About Ashleigh Hough

Ashleigh Hough is the Principal Psychologist of Essential Psychology and Essential Psychology: For Kids. Ashleigh is a Fully Registered Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia and member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).

Ashleigh has worked as a psychologist with children, adolescents and families for over 15 years.  Prior to entering private practice, she has worked in a variety of organizations, has gained a wealth of experience working as a School Psychologist within Independent and Catholic schools, as well as roles within not-for-profit organisations and paediatric medical practices.

Ashleigh integrates a range of evidence-based psychological treatments to help her clients address concerns such as anxiety, depression, grief, anger and bullying; Ashleigh is experienced in providing psychometric and educational assessments for students at both ends of the academic spectrum — from those who may struggle academically, or who may have a learning disability, to those who may be intellectually gifted - and in helping parents to address the challenges of parenting children and adolescents.

Ashleigh is also an Authorised Supervisor with the NSW Board of Psychologists and is able to provide professional clinical supervision for intern psychologists and more experienced practitioners.

Ashleigh is available Monday to Wednesday and Saturday with after-hours appointments on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Confidentiality & Privacy Policy 

All of the services provided by the psychologists at Essential Psychology and Essential Psychology: for Kids are confidential, and all our psychologists are bound by the APS Code of Ethics and Ethical Guidelines. [For a copy of the Code and Guidelines, please visit www.psychology.org.au/about/ethics

It is natural to be concerned about your privacy and confidentiality when you are sharing intimate details about yourself with a psychologist. Information obtained from you during sessions is confidential and cannot be disclosed without your consent. There are some legal limitations to confidentiality, which are listed below.  Your psychologist will discuss this with you in the first session. Your psychologist will ask you to sign a consent form if there is a need to discuss information about you with another person (such as another health professional or similar). For more information please see our privacy policy.

In those unusual circumstances where failure to disclose information may result in clear risk to the client or to others, we may be obliged to disclose minimal information necessary to avert risk.  We are legally obliged to divulge information when we obtain evidence or knowledge that:

  • a child is at risk of physical, sexual, or emotional harm

  • an adult or child is at risk of harming themselves

  • an adult or child has intentions of harm toward others.

Further, in the event of subpoena for legal proceedings, we may be required by law to release information.

Fees

Fees are guided by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) recommended fees for psychological services. Fees for Psychometric and Educational Assessments will be discussed during initial intake call and include feedback and a written report. The current fee schedule is provided here

Please note:

  • Payment is required at the time of the consultation/ assessment session and can be made by credit card, cash or cheque.

  • Written reports cannot be released until the appropriate fee has been paid in full.

  • An additional fee is required for school visits or school meetings.

Cancellation Policy

When you make an appointment to see a psychologist at Essential Psychology, we reserve the full consultation time for you (an hour for counselling appointments and at least three to four hours for assessments).  If you need to cancel or postpone your appointment for any reason, please give us at least 24 hours notice.  This is to allow time for us to offer the appointment to another client who may be on a cancellation waitlist.

The full fee will be charged for non-attendance or less than 24 hours notice of cancellation.

Rebates

Medicare rebates are now available for certain psychological services provided by a registered psychologist.  Clients who have been referred to a psychologist by a medical practitioner, paediatrician or psychiatrist may be able to claim Medicare rebates for up to 12 sessions per calendar year. Please discuss this with your medical practitioner.

Many private health funds offer rebates for services provided by a psychologist. Please contact your health fund for further information about eligibility as rebates vary depending on the Private Health company and the policy you are on. The session is paid for at the time of the consultation and you then take/send the receipt to your health fund for a rebate.