NDIS participants can use their plan to fund sessions with a psychologist when the sessions relate to their disability and the goals in their plan. Veronica West sees NDIS participants who self-manage or plan-manage their funding. Sessions are in person in Maroochydore from November 2026, or by secure telehealth so you can attend from home or wherever you’re most comfortable. The Maroochydore rooms are on the first floor and reached by stairs, as the building doesn’t have a lift. If stairs aren’t workable for you, sessions are available by telehealth, by video or phone.
Veronica West is a registered psychologist (Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), Master of Public Health, Master of Psychology) based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. She works with adult and adolescent NDIS participants in person in Maroochydore and across Australia via telehealth, including people with psychosocial disability, autism and ADHD.
How NDIS Funding Works for Psychology
The NDIS can fund psychology as a therapy support. To be funded, the sessions need to focus on building or maintaining your capacity for everyday activities and independence, and they need to relate to your disability and the goals in your plan.
In practice, that might mean working on anxiety that makes it hard to leave the house, building routines, coping with changes related to your disability, getting back into work or study, or managing the social and emotional demands of daily life.
The NDIS handles mental health treatment separately. It isn’t designed to replace treatment funded through the health system, such as Medicare-rebated sessions with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP. Some people use Medicare and NDIS funding for different parts of their support, though the same session can’t be claimed from both.
If you’re not sure whether your plan includes funding for therapy supports, your plan manager or support coordinator can confirm it.
Self-Managed and Plan-Managed Participants
Veronica isn’t a registered NDIS provider. The NDIS allows participants who self-manage or plan-manage their funding to use unregistered providers, so she can see you if your plan is managed either of those ways.
She can’t see participants whose plans are NDIA-managed (sometimes called agency-managed), because NDIA-managed supports have to be delivered by a registered provider. If your plan is NDIA-managed and you’d like to change how it’s managed, your support coordinator or local area coordinator can talk you through the options.
Sessions are charged in line with the current NDIS pricing schedule for psychology, with no gap fee on top. If your plan is plan-managed, invoices go to your plan manager. If you self-manage, you’ll receive the invoice and claim it through the NDIS portal or app.
Veronica uses a written NDIS service agreement, which sets out the supports she’ll provide and how they’re charged.
Areas Veronica Works With
Veronica works with NDIS participants with a range of disabilities, including:
- Psychosocial disability, which is the term the NDIS uses for disability that comes from a mental health condition and has a long-term impact on daily life
- Autism
- ADHD
- Other disabilities, where psychology fits the goals in the participant’s plan
She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) skills, mindfulness-based approaches and solution-focused therapy, and adjusts the pace and structure of sessions to suit the person.
Why Telehealth Suits Many NDIS Participants
For many participants, getting to appointments takes a lot of time and energy. Telehealth sessions, by secure video or phone, help in a few practical ways:
- There’s no travel, which matters when transport is difficult, expensive or tiring.
- You’re in a familiar space, where noise, light and other sensory input are within your control.
- Sessions can keep going through periods when your health or energy makes getting out harder.
- A support worker, carer or family member can join the session if you’d like them there.
- You can see a psychologist from regional and remote areas, where there may be few local options.
If video is hard for you, sessions can be by phone instead. Telehealth doesn’t suit everyone, so if you’re unsure whether it will work for you, you can raise it when you get in touch.
Reports for Your NDIS Plan
When your plan comes up for reassessment, a report from your psychologist shows what your therapy supports have been used for and what’s still needed. Veronica writes NDIS progress reports, including reports ahead of a plan reassessment.
A report covers the goals you’ve been working on, the work done in sessions, and recommendations for ongoing support. Report writing time is charged in line with the NDIS pricing schedule.
For Support Coordinators and Plan Managers
Veronica accepts referrals from support coordinators, plan managers, GPs and other health professionals, as well as from participants and families directly. A GP referral isn’t needed to use NDIS funding for psychology.
To make a referral, get in touch through the contact page with how the participant’s plan is managed and the best way to reach you. Clinical details can wait until the first conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my NDIS plan to see a psychologist?
Yes, if your plan includes funding for therapy supports and the sessions relate to your disability and the goals in your plan. Your plan manager or support coordinator can confirm what’s funded.
Is Veronica a registered NDIS provider?
No. She sees participants who self-manage or plan-manage their NDIS funding. Participants with NDIA-managed plans need to use a registered provider for those supports.
Do I need a referral to use NDIS funding for psychology?
No. You don’t need a GP referral to use NDIS funding for psychology. A GP referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan are only needed if you want Medicare rebates.
How much do NDIS psychology sessions cost?
Sessions are charged in line with the current NDIS pricing schedule for psychology and paid from your plan funding, with no gap fee on top. Veronica can confirm the current rate when you get in touch.
Can NDIS psychology sessions be done by telehealth?
Yes. NDIS funding for therapy supports can be used for sessions delivered by telehealth. Sessions with Veronica can be by secure video or phone.
Can I use Medicare and NDIS funding at the same time?
They can be used for different parts of your support, since Medicare funds mental health treatment and the NDIS funds disability-related capacity building. The same session can’t be claimed from both.
Getting Started
If you’re an NDIS participant, or supporting someone who is, and you’re thinking about working with a psychologist, you can read more about Veronica’s approach to therapy, look at fees and funding, or get in touch to check whether she’s a good fit for your plan and goals.
If you’re in crisis or need urgent support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any time. In an emergency, call 000.