- Specialist care for adults, wherever you are
Adult Psychiatry
Adult psychiatry covers the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions in adults. PsycheTel Australia provides adult psychiatry across Australia through secure telehealth, delivered by AHPRA-registered consultant psychiatrists who are Fellows of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
Whether you are seeking a first assessment, a second opinion, or ongoing care after a previous arrangement has ended, this is where most people start.
What is a GP Mental Health Care Plan?
A consultant psychiatrist assesses what is happening, works out the most accurate explanation, and puts together a treatment plan. That can include diagnosis, medication where clinically appropriate, referral for psychological therapy, and ongoing review.
- Comprehensive psychiatric assessment and diagnosis
- Diagnostic clarification where a previous diagnosis does not fit
- Second opinion on an existing diagnosis or treatment plan
- Treatment planning, coordinated with your GP and any psychologist you see
- Medication review, adjustment and ongoing management where clinically appropriate
- Transfer of care if your previous psychiatrist is no longer available
- Scheduled review consultations for longer term conditions
- Reports and correspondence to your referring GP
Conditions we assess and treat in adults
Each condition below has its own page explaining what assessment involves and what happens afterwards.
ADHD
Adult ADHD assessment, diagnostic clarification and ongoing management, including for adults who have compensated successfully for years.
Anxiety
Assessment and treatment planning for persistent anxiety, panic and related presentations, particularly where GP and psychological support has not been enough.
Depression
Assessment, diagnostic clarification and treatment planning, including where previous treatment has not achieved what you hoped.
Autism
Adult autism assessment with a respectful, person-centred approach, and practical recommendations for work, study and daily life.
Bipolar Disorder
Adult ADHD assessment, diagnostic clarification and ongoing management, including for adults who have compensated successfully for years.
PTSD
Adult ADHD assessment, diagnostic clarification and ongoing management, including for adults who have compensated successfully for years.
Healthcare Workers
Adult ADHD assessment, diagnostic clarification and ongoing management, including for adults who have compensated successfully for years.
Who adult psychiatry is for
Our adult psychiatry service is for people aged 18 and over. Children and young people are seen through our child and adolescent psychiatry service. Older adults are welcome here, though where memory, cognition or late-onset changes are part of the concern, our old age psychiatry service is usually the better fit.
A GP is the right first step for most people. A psychiatrist adds specialist diagnostic assessment and medical management to the care you already have.
Adult psychiatry may be worth considering if:
- Your symptoms have persisted despite GP management or psychological therapy
- Your diagnosis is unclear, or a previous diagnosis has never quite fitted
- Medication decisions are complex, or a review is overdue
- More than one condition may be present and needs untangling
- Your previous psychiatrist has retired, closed their books, or you have moved
- You need a specialist opinion for work, study or another purpose
What an adult
psychiatric assessment involves
An initial consultation usually runs 45 minutes or longer. Your psychiatrist will explore:
- Your current symptoms, when they started and how they affect daily life
- Your personal, medical and psychiatric history
- Previous treatment, and what each attempt achieved
- Sleep, appetite, energy and physical health
- Alcohol, other substances and current medications
- Family history
- Work, relationships, family circumstances and cultural context
- Current safety
Following assessment, your psychiatrist will discuss their clinical opinion and a plan suited to your situation. Treatment options vary depending on the individual’s circumstances, and suitability is assessed individually. Outcomes differ from person to person, and no particular result can be promised.
A report is provided to your referring GP so your ongoing care stays coordinated.
Ongoing care and review
Some people need one comprehensive assessment and a plan for their GP to carry forward. Others need ongoing psychiatric review, particularly where medication is involved or a condition is long term.
Review consultations are scheduled according to clinical need rather than a fixed template. We coordinate with your GP so that prescribing, monitoring and general health care stay joined up rather than duplicated.
If you already have a diagnosis and need a treating psychiatrist, we accept transfer of care where clinically appropriate. Providing your previous psychiatrist’s correspondence helps considerably.
How online adult psychiatry works
Consultations are delivered by secure video anywhere in Australia (metropolitan, regional and remote), including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin. You need a private space, a device with a camera, and a reasonable internet connection.
Most adult psychiatric assessment and ongoing care can be delivered by telehealth where clinically appropriate. Your psychiatrist will tell you if any part of your care would be better managed in person, requires local support, or needs physical investigations arranged through your GP.
Telehealth is not appropriate for crisis or emergency care.
Referrals, fees and Medicare
A valid GP referral is required to claim a Medicare rebate for a psychiatrist consultation. Your GP can address the referral to PsycheTel Australia or to a named psychiatrist.
Consultation fees and the Medicare rebate applying to each consultation type are published in full on our fees page. Fees are payable before the appointment and we lodge your Medicare claim on your behalf afterwards.
Frequently Asked Question
What does an adult psychiatrist do?
A psychiatrist is a medical specialist in mental health. They assess and diagnose mental health conditions, investigate medical contributors, prescribe and review medication where clinically appropriate, and produce a treatment plan coordinated with your GP and any psychologist you see.
Can I see an adult psychiatrist online in Australia?
Yes. Adult psychiatric assessment and ongoing care are delivered by secure video anywhere in Australia. Telehealth is not suitable for crisis or emergency care.
Do I need a GP referral?
A valid referral is required to claim a Medicare rebate for a psychiatrist consultation. A GP referral is the usual pathway.
What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has completed specialist training in psychiatry, can investigate medical causes, and can prescribe. A psychologist provides psychological therapy and does not prescribe. The two often work together, and most people we assess keep seeing their psychologist.
How long is the first appointment?
An initial consultation usually runs 45 minutes or longer, depending on complexity.
Will I be put on medication?
No treatment is started without discussion. Medication may be considered where clinically appropriate, and suitability is assessed individually. Many treatment plans focus on psychological therapy and practical strategies.
Yes. Consultations run on an encrypted video platform and your health information is handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988. Information is shared with your psychologist, psychiatrist or usual GP only with your consent.
Can you take over my care from another psychiatrist?
Yes, where clinically appropriate. Providing your previous psychiatrist’s correspondence helps considerably. Call 1300 652 935 to discuss.
At what age does adult psychiatry apply?
Our adult psychiatry service is for people aged 18 and over. Younger patients are seen through our child and adolescent psychiatry service. Older adults with memory, cognition or late-onset concerns are usually better suited to our old age psychiatry service.
If you are in immediate danger, call 000. For 24 hour crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. PsycheTel Australia is not a crisis service and does not provide emergency or after-hours care.Group therapy items and family/carer items are also available under Better Access where clinically appropriate. Ask during your consultation
Book an adult psychiatry consultation
Secure telehealth consultations with AHPRA-registered consultant psychiatrists, available Australia-wide.
