How much does a session cost?
Fees are means-tested and based on a sliding scale that increases in $10 increments ranging between $250 and $320 per session. This is in contrast to the APS recommended fee which is $330 per session.
For more information see here
How long is a session of therapy?
Sessions are a standard 50 minute psychoanalytic hour. The use of the traditional psychoanalytic hour allows us to take time between patients to read over and write additional notes. This in turn allows us to maintain best practice.
Where are we located?
Our Psychotherapists who are also Psychologists, are located in South Melbourne at 155 Dorcas Street.
We are 1 minute walk from the tram stop on Eastern Road, 5 minutes walk from the cafes and restaurants on Clarendon Street, 8 minutes walk from the South Melbourne Markets and 10 minutes walk from the Botanical Gardens.
We are a 2 minute walk from the tram stop on Sturt Street.
What is our privacy policy and how is confidentiality maintained?
All health records and session notes are kept in a locked filling cabinet, a password protected external hard drive, or an encrypted online system.
Rooms are spacious, with thick walls, and are set apart assuring that you can not hear other patients sessions and they cannot hear your session.
We use Zanda as a booking system because it has the best encryption of diaries designed for use in health practices.
Any financial information about our patients that has been written on paper is redacted before being filled.
Informed consent forms are signed in the first session of therapy in the presence of your trading practitioner. This provides plenty of time to discuss privacy & limits to confidentiality and for you to answer any questions you may have.
For adult patients your session notes and health records will be kept for a minimum of seven years from your last session of therapy. Following this time paper notes will be shredded and digital health records will be permanently deleted.
Our confidentiality and privacy practices are governed by The Health Records Act 2001 and the guidelines set by APHRA Psychology Board and the APS.
Who owns The Melbourne Centre of Psychotherapy?
Dr Sara Taylor is the founding director and sole owner of the The Melbourne Centre of Psychotherapy. The practice is her labor of love and the fruit of her life work. This said the other wonderful practitioners at the centre have most certainly contributed to the Centre offering the highest possible standard of Psychological therapy and Psychotherapy.
What are we referring to in adopting an ethos of RESPECT?
The Melbourne Centre of Psychotherapy and Consultancy is governed by a policy of respecting all people who attend the Centre. We consider each and every person to as having their own unique story and reasons for seeking therapy.
We also have a great respect for the governing bodies of Medicine and Psychology and the value of all evidence based therapeutic techniques including Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.
What underlies our emphasis on WARMTH & NURTURE?
We believe that a nurturing & warm therapeutic stance and physical environment promotes a feeling of safety. And that in turn this provides you with the best opportunity for overcoming psychological difficulties and mental health issues.
What does our ethos of TRANSPARENCY and PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY refer to?
We never keep patients in therapy longer than they need to be.
We do not ask of our patients anything that we do not expect of ourselves.
We are mindful of the power dynamic inherent in the asymmetrical nature of the therapeutic relationship and hence assure you that we remain alert to this in order to assure we never manipulate or exercise control over our patients.
And we take time to provide ourselves with plenty of self care and peer supervision to assure our minds are in good working order when we are treating you.
Should I commence long term therapy or do I only need medium term therapy?
If you wish to attend to underlying psychological issues that are the result of entrenched behavioural issues, difficult relationship patterns, or the impact of abusive or complex issues that occurred during childhood long term therapy is likely to be best for you.
Whereas if you are wanting to address a specific psychological difficulty that is holding you back but isn’t causing you to be psychologically overwhelmed or fragmented medium term therapy may well be adequate.
This said the length of therapy also depends on what your want. It is fine to only wish to address a particular issue even if there are deeper issues that you know are sitting under the surface. Likewise it is wonderful to engage in long term therapy as a means of knowing yourself better or to explore philosophical perspectives on the art of living a human life.
It is also fine to not know how long you want to stay in therapy when you begin the process. The choice is always your to make.
You can select your preferred South Melbourne based Psychologist and Psychotherapist here:
Commencing therapy with Registered Psychologist and Clincal Registrar Anne-Marie La Salle is a good option if you wisht to do or mid-length therapy or brief therapy.
Commencing therapy with Senior Registered Psychologist Christian Dinse is a good option if you are unsure whether you want to do or mid-length therapy or long term therapy.
Whereas if you wish to start long term Psychotherapy we recommend seeing: Lacanian Psychoanalyst and Senior Registered Psychologist Harry Constantinou, Jungian Psychotherapist and Registered Psychologist Androula Chrysanthou, Clinical Psychologist and Psychodynamic Psychotherapist Harry Nazikian or Registered Psychologist and Psychodynamic Psychotherapist Dr Sara Taylor.
Why should I choose to see a Psychologist who is also a Psychotherapist?
Seeing a practitioner who is a Psychologist and a Psychotherapist avails you to all the evidence based training and experience that Psychologists have, while also receiving therapy with a practitioner who can work in at a deeper level of the psyche. Working at a deeper level of the psyche will assist you to understand how early child experiences, along with other difficult experiences and feelings (that are usually held out of the conscious mind) impact your current relationships and quality of life. You will also have the opportunity to work in the transference relationship.
For a more comprehensive understanding of what Psychotherapy is see here.
Is the practice LGBTI+ friendly?
Yes, it most certainly is! Dr Sara Taylor only offers positions at The Melbourne Centre of Psychotherapy to Psychologists and Psychotherapists who are open minded and non-judgmental.
What is the Name of the Practice?
During 2025 -2026 financial year The Melbourne Centre of Psychotherapy and Consultancy was in transition to being called The Melbourne Centre of Psychotherapy.
The reason being simply that the name The Melbourne Centre of Psychotherapy is shorter and easier to remember. Currently both business names are owned by the founding director.
Does The Centre of Psychotherapy accept patients with DVA funding?
Unfortunately the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) will not allow patients with a DVA card to pay the difference between what the rate that pay for a session of therapy and our lowest fee.
We are however very happy for any of our patients, including those with DVA cards to attend our centre with a mental health care plan if they require external funding.
