Frequently asked questions
Who does Polly work with?
All kinds of people! I work with folks from all walks of life and my greatest gift is deep listening for understanding your context. The feedback I often receive is “you really get my industry” and this has been said to me by health professionals, educators, public servants, IT consultants, managers, miners… The list goes on. Please check out the ‘About the services’ tab from the header of my page for more information about my work with individuals and organisations.
Who does Polly not work with?
This is not a service that provides diagnosis in line with DSM-5 or ICD-10 diagnostic categories.
This service is not a crisis service, or for acutely unwell people who are experiencing crisis, If that is where you are at, it is very important that you access the help you need, and here are a few numbers that may be helpful for you in Australia:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Suicide callback service: 1300 659 467
And here is a link to several other national mental health hotlines in Australia
How are my privacy and confidentiality assured?
You can read the Polly Chester Consulting Privacy Policy here
Do you accept mental health care plans? Can I claim a discount through my private health fund?
No. Whilst I have an appreciation of the value of services provided by those who service mental health care plans, I am proudly offering a collection of services that are quite different to what you would receive within the boundary of a Medicare funded mental health care plan.
People who choose to access mental health care plans funded through Medicare should be aware that with each plan issued comes a clinical diagnosis, which entitles you to access the bulk-billed sessions. People should be aware that receiving a clinical diagnosis of this nature may impact the following:
Life insurance coverage – you may be deemed as a risk and pay a higher premium or have difficulty making a claim for a mental health related matter
A position within a field that requires a mental state evaluation, such as the police force or ambulance service
Future employment opportunities or promotions
As for claiming discounts or rebates through a private health fund, I am not too sure - that is something you would need to ask your insurance provider.