New Patients

Appointment Availability

We want to ensure our approach aligns with your needs. Before submitting a referral or reaching out, we encourage families to learn more about our specific style of care to ensure it feels like the right fit.

Who We See

Children and Adolescents: Patients seeking an experienced Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult psychiatrist who takes time to work with them and their families.
Adults: We offer therapy-focused care, with medication if needed.

Our Approach to Care

Appointment Length: Initial appointments are 50 minutes long. Ongoing appointments are 30 minutes or 45 minutes long.
More Than Medication: We consider all aspects of your life, not just medication.
Friendly & Supportive: Sessions should feel safe and comfortable, like a conversation.

Booking Process

We aim to inform patients and GPs of the outcome of their referrals within 48 hours.

Referral Submission: Your GP writes a detailed referral, which is reviewed by Dr. Richardson.
Referral Review:
- If Dr. Richardson does not believe her style of care aligns with your clinical needs, she will text the patient to return to their GP and send a letter to the GP suggesting alternative providers or services if appropriate.
- If the referral is accepted, the patient or family will receive a text and email with registration and consent forms.
Form Submission: Once the registration and consent forms are returned electronically, we will be in contact within a few days to offer initial appointment bookings.
If you do not contact us back within a set timeframe after being sent the forms, the referral will be closed.

Initial Appointments for Young People

Step 1: Two appointments in the first week.
Step 2: One appointment two weeks later.
Step 3: Another appointment four weeks after that.

Why? This structure helps us understand you better and provide the right care.

The first four appointments are usually 50 minutes long.

The initial plan is not finished until the fourth appointment.

Ongoing Appointments

Therapy patients: Weekly to fortnightly.
Most patients: Monthly appointments.
If doing well: Every six months.
Mood disorders: Usually every three months.

Deposits

To confirm your initial appointment as a new patient, a $200 deposit is required. This amount will be applied toward your consultation fee. Please note that this deposit is non-refundable if you cancel within 48 hours of your appointment or do not attend. In such cases, the deposit may be applied toward the full consultation fee where appropriate.

We understand that unexpected circumstances may arise. If you need to cancel or reschedule, we respectfully request that you notify us at least 48 hours in advance, based on business days (excluding weekends and public holidays).

To cancel or reschedule:

During business hours, please contact The Work Well on (07) 3876 2100
After hours, email admin@drmeganrichardson.com.au

Failure to provide adequate notice may result in the full consultation fee being charged, including in cases of illness. No-shows are automatically charged the full fee.

If you or your child develops a contagious illness, please do not attend in person. Where appropriate, we may be able to offer a telehealth appointment to maintain continuity of care and ensure the safety of other patients and staff.

Our goal is to offer timely access to care for all patients. Missed or late-cancelled appointments affect availability for others. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in helping us provide quality care to everyone.

Who We See & Our Clinical Focus

Dr. Richardson primarily accepts child and adolescent patients and continues providing care as they grow older if needed. Her approach includes regular reviews and ongoing support to ensure continuity of care with a compassionate and supportive psychiatrist.

Children & Adolescents : The focus is on assessment, developmental and family work, with separate parent support when needed.
Adults: Therapy is the primary focus, with medication available if required.

Medication initiation and management are available when necessary, but they are only one part of the overall approach.

Dr. Richardson emphasises a comprehensive, supportive, and individualised model that considers all aspects of a patient’s well-being.

Diagnosis is only a small part and is never the entire focus, however a comprehensive assessment will acknowledge strengths and challenges.

She does her best to create a safe and supportive space.

Our Approach to Appointments

We believe that building a strong foundation is key to providing the best care. That’s why our initial assessment process is structured to give us a thorough and thoughtful understanding of each patient’s needs.

Step 1: Two appointments in the first week
Step 2: A third appointment two weeks later
Step 3: A fourth appointment four weeks after that

This timely and structured approach helps us get to know you better and ensures we can create the most effective plan for support.

After the initial phase, most patients are seen monthly, but appointment frequency is adjusted based on individual needs:

Therapy patients typically have sessions weekly to fortnightly for consistent support.
Patients needing ongoing monitoring, including those with mood disorders or a history of trauma, are usually seen every one to six months, depending on stability and progress.

Our goal is to provide the right level of care at the right time, adapting as your needs evolve.

What to Expect in Your Appointments

The initial four appointments are 50 minutes long, giving us the time and space to provide thoughtful, supportive assessment and care. Ongoing appointments can be either 30 or 45 minutes, depending on need. Reviews go beyond just a medication check-in. Psychiatry, when done well, is about so much more—it’s a specialist-led, in-depth exploration of mental health that can feel as natural and reassuring as a friendly conversation.

Psychiatrists undergo years of intensive training in medicine, mental health, and often therapy. This expertise allows us to truly understand your needs, but expertise alone isn’t enough—we believe great care comes from listening, collaborating, and working together on what’s best for you.

Even if your medication stays the same, each appointment is an opportunity to check in on all aspects of your well-being—your physical health, emotional state, symptom patterns, and any changes that might require attention.

More Than Just Medication

If your medication doesn’t need to change, your time with us is still incredibly valuable. These sessions are a chance to pause, reflect, and engage in meaningful supportive work—whether that’s understanding patterns in your emotions, navigating life’s challenges, or simply having a space to talk things through. The most effective psychiatric care is about more than prescriptions—it’s about feeling heard, gaining insight, and making steady progress toward well-being.

Every conversation is an opportunity for growth, support, and guidance. Whether we're adjusting treatment or simply reflecting on where you are in life, we’re here to ensure you feel supported every step of the way.

What to Bring to Your Appointments

We want to ensure your appointments are as helpful and productive as possible. If you have any previous assessments, reports, or medical history that may be relevant, please send them to us ahead of time or bring them with you.

Dr. Richardson will carefully review any past assessments from other services as part of your overall evaluation. However, she is required by Medicare and professional standards to form her own clinical impression and treatment plan rather than automatically endorsing previous conclusions. If you have a past diagnosis from a paediatrician or psychiatrist, this will be discussed in your initial appointments as we develop a care plan that best supports your needs.

Assessments & Ongoing Care

We provide both initial assessments and ongoing appointments, as we believe that a diagnosis is just the beginning of the journey. We do not offer assessment-only services, as our focus is on long-term care, support, and treatment planning beyond just diagnosis.

You do not need a prior assessment from an assessment service before booking with us—unless you prefer to have one. If you do have a previous assessment, it will be considered as part of the broader evaluation process, helping to inform, but not dictate, your care.

Providing as much relevant information as possible helps us understand your needs fully and create a plan that best supports your well-being. If you're unsure what to bring, feel free to ask—we're happy to guide you!