Optima specialises in relationships
- be it with a partner, family member or in your workplace, Optima can assist.

Optima also focuses on individual growth in times of change - stress, grief and loss, & how we are challenged and impacted.

Our Team

Alexandra Cole

Alexandra Cole

Clinical Psychologist

Alexandra Cole is a clinical psychologist who works with children (from the age of 6 years and above), adolescents and adults. Alexandra provides supportive therapy for individuals of all ages experiencing anxiety and/or depression. She has a particular focus on strengthening and enhancing family relationships by working with parents, either individually or through offering co-parenting counselling post-separation. Alexandra does not offer marital therapy.

Alexandra is available for appointments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9am and 5pm.

Megan Jones

Megan Jones

Director of Optima

Megan is a clinical psychologist who works with older adolescents (above 16 years of age) and adults on an individual basis, as well as working with couples (i.e. relationship counselling for those wanting to continue, and mediation for couples choosing to separate).  Megan also offers therapy for groups of two (e.g. family members, friends, grandparent/child etc).

Megan has a particular focus on building personal resilience with clients during times of stress, loss, change and conflict across all areas of life.

Megan is available for appointments Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays between 9:30am and 5pm and on some Mondays and Fridays.

Rachel Mc Call

Rachel McCall

Psychotherapist & Counsellor

Rachel McCall is a psychotherapist and counsellor who works individually with children/adolescents (from the age of 10 years and above) and adults. 

Rachel works with people experiencing anxiety and/or depression, who are coping with grief and loss, and/or coming to terms with a sense of self or identity. 

Rachel also has a particular interest in working with those experiencing performance anxiety and mental health issues associated with working in the performing arts.

Rachel is available for appointments on Tuesdays and Fridays between 9am and 5pm.

Kerri Molden

Kerri Molden

Clinical Psychologist

Kerri is a clinical psychologist with a wealth of experience who works with infants and children (i.e. up to the teenage years) and their parents/carers. She provides therapy for children relating to trauma and anxiety, as well as emotional and behavioural difficulties.  With younger children Kerri's work involves working with parents and she will work with adults who need assistance with parenting matters for young children.

Kerri is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 9am and 5pm.

Kerry Shillabeer

Kerry Shillabeer

Practice Manager

Kerry is our practice manager and will be the person you first speak with at Optima. She will assist you with general enquiries, booking appointments and invoices.

Please feel welcome to contact Kerry with any questions you might have about our practice.

Alison Tucker

Alison Tucker

Clinical Psychologist

Alison Tucker is a clinical psychologist with a breadth of experience working with adults individually, as well as with couples and families.

Alison’s books are closed, she is not accepting new clients.

Rachel McCall provides therapeutic intervention and counselling for clients with NDIS funding.

Offering an individually tailored, holistic approach Rachel is a calm and compassionate professional highly trained in counselling and psychotherapy.  

Rachel’s work with NDIS clients includes focusing upon acknowledging challenges; finding helpful coping strategies to manage distress and regulate emotions; processing grief or loss; discovering a stronger sense of self and identity; developing self-compassion.

Fees

Rachel’s fees are set at the recommended NDIS rate for counsellors (i.e. no gap payment).  

Home visits

Rachel offers home visits for appointments, as well as seeing people in our comfortable and welcoming office space.  Travel time for home visits is charged at the NDIS rate for counsellors.

For further information and bookings please contact us on 8379 6966 or email us at [email protected] where you will initially speak with Kerry, our Practice Manager.

FAQ's

Appointments are 50-55 minutes long, with the remaining time used for correspondence (e.g. to your GP in relation to mental health care plans), writing session notes, planning for future sessions and collating required resources.

Generally speaking, no. For example, we do not provide reports for the Courts based upon therapeutic attendance.

Sometimes we are able to assist in providing reports for insurance companies, depending upon the request. Our practice does not accept WorkCover referrals.

