Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Do I need a referral from a GP or paediatrician?
No. You can contact us directly and book without a referral. A referral is only needed if you are claiming through a Medicare care plan, in which case your GP arranges it. NDIS participants who are self-managed or plan-managed do not need one either.
What are the payment options?
All services are GST free. We see NDIS participants who are self-managed or plan-managed, charged in line with the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements. For private health, a receipt with a provider number is issued for you to claim, if your extras cover includes occupational therapy. Private payment is also available and is often the best fit for adolescent and adult coaching.
Do parents and carers need to attend sessions?
For paediatric work, yes wherever possible. True progress happens at home, and Crystal coaches parents and carers directly so that strategies carry into everyday life rather than staying inside a short weekly session. For adolescent and adult work, attendance is the client's choice.
What happens when you book an appointment?
There are a number of steps that let everyone get to know each other properly. It begins with an enquiry, then a free ten-minute phone call to check the fit, then an initial assessment. The full sequence is set out on the sessions and fees page.
How is occupational therapy different from psychology or coaching?
Occupational therapy is a registered health profession concerned with function: what a person does across a day, and what makes it harder or easier. The work is practical and environmental as much as it is personal, so it changes the task, the setting and the routine alongside the strategy. It sits alongside psychological therapy and medical care rather than replacing either.
What if you need to cancel an appointment?
Please give at least [24 / 48] hours notice. Inside that window the session is charged in full, because the time cannot be reallocated, though this is waived where there is a genuine emergency. For NDIS participants, the NDIS short-notice cancellation rules apply and take precedence.
What if your child is sick?
Please keep them home and let us know as early as you can. Where notice is short because of genuine illness, the cancellation fee is waived. Where it suits, a session can sometimes be switched to a telehealth parent-coaching session instead of being cancelled.