Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Below are the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) queried at LYNSEY BYROM clinical psychology.

If your question is not answered below or if you would like to discuss any concerns you have please make contact.

General Questions:

What is the difference between a clinical psychologist and a psychologist with general registration (registered psychologist)?

A psychologist (e.g., clinical or registered) is a professional trained in the science of how people think, feel, behave and learn.
In Australia, psychology is a regulated profession, which means that psychologists must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) and listed with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Psychologists must adhere to strict standards to keep their registration and must provide professional services according to a strict code of ethics, written by the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
When you seek help from a psychologist, you might see a psychologist with general registration, or one who also has a specific ‘area of practice endorsement’ (e.g., clinical psychology).
- Registered psychologists are required to have a minimum of six years of university training and supervised experience.
- An ‘endorsement’ indicates that a psychologist has qualifications in a particular area of practice (e.g., clinical psychology) and an additional two years or more of supervised experience in that area (i.e., a minimum of eight years of university training and supervised experience).

Do clinical psychologists prescribe medication?

No. Doctors (e.g., your GP or psychiatrist) have completed medical degrees and are responsible for prescribing you with medication if required.

What is Dr Lynsey Byrom's approach?

Life presents challenges and sometimes we struggle to overcome them. Sometimes we need that extra source of support and guidance to help us when we’re feeling stuck. Dr Lynsey Byrom would like to help you learn new ways of responding to life’s challenges; to free you from your old restrictive patterns that leave you feeling stuck. Dr Lynsey Byrom brings over 15 years experience helping clients achieve their therapy goals and proven knowledge and skills in clinical psychology. She predominantly employs Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in her private practice work however believes that every person is unique so will tailor therapy to each client and will also utilise skills from other evidence-based therapies such as Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT), Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy (ST) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) where appropriate. Dr Lynsey Byrom draws from her varied experience having worked with individuals, couples and groups in correctional, hospital, community, research, corporate, defence and private mental health settings.
Dr Lynsey Byrom’s approach is collaborative, compassionate, and supportive. She aims to help you create a life that is with awareness of what is truly important to you while also effectively handling the pain and distress that you are currently struggling with. Dr Lynsey Byrom teaches practical skills and strategies with immediate application to your specific needs and goals.

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, said as one word as opposed to the initials) is a powerful psychotherapy that has been scientifically studied and shown to be effective when applied to an array of psychological difficulties (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress, chronic pain).
As the name of the therapy suggests, a key theme is to learn how to accept those things that are out of your control and commit to changing those things that can be changed with the aim of improving your life.
ACT involves two areas of focus. One aim is to teach you a set of skills to handle difficult thoughts and feelings more effectively, so they have less impact and influence over you. The second aim is to help you clarify your values and then use this information to set goals and take action to create a life that is rich, full and meaningful for you.
ACT is a very active form of therapy. It’s not just talking about problems; it’s a therapy where you will actively learn new skills to improve your quality of life. And like any new skill, the more you practice, the better you’ll get.
Click here for more information about ACT.

Will my information be kept private and confidential?

Information pertaining to your therapy remains private and confidential. Should it be necessary to discuss your treatment with another professional, family member or other relevant person, Dr Lynsey Byrom will only do this with your consent.
Dr Lynsey Byrom is ethically and legally obligated to protect you and others from harm and may be required to disclose information to third parties in the following exceptional situations. In the event of either of these issues arising, Dr Lynsey Byrom will endeavour to contact you before taking action:
- If there is a risk of serious harm to you or another person, including a child
- If there is a legal obligation to do so (e.g., a subpoena, information about a serious crime)

Fees and Rebates:

What are the costs?

A standard session takes 50 minutes and the fee of $240.00 is payable via credit card (MasterCard or Visa) or cash at the time of consultation. Dr Lynsey Byrom does not charge any additional fee for initial sessions. These fees are significantly below those recommended by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) which are currently set at $311.00.
A standard supervision session takes 50 minutes and the fee of $264.00 ($240 + GST) is payable via credit card (Mastercard or Visa) or cash at the time of the appointment.