Fees vary depending upon the practitioner involved and are reviewed annually.

Please contact our office on 8379 6966 for current fee information.

A Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) is a referral document provided by a General Practitioner.

Whether or not a MHCP is appropriate is determined by your GP.  If it is the case, then your GP will give you a letter and a MHCP to bring to Optima, or they will forward those documents directly to our practice.  

Some GPs require a longer consultation in order for them to have enough time to work this out with you.  

A MHCP means you can access the Medicare rebate (approximately $130 per appointment) for attending up to 10 sessions per calendar year at your GP’s discretion.

Please provide a minimum of 48 business hours' notice of cancellation in order to avoid the appointment fee being charged.

Please contact our practice manager Kerry on 8379 6966 to book an appointment.

If you have a current Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, then after you have paid your Optima invoice in full you can apply to have the Medicare rebate applied back to a savings or cheque account (i.e. it cannot be repaid onto a credit card).  

Your Optima invoice is due and payable on the day of your appointment, and the Medicare rebate can only be processed after your invoice has been paid.

No you do not.  

If however you wish to access the Medicare rebate (for psychologists) you will require a Mental Health Care Plan.  Your GP will determine whether this is appropriate.

A psychologist completes undergraduate study in behavioural science, followed by postgraduate study in psychology, and cannot dispense medication.  Psychologists study human behaviour, cognition (thought) and emotion, and work in the areas of behavioural and thought-based therapies, including skills training, goal setting, problem solving, interpersonal skills and managing our ever busy brains.

A psychiatrist completes a medical degree and specialist training afterwards in psychiatry.  This means they can dispense medication and are particularly helpful when clients are facing mental illnesses with a strong genetic link where medical examination and medication will likely be required, such as psychotic disorders and bipolar disorder.

A psychotherapist completes specialised training in providing counselling and therapeutic interventions to support people to become aware of their thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and to find ways to manage stress or live meaningful lives that align with personal values and strengths.

Optima has a number of people who work with two people together, but not with groups of three or more.

If you need assistance with relationship counselling, mediation, co-parenting counselling or family therapy between two members of a family (e.g. siblings, grandparent and child) or friends, then Optima can assist, but not if you need to have three people or more attending the same session.

Payment

Invoices are due and payable on the day of appointment. Invoices can be paid by credit card in person or via the link below. Please include the client’s name (e.g. if you are paying for your child, enter their name as the client) and the invoice number in the reference field.

Optima does not accept American Express or Diners Club.

Invoices can also be paid via bank transfer as per your invoice. Please include the client’s name and the invoice number in the reference field.

Medicare rebates can be claimed in person at our office or directly via Medicare either through myGov (and then your own Medicare online account), or through the Express Plus Medicare mobile App. If you need assistance setting up either of these accounts please visit the Services Australia Medicare website. In order to claim your Medicare rebate the invoice itself needs to be paid in full first.

Services Australia Medicare website.

myGov website: https://my.gov.au

Contact

Optima is located at:
Suite 10, 311 Glen Osmond Road
Glenunga SA 5064

t 08 8379 6966
f 08 8379 8968
e [email protected]

Optima is open five days a week

Monday
9am – 4pm
Tuesday
9am – 5pm
Wednesday
9am – 5pm
Thursday
9am – 5pm
Friday
9am – 4pm

If it is outside hours and you need someone to speak with to help guide you through a difficult period, please consider contacting Lifeline (13 11 14) or Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), or for children, the Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).

If you are at immediate risk of imminent harm from someone (e.g. domestic violence) or are in a medical emergency (e.g. drug overdose) please contact emergency services (000).

If you are in need of mental health support immediately, for example if you are at urgent risk of harming yourself or having thoughts about harm to others, please contact the 24 hours emergency mental health triage service on 13 14 65 or go directly to your closest emergency department at a major hospital.

Optima does not operate out of hours appointments or a crisis service.