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Sacred Kingfisher

“Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.”

Viktor Frankel

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OUR SERVICES

Niamh is an experienced Clinical Psychologist.  She specialises in helping her clients to manage their anxieties.

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FOR ADELAIDE HILLS RESIDENTS

Niamh enjoys working in all aspects of clinical psychology and advocates for making mental health and wellbeing services more accessible for residents of the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula. During the COVID19 pandemic, Niamh has extended her practice to include general adult clinical psychology.

FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Niamh worked at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) for nine years and then at Mercedes College as a school psychologist for ten years.  Niamh works as a clinical care coordinator at Headspace in Murray Bridge, where she manages complex inter-agency cases.  In her private practice, Niamh works with many children, who receive NDIS support, and their families.

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FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH CANCER

Niamh's transition to the field of psycho-oncology was motivated by a diagnosis of aggressive breast cancer as a young adult. Consequently, she has personal and recent experience of the issues unique to younger people with cancer. This has given her a deep understanding of the impact of treatment on fertility and sexual wellbeing for younger cancer patients and their partners, including the complex pathways to pursuing parenthood through surrogacy.

FOR PEOPLE WITH ANXIETY

Some people experience excessive and irrational anxiety, which becomes ongoing and distressing.  Niamh understands how anxiety can interfere with your daily life and has made this a focus of her practice.

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Please contact us, if you have any queries about our services.

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TRAUMA-INFORMED PRINCIPLES

Dr. Karen Treisman's Four R's:

"A trauma-informed organisation REALISES the trauma, stress and adversity, and understand potential

paths to healing and recovery.  It RECOGNISES the signs and symptoms of staff, clients and all others involved

in the system.  It actively RESISTS re-traumatisation (committed to being trauma-reducing and not trauma-inducing).  It RESPONDS by fully and meaningfully integrating, embedding and infusing knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, language, culture, practices and settings."

"Every moment or interaction can be an intervention."

Dr. Karen Treisman.

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OUR PLACE

Lotus Creek Psychology is located on Aldgate Valley Road between Aldgate and Mylor in the beautiful Adelaide Hills. It is a peaceful and secluded spot, but only twenty minutes from the Tollgate on the freeway. 

The property was named over 100 years ago after the Lotus Australis, which flowers along the creek in our valley. Each year, a pair of Sacred Kingfishers, make their home in our garden. We overlook the Nurriti National Trust reserve and are surrounded by birds and other wildlife. Nurriti is an Aboriginal word from the Kaurna Tribal Group meaning Spell or Enchanted.

 

 

With your permission, Sunny - our friendly Head of Customer Care - dispenses love and cuddles when he sees a visitor is distressed. Often our visitors will "walk and talk" in our garden and Sunny is only too happy to come along for a play. Sunny has become so popular that we now make appointments that will note: with or without Sunny. 

 

We have just welcomed Dhala into our lives.  She is a Cocker Spaniel puppy, who only joins our visitors on special request, since her energy levels are yet to be measured by human invention. Dhala has appointed herself Head of Security and takes this role very seriously. She is slowly learning to look after our visitors from Sunny.

OUR DOGS

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OUR FEES

The Australian Psychological Society has set the standard 46 to 60 minute consultation fee at $300.  A recent survey by Lived Experience Australia showed that the average gap fee for a psychologist is $170.  Please be aware that we may charge for report writing and our fees slightly increased from 1st July 2023.  NDIS-funded clients will be charged at standard NDIS rates for psychological services.

STANDARD

$287.05 per session
($150 out-of-pocket,

after Medicare rebate)

Available for residents living outside the Adelaide Hills and Southern Fleurieu region and for weekend clinics.

With a Mental Health Care Plan referral from your GP, you receive a $136.35 Medicare rebate per session (valid for ten sessions each calendar year under the new Better Access initiative).

