What is a Provisional Psychologist?
When exploring whether seeing a Psychologist would be beneficial for your mental health, you might come across the term ‘Provisional Psychologist’ and wonder what it means.
A Provisional Psychologist is someone who is in the final stages of becoming fully registered with AHPRA and working under the guidance of a Board Approved Supervisor to gain hands-on experience in clinic.
Can I use a Mental Health Care Plan with a Provisional Psychologist?
Provisional Psychologists are not eligible to offer Medicare rebates, subsequently we price appointments with our Provisional Psychologists at a much lower rate than the General & Clinical Psychologists in our practice.
As of May 2026, appointments start at $80/ a session to see a Provisional Psychologist.
What is the difference between a Provisional & Registered Psychologist?
All psychologists follow the Psychology Board of Australia’s Code of Conduct and work with clients from all different walks of life. All Provisional Psychologists regularly attend supervision to receive feedback and refine their practice. Being under supervision means the Psychologist has confidential discussions about their therapy implementation with a supervisor who is a senior Psychologist with additional training and has completed a board approved supervisor training program. General & Clinical Psychologists may choose to continue seeing supervisor to support their professional development and clinical judgement.
The key difference is that Provisionals Psychologists are required to attend regular supervision.
What are the benefits of seeing a Provisional Psychologist?
Affordable sessions
Don’t require a Mental Health Care Plan
Accessibility to appointment we don’t have any waitlists
Increased exposure to recent research & publications
How can a Provisional Psychologist support me?
Provisional Psychologists can assist with many of the same concerns as General & Clinical Psychologists, including:
Anxiety and depression
Stress management
Relationship difficulties
Grief and loss
Disordered eating patterns
Behavioural and emotional challenges in children and adolescents
Navigating trauma
School or work difficulties
Assessments, including ADHD, Cognitive, Educational & Vocational assessments
Ready to take the next step?
Making an enquiry or booking your first appointment can be the hardest step. Know that when you contact Graham Psychology, we will chat to you about your support needs and preferences to ensure you are paired with the right psychologist for you. If you don’t feel it’s the right fit after the first few appointments, let us know and we will work with you to find a more suitable psychologist.
Our team of Provisional Psychologists, have immediate availability and can be booked by heading to our online booking portal or calling our Admin team on (03) 8838 8687.