Michael Costello
Clinical Psychologist
Welcome
My aim is to provide quality counselling by assisting people to in identify, understand, and learn to cope with difficulties in order to reduce associated distress. I provide evidence-based treatment, therefore working in a collaborative manner, focussing on strengths and setting realistic goals, with the aim of developing a treatment plan that best suits individual needs.
I have over 20 years’ experience working as a clinical psychologist, with 10 of these years spent working in major public teaching hospitals in NSW in both clinical and senior management roles. I have treated people both individually and in groups for a variety of problems including depression, anxiety, OCD, and addictive disorders. My experience includes the development and provision of training programs for student psychologists, clinical psychologists, doctors, counsellors, and other health professionals. I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and professional memberships and associations include the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists.
As a clinical psychologist, I am registered provider with Medicare, WorkCover, and major health care funds.
Within Liverpool Speech Pathology Building
Parking on street or at rear of building
Please call or text me on 0402-778223** for an appointment.
**Please note, I have no admin support and can rarely pick up the phone. It may take several days to return a call, so it's usually much easier to get me by text or email
I am having issues with the message bank on my phone. Please either text or email for the time being as I probably won't get phone messages.
If you are disappointed with having only 10 psychology sessions, stretched out over 12 months, blame current Federal Health Minister, Mr Mark Butler. He cut sessions from 20 to 10 in 2023 as current Health Minister, after previously having cut them from 18 to 10 in 2011, as Mental Health Minister in the Gillard Government. His ludicrous reasoning in 2011 was that most people don't use 10. Most people only visit a GP two to three times a year, so will he therefore limit GP visits to too? It's obvious Mr Butler likes to fund shiny shopfront mental health centres that provide him with great news coverage and photo opportunities for papers and social media, rather than allowing you to choose your treatment provider and/or get the number of sessions you need. At these shiny centres a good portion of funding goes on rent, admin, advertising, utilities, training, meetings, and other costs, rather than directly funding services. Private psychologists cover these costs themselves, with every dollar spent by the government on Medicaare psychology items actually funding treatment. Click this link to let Mr Butler know what you think about having only 10 session about having only 10 sessions and/or email his boss, Mr Anthony Albanese and let him know too by clicking this link.
Mr Butler has recently introduced changes to the way you can access a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) from November 2025. You will only be able to get a MHTP from a GP at your chosen practice that is linked with your "MyMedicare" registration or your "normal GP". Many people, such as those who are young, homeless, struggling financially, suffering from serious mental health issues, escaping abusive relationships, working long or irregular hours, etc, may not have a "normal GP" and simply attend when and where they are able to. These people will find it extremely difficult to access psychology treatment from late 2025. This is just another example of Mark Butler's long-term plan of gradually eroding your access to private psychology treatment. Let Mr Butler know what you think about the new rules or email his boss, Mr Anthony Albanese
