Frequently Asked Questions
What is PsyAx?
PsyAx is a counselling centre, private memory clinic, and diagnostic neuropsychology service in the heart of Melbourne.
We work with people who may be experiencing psychological distress or difficulties with their memory, concentration, or other types of thinking skills.
We also conduct medico-legal assessments for use in WorkCover, road injury, TAC, and insurance claims. We also do formal assessments of decision making capacity such as the capacity to manage financial affairs or to make or change a will ("testamentary capacity").
What is a neuropsychological assessment?
A neuropsychological assessment is a way of objectively measuring a person's thinking skills, such as their memory or ability to concentrate.
It is performed by a clinical neuropsychologist which is a psychologist with advanced training in understanding the connections between brain anatomy and function, thinking skills, emotions, and behaviour.
Why see a neuropsychologist?
A neuropsychologist can assist people who may be experiencing difficulties with their memory, concentration or other thinking skills, or who may be worried their thinking skills have changed in some way.
Neuropsychological assessments can pinpoint changes in a person's thinking or behaviour at a very early stage, even when a brain scan may appear normal.
Neuropsychologists can help diagnose an acquired brain injury, dementia, or other cognitive disorder, or assist in ruling one out.
They can also help to determine a person's capacity to make legal decisions, such as changing their will or appointing a power of attorney.
How can a neuropsychological assessment help?
A neuropsychological assessment can highlight a person's unique pattern of strengths and weaknesses for different thinking skills including memory, concentration, language abilities, and decision-making.
The results can help your doctor make a diagnosis faster, provide you with treatment options sooner, and give you more information on how to manage.
What happens at a neuropsychological assessment?
Neuropsychological assessments involve completing an interview and doing a number of puzzles to measure different thinking skills.
Your neuropsychologist may also ask to speak with a friend or family member for background information.
How long does a neuropsychological assessment take?
The length of a neuropsychological assessment depends on the reasons for the assessment and the client's needs.
An appointment with your neuropsychologist can be brief or span several hours. Consultations can be scheduled for a single session or across multiple appointments. For longer sessions, brief rest breaks may be scheduled throughout.
Unlike some public health options, there are no limitations placed on assessment length or comprehensiveness.
Can you share the results of my assessment with my GP?
If you give us permission, we can contact your GP or treating health professional to ask about your medical background or to share information.
How do I prepare beforehand?
Try to get a good night's sleep the night before. Avoid using alcohol or other substances. If you wear glasses or use a hearing aid, please bring these to the assessment. Please also bring a list of all your medications.
How do I get there?
For face to face appointments, you can get to PsyAx via:
What happens after the assessment?
After the assessment, your neuropsychologist will score up the tests and interpret the results in light of your personal history and circumstances.
If you consent, your neuropsychologist can write a report for your GP and any other treating health professional. You can also arrange a feedback session with your neuropsychologist.
If the assessment is for medico-legal purposes, a copy of the report will be provided to your lawyer and the court or tribunal.
How much does a neuropsychological assessment cost?
The fee for a neuropsychological assessment will depend upon the reasons for the assessment and the time required. Please contact PsyAx on 1300 455 677 for a quote.
When a third party is paying for the assessment, we need to get their approval before we can start the assessment. This applies to assessments funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), the Department of Human Services, Work Safe, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), or the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).
What is a decision making capacity assessment?
A decision making capacity assessment is an assessment performed by a health or legal professional to assess a person's capacity to make reasonable and informed decisions.
Read more about decision making capacity assessments at PsyAx.
What are your opening hours?
Appointments are available at PsyAx during business hours from 8:30am to 5:30pm and after hours weekdays and on Saturdays. All counselling appointments are via telehealth.
Do you have wheelchair access and disabled toilets?
The PsyAx head office is wheelchair friendly and has accessible toilets.
Do you do telehealth?
Yes we do. Check out the PsyAx telehealth page for more info.
How do I make an appointment?
Book an appointment online, call PsyAx on 1300 455 677 during business hours or visit the contact us page for more options.
Where does the name PsyAx come from?
The "Psy" in PsyAx comes from "psychology" while "Ax" is a common medical abbreviation for "assessment".
Accordingly, the name PsyAx highlights our focus on psychological assessment and diagnostic neuropsychology.
How do you pronounce PsyAx?
"SIGH axe".
PsyAx is a counselling centre, private memory clinic, and diagnostic neuropsychology service in the heart of Melbourne.
We work with people who may be experiencing psychological distress or difficulties with their memory, concentration, or other types of thinking skills.
We also conduct medico-legal assessments for use in WorkCover, road injury, TAC, and insurance claims. We also do formal assessments of decision making capacity such as the capacity to manage financial affairs or to make or change a will ("testamentary capacity").
What is a neuropsychological assessment?
A neuropsychological assessment is a way of objectively measuring a person's thinking skills, such as their memory or ability to concentrate.
It is performed by a clinical neuropsychologist which is a psychologist with advanced training in understanding the connections between brain anatomy and function, thinking skills, emotions, and behaviour.
Why see a neuropsychologist?
A neuropsychologist can assist people who may be experiencing difficulties with their memory, concentration or other thinking skills, or who may be worried their thinking skills have changed in some way.
Neuropsychological assessments can pinpoint changes in a person's thinking or behaviour at a very early stage, even when a brain scan may appear normal.
Neuropsychologists can help diagnose an acquired brain injury, dementia, or other cognitive disorder, or assist in ruling one out.
They can also help to determine a person's capacity to make legal decisions, such as changing their will or appointing a power of attorney.
