Pregnancy Concerns...?
- Loe Stanford
- Jul 31
- 2 min read
I was having coffee with a colleague the other day and she told me about another friend of ours who has just become pregnant with her third child. My immediate response was “Oh, that’s great. I’m so happy for her” but my colleague explained that our friend has really mixed feelings about it. Her other two children are both school-aged and this was an unexpected pregnancy so things are complicated.
There is often a societal expectation that having a child is a gift, a beautiful thing, something to be joyful about – which is of course, true! But the other side of the coin is also true – that having a child can be scary, potentially fraught with medical complications, can impact on relationships, career and financial stability.
Understanding Medicare-Funded Psychological Services for Pregnancy Support
Pregnancy can be a time of joy, but it can also bring about a range of personal concerns, financial worries and emotional challenges. Fortunately, Medicare offers funding for Pregnancy Support Counselling (PSC) to those who could use unbiased support. Unlike Mental Health Care Plans, which exist to help people with a structured approach to a mental health condition, Pregnancy Support Counselling is simply an opportunity to process your thoughts, fears and emotions around the pregnancy without any bias and in a safe and supportive environment.
What is Pregnancy Support Counselling?
Pregnancy support counselling, under a Medicare referral, provides up to three 30-minute sessions with a psychologist for those dealing with concerns related to a current or recent pregnancy (within the past 12 months). Whether the pregnancy was full-term or part-term (including planned terminations), this service is designed to offer supportive, non-judgmental, confidential, and unbiased counselling.
Who Can Benefit?
Pregnancy support counselling can be helpful for a variety of reasons, including:
Making decisions and exploring options about the pregnancy.
Coming to terms with unexpected outcomes, such as stillbirth, miscarriage, genetic conditions, or problems at birth.
Dealing with a range of emotions related to the pregnancy, birth, or early months of parenthood.
Discussing the pregnancy with others, such as partners, children, parents, or religious and cultural groups.
What to Expect from the Counselling Sessions
Psychologists providing pregnancy support counselling are specifically trained in non-directive counselling skills and pregnancy-related issues. They are equipped to offer information about the options and services relevant to your concerns, ensuring you receive the support you need during this significant time.
Why Choose Medicare-Funded Pregnancy Support Counselling?
Choosing Medicare-funded pregnancy support counselling means you have access to professional psychological services without excessive financial burden. Each 30 minute session costs $145, and you'll then get $72.55 back from Medicare. The sessions are designed to help you navigate the complexities of pregnancy-related issues, without judgement or prejudice, with the guidance of a registered psychologist trained specifically in this type of counselling.
How to get started
If this is something you or someone you know could benefit from, the first step is to have a chat with your GP. Ask them about Pregnancy Support Counselling and how it might help. Let them know that it’s under Medicare item 81000 as not all GP’s are aware of this. Next, contact us at Unburden Psychology and book in your first session.