Do I need a referral from a doctor?

No, you do not need to have a referral from your GP or psychiatrist to see Dr Lynsey Byrom. While many clients present with a referral from their GP it is not required and in some instances it would not be appropriate (i.e., you are not experiencing a diagnosable mental health condition according to Medicare). If you do not have a referral you will not be able to claim a Medicare rebate.
Please discuss your eligibility for a referral with your GP or psychiatrist before making your initial appointment with Dr Lynsey Byrom.

Can I get a rebate from Medicare?

A Medicare rebate of $141.85 may be available for up to 10 sessions per calendar year if you are referred by your GP with a current Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP). Please note, you may benefit from more (or less) than 10 sessions to achieve your therapy goals.
You will need to make an appointment with your GP who will assess whether you are eligible for a MHTP. The creation of a MHTP takes time so please request a longer appointment when booking with your GP’s receptionist so that you have enough time to allow for this (generally 30mins is sufficient). The purpose of the MHTP is to create mental health goals and outline the best treatment to reach these.
To be able to claim a Medicare rebate for your sessions with Dr Lynsey Byrom you will need to bring the referral letter from your GP and your MHTP to your first appointment.
Once full payment has been made with Dr Lynsey Byrom your rebate claim with Medicare will be submitted online (on your behalf). Medicare will then deposit the funds in to your bank account that is registered with them. Funds typically appear within 1-3 business days and often appear overnight.

Can I get a rebate from my private health insurer?

Many private health insurance policies include rebates for psychological services in their extras cover. Please contact your private health fund to check the level of cover in your policy. LYNSEY BYROM clinical psychology is registered with HICAPS Go (click here to download the app) to determine out-of-pocket costs via the quote function, claim, and pay for your sessions.
You cannot claim a benefit from both your private health insurer and Medicare for the same psychology appointment (i.e., you cannot use private health insurance to ‘top up’ the Medicare rebate you have received for an appointment).
If you have been referred by your GP under a Mental Health Treatment Plan and have reached your limit of Medicare rebates (per calendar year) you may then claim rebates from your private health fund (if psychology sessions are covered in your policy). Once full payment has been made with Dr Lynsey Byrom you will be issued with a receipt that you can then forward to your private health insurer to claim a rebate. Your private health insurer will then deposit the funds in to your bank account that is registered with them.

Therapy and Appointments:

What are your hours?

Appointments with Dr Lynsey Byrom are available on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 8:15am and 2:00pm.
There is a toll free number for contact (1800 858 179) and limited reception services are available where you may leave a message and Dr Lynsey Byrom will return your call later the same day. In cases of emergency please contact either your GP, Lifeline on 13 11 14, your local Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511, or 000 in a life-threatening emergency.

How do I book an appointment?

You can book, check, or reschedule appointments online at your convenience via this link. You can also send emails to

re*******@ly*********.au

requesting to be placed upon a waitlist if your preferred appointment is unavailable. Alternatively please make contact online or call 1800 858 179 to discuss your situation.
Once an initial appointment has been made you will receive a confirmation email which outlines your appointment time, instructions on where to find Dr Lynsey Byrom, and other information such as what to bring to your appointment (e.g., a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral letter from your GP).
SMS reminders for appointments are sent 2 business days prior to your appointment.

Is there a late cancellation or rescheduling policy?

Like many professional services there is a cancellation policy that reflects the hour that Dr Lynsey Byrom has reserved for your session. If an appointment cannot be attended for any reason, please provide as much notice as possible. Cancellations can be made online via the booking portal via this link. You can also send emails to

re*******@ly*********.au

. You may also call 1800 858 179 at anytime, even after hours, as there is an answering service that allows you to leave a message.
Cancellation without adequate notice (i.e., less than 48 business hours before your scheduled appointment time) requires payment as per the cancellation policy below. Cancellation fees are in accordance with the Australian Psychological Society’s guidelines. Sorry, no exceptions can be made for illness or other personal circumstances. Cancellation costs are automatically charged to your credit card on file and rebates cannot be claimed from Medicare or private health insurers for cancelled or unattended appointments.
- Less than 24 business hours notice prior to scheduled appointment = 100% session fee.
- 24-48 business hours notice prior to scheduled appointment = 50% session fee.

