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Referring your patient to us

Doctor's Desk
How we work
  • GlowDBT is a safe, supportive space to help clients gain a better understanding of themselves, their patterns and their relationships 

  • We aim to move beyond symptom reduction and towards long-term, meaningful change

  • We track our client's progress and collaboratively make adjustments where necessary

  • We have a thorough assessment process to ensure that all prospective DBT participants are evaluated for suitability for what we can offer at GlowDBT

  • We value collaborative working relationships with our referrers and regularly communicate with you to ensure optimal care

A few things to consider before making a referral
  • While DBT is effective for clients at risk of harm to themselves, The Glow Centre is a private practice and clients must be low to moderate risk. ​​If clients are at high risk, they must be engaged with or case managed by a psychiatrist or public mental health team, who can manage medications and arrange for crisis support/admissions when required.

  • For more information about eligibility and exclusion criteria for our program, take a look at our About DBT page here.

  • It is important to note that DBT is a structured and long-term treatment, and its success depends on the collaboration between the therapist and the client. Clients typically go through multiple stages of treatment, working on different aspects as they progress.​

  • DBT involves a significant commitment of time, resources and willingness to prioritise DBT as your patient's primary treatment. This means stopping or pausing other psychological treatments while they are in DBT.

  • If our DBT team feel that we are unable to accommodate your patient, we will contact you to advise

  • Our team of experienced clinicians see clients for DBT from the age of 18 years old

  • We are a private practice, we do not offer bulk billing or free services 

  • Medicare subsidised sessions are available under the Better Access initiative (rebates claimable after session fee is paid in full)

  • We accept referrals under the Better Access initiative (GP Mental Health Care Plan or Psychiatrist referral)

  • We do not accept Chronic Disease Management Plans 

To make a referral to us

Please prepare a referral letter for your patient.  The referral letter can be to a specific clinician or a general referral to The Glow Centre. Our DBT team will match your patient to a clinician based on several factors (patient needs and availability, clinician caseloads, etc.). 

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A referral for mental health services should be in writing (signed and dated) and include:

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  • patient's name, date of birth and address; 

  • the patient’s symptoms or diagnosis, including whether a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan has been completed for the patient;

  • a list of any current medications;

  • the number of sessions the patient is being referred for (the ‘course of treatment’);

  • a statement about whether the patient has a mental health treatment plan or a psychiatrist assessment and management plan.

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It is helpful to specify on the referral if you are referring for INDIVIDUAL THERAPY and/or GROUPS, although it is not necessary. If a referral does not specify whether it is for individual or group therapy, the patient can use the referral to access either or both individual and group therapy treatment options. 

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Your patient can claim a maximum of 10 individual sessions and 10 group sessions per calendar year.

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Rebates for mental health services are available to patients who have been referred by a medical practitioner managing the patient under a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan; a referred psychiatrist assessment and management plan; or on referral by a psychiatrist.  We do not accept Chronic Disease Management Plans.

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Where to send your referral

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Fax the signed and dated referral to 3319 6618. 

We do not use Medical Objects.

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Please note, we do not accept urgent referrals and there may be a wait to see someone. 

Did you know...

  • Referrals for psychology are valid for the number of services, not by time frame.

  • If your patient has unused services on referral at the end of the calendar year, they can continue to use them the next year. 

  • A mental health care plan does not expire. 

  • After your patient has completed the first course of treatment (maximum 6 sessions), additional sessions can be referred for under the same Mental Health Care Plan, with a maximum of 10 sessions claimable per calendar year.

  • For ongoing management of a patient under a Mental Health Treatment Plan, a GP mental health treatment consultation (item 2713) can be done as often as necessary after a MHTP has been created.

  • ​​A MHTP review is not usually required unless there is a change in the patient's presentation/diagnosis.

  • After your patient has exhausted all 10 Medicare sessions for the calendar year, they can continue to see us as a private patient for as long as they would like, but no rebates will apply.

Medicare fact sheets

Communication and collaboratin

Communication and collaboration

This is how you can expect us to work with you:

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  • Upon receipt of referral, our intake team will make contact with your patient to discuss booking a DBT assessment with us.

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  • We will notify you once your patient has attended the DBT assessment, and advise the outcome of the assessment and the plan of DBT offered.

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  • After 6 sessions, we will write to you to give a treatment update and recommend any additional course of treatment in order for you to consider preparing another referral.

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  • After the next 4 sessions, we will again write to you with a treatment update.

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  • If you have then recommended the client continue treatment, they can continue as a private patient. 

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​We always welcome calls from referring doctors, we are only too happy to chat with you about your patient's course of DBT treatment.  We are results driven and greatly appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with our client's treating team in order to ensure the best possible all round care is provided to our clients.

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