Now that the Medicare psychologist sessions have been cut, I worry about my clients

‘A session every six to eight weeks is only sufficient to allow someone to remain in a holding pattern, and will not allow meaningful progress.’ Photograph: lorenzoantonucci/Getty Images/iStockphoto

When I heard that the Medicare funding for psychologist sessions had been slashed from 20 to 10 sessions, I was disappointed and angered, but not surprised.

Mental health has long been seen as somewhat inessential and a problem to be tucked away out of sight from polite society. It’s been significantly underfunded in comparison with other arms of health and psychology sessions remain one of the few health services capped at number of appointments a year, instead of being based on clinical need by a client’s care team.