How long are the sessions, how often do I need to attend, and for how many sessions?

Standard sessions are 50 minutes with 10 minutes for note taking at the end.
Therapy is tailored to suit each person and therefore the number and frequency of sessions will vary for client to client and will be discussed once your therapy plan has been agreed upon. This usually occurs at your first session and is reviewed along the course of therapy. Factors to be considered include what brings you to therapy and what you want to get out of therapy (i.e., therapy goals). Other things to consider are: the severity/complexity of your situation, your availability to attend sessions, and ability to commit to practice skills/implement strategies between sessions.

What can I expect in my first session?

Once an initial appointment has been made you will receive a confirmation email which outlines your appointment time, instructions on where to find Dr Lynsey Byrom, and other information such as what to bring to your appointment (e.g., referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan). This confirmation email also contains a link to some online forms and questionnaires (includes basic information such as contact details and questionnaires to assess your present symptoms). Completing these prior to your initial session then allows for the full 50 minutes of your session with Dr Lynsey Byrom to be dedicated to discussing your issues.
SMS reminders for appointments are sent 3 business days prior to your scheduled appointment.
The initial appointment is an opportunity for you to discuss your issues with Dr Lynsey Byrom. This will include exploring the nature of your current difficulties and any relevant history (including any previous therapy you may have attended). Dr Lynsey Byrom will want to get a full understanding of your current situation so will also ask about areas such as work, family and social relationships and your health in general. Finally, you will be asked about what you want to gain from coming to therapy (i.e., therapy goals) and a therapy plan to ensure that future sessions are working towards these will also be created. While Dr Lynsey Byrom will ask you questions during this initial session, you are also welcome and encouraged to ask any questions you have.
Dr Lynsey Byrom appreciates that seeing a psychologist for the first time can be daunting and that sharing personal information with her soon after you meet can be difficult. It is very normal and natural to feel nervous when attending your initial appointment and Dr Lynsey Byrom takes great effort to make you feel comfortable and to create a safe and supportive environment for you. You are to be applauded for making the brave step on your journey towards creating the life you want for yourself.

What can I expect in subsequent sessions?

Therapy is tailored to suit each person and therefore the content of sessions will vary. In general, time will be spent in sessions working together with Dr Lynsey Byrom to develop practical skills and strategies with immediate application to your specific needs and goals. Dr Lynsey Byrom draws from a range of very active forms of therapy modalities, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It’s not just talking about problems; therapy is where you will actively learn new skills to improve your quality of life.
After most sessions you will be given an exercise or a new strategy to try between sessions. Like any new skill, the more you practice, the better you’ll get.
The frequency of therapy sessions often changes from either weekly or fortnightly sessions to less frequent (e.g., monthly). This change in frequency is to allow more time to implement the strategies and skills discussed in the sessions and to also develop your self-management skills (i.e., to no longer ‘need’ to see Dr Lynsey Byrom). The frequency of sessions will be discussed once your therapy plan has been agreed upon, usually at your initial appointment with Dr Lynsey Byrom.

Do you offer one-off assessments or court reports?

No, Dr Lynsey Byrom doesn’t see clients purely for the purposes of assessment and also does not complete court reports. There are numerous psychologists who specialise in conducting assessments and producing court reports.

Do you offer work cover sessions?

No, Dr Lynsey Byrom doesn’t see clients as part of NSW Work Cover claims. There are numerous psychologists who specialise in medico-legal therapy sessions.

Do you offer couple counselling?

No, Dr Lynsey Byrom doesn’t see couples. There are numerous psychologists who specialise in relationship counselling.