How can a neuropsychological assessment help?
A neuropsychological assessment can highlight a person's unique pattern of strengths and weaknesses for different thinking skills including memory, concentration, language abilities, and decision-making.
The results can help your doctor make a diagnosis faster, provide you with treatment options sooner, and give you more information on how to manage.
What happens at a neuropsychological assessment?
Neuropsychological assessments involve completing an interview and doing a number of puzzles to measure different thinking skills.
Your neuropsychologist may also ask to speak with a friend or family member for background information.
How long does a neuropsychological assessment take?
The length of a neuropsychological assessment depends on the reasons for the assessment and the client's needs.
An appointment with your neuropsychologist can be brief or span several hours. Consultations can be scheduled for a single session or across multiple appointments. For longer sessions, brief rest breaks may be scheduled throughout.
Unlike some public health options, there are no limitations placed on assessment length or comprehensiveness.
Can you share the results of my assessment with my GP?
If you give us permission, we can contact your GP or treating health professional to ask about your medical background or to share information.
How do I prepare beforehand?
Try to get a good night's sleep the night before. Avoid using alcohol or other substances. If you wear glasses or use a hearing aid, please bring these to the assessment. Please also bring a list of all your medications.
How do I get there?
For face to face appointments, you can get to PsyAx via:
- Public Transport. PsyAx head office is easy to get to using public transport. Catch the train to Flinders St or Parliament train stations. You can then walk for 10 minutes or catch a tram. By tram, take the number 11, 12, 48 or 109 tram along Collins St and get off at stop 7.
- Car. PsyAx head office is easy to get to by car and is close to CityLink. There are many off-street car parking options near PsyAx head office.
What happens after the assessment?
After the assessment, your neuropsychologist will score up the tests and interpret the results in light of your personal history and circumstances.
If you consent, your neuropsychologist can write a report for your GP and any other treating health professional. You can also arrange a feedback session with your neuropsychologist.
If the assessment is for medico-legal purposes, a copy of the report will be provided to your lawyer and the court or tribunal.
How much does a neuropsychological assessment cost?
The fee for a neuropsychological assessment will depend upon the reasons for the assessment and the time required. Please contact PsyAx on 1300 455 677 for a quote.
When a third party is paying for the assessment, we need to get their approval before we can start the assessment. This applies to assessments funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), the Department of Human Services, Work Safe, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), or the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).
What is a decision making capacity assessment?
A decision making capacity assessment is an assessment performed by a health or legal professional to assess a person's capacity to make reasonable and informed decisions.
Read more about decision making capacity assessments at PsyAx.
What are your opening hours?
Appointments are available at PsyAx during business hours from 8:30am to 5:30pm and after hours weekdays and on Saturdays. All counselling appointments are via telehealth.
Do you have wheelchair access and disabled toilets?
The PsyAx head office is wheelchair friendly and has accessible toilets.
Do you do telehealth?
Yes we do. Check out the PsyAx telehealth page for more info.
How do I make an appointment?
Book an appointment online, call PsyAx on 1300 455 677 during business hours or visit the contact us page for more options.
Where does the name PsyAx come from?
The "Psy" in PsyAx comes from "psychology" while "Ax" is a common medical abbreviation for "assessment".
Accordingly, the name PsyAx highlights our focus on psychological assessment and diagnostic neuropsychology.
How do you pronounce PsyAx?
"SIGH axe".
What kind of questions can a PsyAx neuropsychologist help answer?
- Do I have a brain injury?
- How soon can I go back to work after my stroke?
- Does my client have a brain injury as a result of a motor vehicle accident?
- Does my client have an intellectual disability?
- Does my 90 year-old client have the legal capacity to change her will?
- What's happened to my brain after the encephalitis?
- Is my client eligible for the disability support pension?
- Does my client have the capacity to instruct a solicitor and participate in legal proceedings?
- Am I safe to go back to driving after my brain injury?
- Do I have Alzheimer's?
- Do I have any cognitive deficits? If so, what can I do about them?
- What is the cause of my client's memory problems?
- Can you do an assessment to see if have Asperger's?
- What can I do about my memory problems?
- I'm really worried I might be developing a dementia. What can I do?
- Does my client have a learning disorder?
- I can't relate to people. I think something's wrong. Can you help me?
- I have a high-powered job but I'm worried about cognitive changes. Am I still okay to keep working?
- What are my cognitive strengths and weaknesses?
- I want to go back to study but I've had problems in the past. Can you help me?
- I'm an adult but I think I have ADHD. Can you check?
- I used to be an alcoholic. I'm worried I've done something to my brain. What can I do?
- How can we show that our client's memory difficulties are real and not feigned?
- What's the best way of doing rehabilitation with our client who has an ABI?
- Please review our client to see if there has been a change in his cognitive status.
- Can you help measure my client's cognitive functioning over time to see if there is any change?
- I'm worried my thinking skills aren't what they used to be. Should I be worried?
- Has the medication had an impact on my client's cognitive performance?
- I don't think I need State Trustees to manage my finances any more. Can you help me?
- Can you please obtain a cognitive baseline as a reference point for future comparison?
- Can you give us some advice on how best to work with our client who has an alcohol related brain injury?
- Are my client's difficulties mainly psychological or is there something else going on?
- Can you tell if my client is just faking a bad memory or if he has real difficulties?
- How do I get back to getting on with my life after my stroke?
- Are my client's issues "functional" or "organic"?
- I'm really struggling with mental fatigue after my ABI. What can I do?
- Can you help me improve my memory?
- Can you do an assessment and write a report for me that I can use in court?