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Psychology
Psychological therapy is available at Turning Point for people who are wishing to reduce or abstain from using drugs or alcohol.
The psychologist can assist a person to make changes to their substance using behaviour as well as develop strategies on how to improve mood, anxiety and mental health.
Psychology at Turning Point is Medicare funded so people who wish to see a psychologist for help with a drug or alcohol problem need to be referred by their GP or psychiatrist. Turning Point bulk bills which means people can access the service at no cost.
What does psychological therapy involve?
The psychologist will work with you to help you set and hopefully achieve your goal of reducing or changing your drug and alcohol use.
Psychologists at Turning Point use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This type of therapy involves the provision of information and development of specific strategies to help you change your drug or alcohol use.
Sessions are usually weekly or fortnightly and last for about 50 mins. Under Medicare, you are eligible for 6-12 sessions of therapy when referred by your GP or psychiatrist.
Who can access psychological therapy at Turning Point?
- Patients who wish to change their drug or alcohol use who are currently using or abstinent from alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin or prescription drugs.
- Patients who use substances and have a co-occurring mental health problem (eg. depression, anxiety).
Service details
- Patients referred by their doctor are eligible for 6-12 sessions of therapy.
- Turning Point is a bulk billing service (ie. no cost to the patient) and is located in Fitzroy.
- Opening hours are 9.30am-5.00pm. We do not offer after hours appointments at this time.
Psychologists working at Turning Point
Dr Hunter Mulcare has a background in Health Psychology and specialises in the treatment of substance use disorders and clients with dual diagnosis.
Enquiries
If you have any questions about psychology at Turning Point, please contact Dr Hunter Mulcare on 8413 8462.
Information for people wanting a referral to see the Turning Point psychologist for a drug/alcohol problem
- You will need to get a referral from your GP or psychiatrist to see the Turning Point psychologist. When booking an appointment with your doctor, you will need to make it clear that you want a psychology referral, as you may need to make a special (longer) appointment with your doctor.
- Your doctor will write a referral letter for you. An electronic referral form can be downloaded in either Word (27kb) or PDF (25kb) format.
- Once you have a referral from your doctor, you can contact Dr Hunter Mulcare on 8413 8462 to make an appointment.
Information for referrers/GPs
- Patients with substance use disorders who wish to reduce or abstain from relevant substance(s) are eligible. The service is appropriate for patients with mild, moderate and even severe substance use disorders.
- The service is not limited to the treatment of particular substances. Patients can be seen who use any of the following substances: alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin or prescription drugs.
- Patients with a dual diagnosis are also eligible. People using substances who have a co-occurring mental health problem (eg. mood disorders, anxiety, post-traumatic stress syndrome, personality disorders, psychotic disorders) are commonly seen at Turning Point.
- As Turning Point is not a crisis service, it is desirable that patients are not referred when currently in crisis (eg. actively suicidal) or psychiatrically unwell (eg. psychotic symptoms).
- Patients have to be 18 years of age or older.
How to make a referral
- A patient needs to be referred as part of a GP Mental Health Care Plan (GP Medicare item 2710) or under a psychiatric management plan (item 291).
- Psychiatrists can refer a patient if they have been seen for an eligible Medicare service (specialist psychiatrist items 104-109 or consultant psychiatrist items 293-370).
- A referral letter needs to be completed by the referring GP. This does not need to follow a specific format, although an electronic referral form is available in either Word (27kb) or PDF (25kb) format.
- Send referrals by fax or post to Dr Hunter Mulcare, Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Centre, 54-62 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy 3065. Fax: 9486 9766.
- The patient can then contact Dr Mulcare on 8413 8462 to make an appointment.
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