education environments. I am committed to neurodiversity-affirming practice, which includes supporting my neurodivergent clients to improve their wellbeing in affirming ways (i.e., not expecting clients to mask their neurodivergent traits).
Whether you are neurodivergent or not, I aim to support you to embrace your authentic self.
Individualised approach
It's important to feel that you can be yourself with me to get the most out of your psychology journey. I aim to accommodate to different needs and preferences in session and welcome you to participate however you feel comfortable. This might mean drawing while we chat instead of making eye contact, or maybe setting up the plan for the session in a specific way so you know what to expect each time.
I work collaboratively with my clients to make recommendations and select therapy approaches that are going to suit you and your unique goals.