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Accreditations

Member, Australian Psychological Society Ltd

Medicare

 

 

Muriel CooperI’m Muriel Cooper, a fully registered psychologist in Melbourne, Australia and I hope that by visiting this page you’ll be informed, entertained and most importantly helped.

Are you stressed, anxious or depressed? Not coping at work or in relationships, or do you have any of the issues listed below ? – then welcome to ‘The Talking Room’!

You can take advantage of this page to make an appointment with me for counselling or clinical psychology, enjoying the articles and my writings on my blog, and posting or emailing me a comment or question. You can also subscribe to my monthly newsletter, or feel free to comment on my articles or blogs (free registration required).

I specialise in Stress, Anxiety and Depression – the S.A.D. cycle - but I deal with most psychological and emotional problems with singles, couples & families. I also do training, groups and workshops.

Apart from Stress Anxiety and Depression (SAD), some of the areas I encounter are:

  • Adjustment issues (getting used to new circumstances in life)
  • Generally how to achieve contentment and happiness in life
  • Eating disorders
  • Phobias
  • Grief and Loss
  • Helping individuals and families adjust to a mental or emotional unwellness
  • Relationship and couple counselling
  • Workplace issues
  • Self development
  • Obsessions or habits (like nail biting and hair-pulling)

I use Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy, and lesser-known techniques like Gestalt Therapy if I feel it will benefit the client. I’m also interested in Emotional Intelligence, Positive Psychology and using your mind to train your brain, as well as Meditation and Relaxation.

Are you eligible for Medicare or Health Fund rebates?

Australian citizens with Medicare cards are eligible for rebates through Medicare for psychological services. To qualify for rebates you need to contact your GP for an appointment. Make sure you ask for a long appointment as he or she will need to do a Mental Health Care Plan. They will ask you some questions and fill out forms to forward to Medicare. If you wish to be referred to me, please ask them to refer you to Muriel Cooper.

You will need to bring the care plan and the referral letter to your first session with me. You may begin claiming from the date on the referral/plan. You will receive $80.20 back from Medicare for each session you attend. You will be eligible for six rebatable sessions with your first referral and after that, a further six sessions if you attend your GP for a brief visit if before six months of the referral date, or a review if after six months; a total of twelve rebatable sessions for the calendar year (January 1 to December 31). In some circumstances you may be eligible for a further six sessions taking it to eighteen sessions in all.

Health Fund rebates depend on your level of cover - call your fund about your ability to claim

Contact me to make an appointment. If you’re in Melbourne call now on 0414 526 118.  Sessional rates are from $130 an hour, cash, cheque or credit ($5 surcharge for Mastercard or Visa only, no EFTPOS).

Click here for full details of my services and fees.

The Talking Room is situated in Melbourne’s Eastern suburbs, and invites clients from all over the Melbourne metropolitan area.

I welcome your input into this web site and invite you to contact me by email or make a comment on the site. All your contributions are valued as long as they’re relevant to the point and aren’t aggressive (please). We can all learn from each other.

Thank you for visiting. Please bookmark us and come back soon!
 

 

Herbal supplementsHave you had the experience where you have gone on a weight reducing diet, cutting out carbohydrates, protein and fat, only to find you feel irritable and people are accusing you of being a grump?

It’s common these days to think that fat and carbohydrates are bad for you and make you fat and in sufficiently high quantities, of course that’s a fact.

But here’s another fact.

Protein, carbohydrates and fats are ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH!

The brain is mostly made of water and fat.  Omega 3 fatty acids such as those found in fish oil and flaxseed oil richly nourish the brain and keep it healthy.

Last Updated (26 Feb 2012)

 

Woman deep in thought1. Stimulate your brain in the right direction 

What fires together wires together’ – the brain will strengthen anything you pay attention to with intensity – whether it’s good, bad or indifferent for you.

The brain is very ‘plastic’ it can change – but you need to use your mind to take charge of what you want to think about rather than what the ‘survival’ brain wants you to think about.

Left to its own devices the brain will worry.

Persist in re-focusing your brain onto positive things, trains of thought, memories etc.  Use your mind to train your brain into better habits.

Last Updated (25 Feb 2012)