Receiving Psychology Through the NDIS: A Step-by-Step Guide
Receiving Psychology Through the NDIS: A Step-by-Step Guide
Knowing how to get psychology through the NDIS shouldn't be the hardest part of accessing support — but for many families and Support Coordinators, it often is. Funding categories can be confusing, referral processes vary by provider, and participants can wait longer than they need to simply because one early step was missed. This guide walks through the five steps that get an NDIS participant matched with the right psychologist as quickly as possible.
Step 1: Confirm Psychology Funding Is in the Plan
Psychology on the NDIS is most commonly funded under:
- Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living — the most common category, covering psychological assessment, therapy for emotional regulation, trauma, anxiety, mood, and skills development.
- Capacity Building — Improved Relationships — where the participant's goals focus on behaviours of concern, relationships, or social participation. In this instance only psychologists who are a registered positive behaviour support practitioner through the NDIS would able to provide supports.
If psychology funding isn't in the plan and the need is clear, the Support Coordinator may need to request a plan review. The NDIS Capacity Building Supports page explains each category in more detail.
Step 2: Understand What Psychology Can (and Can't) Do
Psychology in the NDIS includes assessment and evidence-based therapy for mental health, emotional regulation, trauma, adjustment, cognitive strategies, and supporting NDIS participants with behaviours of concern. It does not replace a GP, psychiatrist, or medication management. For behaviours of concern that need environmental or team-level work, Positive Behaviour Support often works alongside psychology rather than instead of it. The Australian Psychological Society has more on what evidence-based psychology typically looks like in practice.
Understanding this scope upfront avoids the most common NDIS psychology frustration: expecting the wrong service to do the wrong job. AH2U's psychology service is deliberately scoped to what psychology does best, with referral pathways into adjacent services where they're the right fit.
Step 3: Choose a Delivery Mode That Actually Works
One of the biggest predictors of whether psychology sessions get used is whether they're delivered in a way that suits the participant. AH2U offers:
- In-clinic psychology — across Sydney and Greater Sydney, in a consistent, calm consulting environment.
- Mobile psychology — sessions delivered at the participant's home, SIL, school or community setting. Valuable for participants where transport, sensory sensitivity, or anxiety makes clinic attendance hard.
- Telehealth psychology — available Australia-wide, including regional and remote areas. The right fit for participants outside our in-person service regions, or anyone who finds video sessions more accessible than in-person.
None of these is "better" in absolute terms. The best mode is the one the participant will actually engage with.
Step 4: Prepare the Referral
A strong referral gets a participant matched with the right psychologist faster. Helpful things to include:
- NDIS number and plan start/end dates.
- Support Coordinator contact details.
- A brief outline of the participant's goals and what they (or their family) hope psychology will address.
- Any existing reports: medical, psychological, behaviour support, school.
- Preferred delivery mode (in-clinic, mobile or telehealth).
Call AH2U on 1300 24 2428 or contact our psychology team directly. You should hear back within 1–2 business days to arrange an intake conversation.
Step 5: First Session and Ongoing Plan
The first session is usually about getting to know the participant, confirming goals, and beginning a psychological assessment if one is needed. From there, the psychologist works with the participant (and family or support team where appropriate) to build a realistic session plan inside the funding available. For participants with complex presentations, psychology often runs alongside Positive Behaviour Support, with the two services coordinated by the Support Coordinator.
Peer communities such as Every Australian Counts consistently note that matching delivery mode and goals to the participant, rather than to the provider's convenience, is the single biggest factor in whether NDIS psychology actually helps.
Ready to set up NDIS psychology for a participant? Call AH2U on 1300 24 2428 or use our website referral form to get started.
Positive Behaviour Support