LOCAL

$237.05 per session
($100 out-of-pocket cost,

after Medicare rebate)

Available for residents of the Adelaide Hills and Southern Fleurieu region.

With a Mental Health Care Plan referral from your GP, you receive a $136.35 Medicare rebate per session (valid for ten sessions each calendar year under the new Better Access initiative). 

SPECIAL

$137.05 per session
(No out-of-pocket cost,

after Medicare rebate)

Available for people currently undergoing cancer treatments or surviving cancer.

With a Mental Health Care Plan referral from your GP, you receive a $136.35 Medicare rebate per session (valid for ten sessions each calendar year under the new Better Access initiative). 

At the end of the psychology session, we will ask you to settle the out-of-pocket cost by EFTPOS.  We will apply for the Medicare rebate on your behalf.  You will then receive a receipt by email. 

 

Please contact us if you have any questions about our fees. We look forward to hearing from you.

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NIAMH O'BRIEN

Clinical Psychologist

Niamh has practiced as a psychologist since 2003. Her experience extends across a range of public health, not-for-profit and private practice environments, which allows her to offer a unique depth of knowledge, especially in her specialty fields of child and adolescent psychology. More recently, Niamh has begun to work in the field of psycho-oncology.

For more of my credentials, please refer to Niamh's LinkedIn account.

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Master of Psychology (Clinical)
2010

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FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
2000

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DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION
Clinical psychology consulting
12 months (ongoing)

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HEADSPACE
Clinical Care Coordinator - Murray Bridge, providing supports for young people aged between 12 and 25
18 months

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ALLIED CONSULTING PSYCHOLOGISTS
Clinical Psychologist at a leading psycho-oncology practice
1 year

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MERCEDES COLLEGE
School Psychologist for reception to year 12
10 years

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SA HEALTH
Psychologist and Clinical Psychologist at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
9 years

The Aldgate Valley Nature Walk is a scenic trail between Aldgate and Mylor. Weather permitting, we can enjoy a tranquil section of the trail that passes through the Aldgate Valley Nature Reserve for "Walk and Talk" sessions. There are many places to sit and simply soak up the beautiful views, while we talk.

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Sacred Kingfisher

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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DO YOU OFFER SPECIAL RATES OR CONCESSIONS?

For people in cancer treatment or surviving cancer, we do not charge a fee, if If you have a Mental Health Care Plan from you GP. We offer a discount for Adelaide Hills residents.

HOW CAN I GET A REFERRAL TO SEE YOU?

Please ask your GP to provide you with a Mental Health Care Plan. This entitles you to 10 sessions through Medicare each year.

HOW LONG DOES EACH THERAPY SESSION TAKE?

Medicare funds a 50-minute session. However, we allow additional 20 minutes, if a session needs it. 

Please contact us, if you have any queries about our services.

OUR POSTS AND ARTICLES WE LIKE

THOUGHT-PROVOKING VIDEOS

CONTACT US FOR A CHAT

Niamh O'Brien

Clinical Psychologist

AHPRA Registration: PSY0001324655

Medicare provider number: 4434653F

Nick Carter

Practice Manager

Tel: +61 (0)8 8470 1748 

 

Lotus Creek Psychology and Mediation Pty Ltd

(ABN 76 668 048 066)

Lotus Creek Cottage

104 Aldgate Valley Road

Aldgate, South Australia, 5154

Fax: +61(0)8 5117 3179

Please reach out to us.  We will listen to you with respect and understanding.  If we cannot help, then we will point you in the right direction.  

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"I am not afraid of storms
for I am learning how to sail my ship."

Louisa May Alcott

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY

In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we undertake our business on the traditional lands and waters of the Peramangk and Kaurna people. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging as the Custodians of this ancient and beautiful land.

PRIVACY POLICY

Under the ADMA code of practice, we follow all regulatory provisions relating to the collection and use of data. Please contact us, if you wish to review data that we may have collected through your use of this website.

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