Services Offered

Lebensfreude Psychology Clinic offers evidence-based, individualised and effective psychological interventions.

General Mental Health

We provide evidence-based interventions for most psychological disorders, including anxiety disorders, PTSD, depression, OCD, adjustment disorder, panic disorder and phobias. At Lebensfreude Psychology, we take pride in tailoring treatment to each client.

Gender-affirming Care

We specialise in treating gender dysphoria and providing gender exploratory therapy with a focus on each gender-diverse person's unique pathway.

Queer-affirming Therapy

Providing a safe space for queer and gay people to work towards an authentic, fulfilled and meaningful life. This often involves working through shame and internalised homophobia with a focus on building resilience.

Facilitating comprehensive, thorough and neuroaffirming psychometric assessments to investigate the presence of autism (ASD) and/or ADHD. We do ADHD assessments, ASD assessments and combined assessments (ADHD + ASD).

Psychometric Assessments

Gay men often experience unique stressors such as societal stigma, discrimination, and internalised homophobia. I provide a safe space for gay men in which we can work on topics such as identity development, self-acceptance, constructive coping mechanisms and promoting healthy relationships.

Gay Men's Health

We recognise neurodivergence as a natural variation of human neurology. Our focus is on helping neurodivergent clients develop self-acceptance through understanding and accommodating their individual needs and strengths. We take a strength-based approach that often involves creating a tailored treatment to embrace differences and emphasise that each client is the expert on their own life.

Neuroaffirming Care

What We Can Help With

Gender Services

We provide specialised treatment for gender-diverse children, adolescents and adults for issues including (but not limited to):

Assessment and diagnosis

We assess and diagnose gender dysphoria in children, adolescents and adults. We also write letters of support for gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT/HRT), "top surgery" and "bottom surgery" in line with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health's (WPATH) Standards of Care — Eighth Edition (SOC-8) [WPATH letters]. Importantly, due to the complexity and thoroughness of WPATH assessments, typically a total number of six standard sessions is required to undergo the WPATH assessment process. The letter of support accrues an additional report writing fee.

Psychological treatment

We treat co-occurring psychological disorders (comorbidities) in children, adolescents and adults with gender dysphoria. Creating a holistic treatment plan that is person-centred, effective and evidence-based is an important component of our care for gender-diverse clients.

Psychoeducation

We provide education on gender dysphoria and gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) and/or surgical interventions.

Gillick Competence assessments

We assess whether a young person seeking gender-affirming medical interventions is able to give informed consent, utilising evidence-based tools such as the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T)

General Mental Health

We provide psychological interventions for children, adolescents and adults (and their families) for issues including (but not limited to):

• Adjustment Disorder

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Bipolar Disorder

• Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

• Depression and mood disorders

• Dysthymic Disorder

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Grief and loss

• Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Panic Disorder

• Perfectionism

• Phobias

• Relationship difficulties

• School refusal/performance and test anxiety

• Self-esteem

• Sexology

• Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

• Stress and burnout

• Substance Use Disorder SUD)

• Trauma & PTSD

Neurodivergence Assessment

We provide neurodivergence assessments to children, adolescents and adults from the age of six years.

Autism Assessment

The assessment process involves several components of data collection, ensuring a rigorous, thorough and evidence-based process and accurate diagnosis. The common assessment tools are:

• Comprehensive Autism Trait Inventory (CATI)

• Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q)

• Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum, Second Edition (MIGDAS-2)

• Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System - 3rd Edition (ABAS-3)

• DASS-21, ITQ, Y-BOCS (to determine possible differential diagnoses)

All information is then triangulated and mapped against the DSM-5-TR criteria to determine if a diagnosis of autism can be made. The assessment process concludes with a comprehensive report and a feedback conversation to collaboratively discuss next steps and answer any questions. Total cost: $2400.

ADHD assessment

To assess for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the following psychometric tools are most commonly used (NB. variation occurs depending on client's age):

• Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in adults (DIVA-5) | Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in young people (aged 5-17) [Young DIVA-5]

• CAARS-2/ Conners-4

• MOXO Continuous Performance Test (CPT)

• CADDRA

All information is then triangulated and mapped against the DSM-5-TR criteria to determine if a diagnosis of ADHD can be made. Total cost: $1600.

AuDHD assessment

A combined autism and ADHD assessment can be facilitated. It integrates the assessment components of both assessments. Total cost: $3600.

Flexible Format

You can choose how you would like to do therapy. Pick one of the following options. You can flexibly switch between some or all of the options. For instance, you might decide that face-to-face sessions are ideal for you, but occasionally you might want to walk & talk. Likewise, you might sometimes want to do online sessions (telehealth).

Face-to-face

Therapy will take place in our beautiful office in the CBD.

Online (telehealth)

You will receive a secure telehealth link to join your session remotely.

Walk & Talk

Walk & talk therapy allows therapy to take place outdoors. Being in nature has additional therapeutic benefits.

Fees and Rebates

The fee for a standard 50-minute session is $290.

No referral is needed to see me. However, if your GP refers you under a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you may be eligible for up to ten Medicare rebates. At present, the Medicare rebate for a 50-minute session with a clinical psychologist is $145.25. Your private health insurer may also offer rebates for psychology. Please note, you are responsible for claiming any eligible rebate directly with your private health insurer and you cannot claim both private health insurance and Medicare rebates for the same appointment.

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Cancellation fees apply for appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours notice. A 50% fee is charged for cancellations made within 48 hours, and a 100% fee is charged for cancellations made within 24 hours.

Fee schedule for neurodivergence assessments:

Autism assessment: $2400

ADHD assessment: $1600

AuDHD combined assessment: $3600.