Collaborative Care: How We Work With GPs and Other Health Professionals
By Dr Sophie Li & Peter Walker
When it comes to mental health and neuropsychological care, collaboration makes all the difference. Many clients first seek help from their GP, while others are referred by specialists, schools, or allied health professionals who know them well.
At Aperture Psychology, we see every referral as the start of a partnership. By working closely with the professionals who know our clients best, we can ensure a seamless experience - one that supports both their mental health and overall wellbeing.
Why Collaboration Matters
When psychologists and referrers stay connected, clients benefit from:
Continuity of care. Everyone involved understands what’s happening and can align treatment plans.
Clear communication. Updates at key points prevent confusion and help clients feel supported by a united team.
Evidence-based decision-making. Referrers can trust that all recommendations are grounded in current research and best practice.
For clients, this means less time repeating their story and more time focusing on what really matters - progress and recovery.
Our Approach to Collaborative Care
We’ve built structured, transparent processes to make communication simple and secure.
For therapy: Referrals are matched with the most suitable clinician, and referrers receive progress updates (with client consent) at key stages of treatment.
For assessments: Referrers are informed about the type of assessment, expected timeframes and outcomes, and invited to share information about the person’s thinking skills, behaviour, and learning at school. With the client’s permission, recommendations are discussed with schools or workplaces.
Our goal is to create confidence at every step - for the person receiving care, the referrer, and the broader healthcare team.
Making Referrals Simple
If you are a GP or health professional looking to refer a client to Aperture Psychology, there are two easy options:
Printed referral form: Provide the physical referral to your client and they bring it with them to their appointment
Electronic referral: Create a referral through your practice management system, or attach your referral letter and any supporting information to an email. This can be sent directly to us (admin@aperturepsychology.com.au), or to your client who can forward it to us when making their appointment.
Referrals can be made directly to Aperture Psychology, where our experienced administration team will triage each referral to connect clients with the clinician best suited to their needs. Each referral is handled with care and confidentiality, and our admin team will guide clients through the process from first contact to completion.
Our Education & Resource Hub for GPs and Health Practitioners
We know that effective collaboration depends on access to clear, practical information. To make this easier for our referral partners, we’ve developed an online Education & Resources Hub - a dedicated section of our website created specifically for GPs, psychiatrists, paediatricians and other health professionals.
The hub brings together everything you need to refer - and feel confident referring - clients to Aperture Psychology. You’ll find referral process guides, downloadable assessment and therapy information sheets to share with patients, and links to useful clinical templates and external resources.
It’s also the home for updates on our educational events and professional development sessions, designed to support the broader community of clinicians we work with.
This hub is an evolving space. We’re continually adding new materials and practical tools based on feedback from our referrers, to make collaboration even smoother and ensure your clients receive the highest standard of evidence-based care from the moment they’re referred.
You can explore the hub anytime via the Health Practitioner Education & Resource Hub on our website.
What Clients Can Expect
If you’ve been referred to us by your GP or another health professional, you can expect:
Clear communication about next steps and what your sessions or assessment will involve.
Respect for your privacy - information is shared only with your consent.
A collaborative team approach, ensuring the professionals supporting you are informed and aligned.
Our clinical psychologists work across two Sydney locations - Randwick and Marrickville - with many offering appointments via telehealth across Australia, so our clients can access care wherever they are.
We are constantly updating information on our website about the evidence-based therapy and assessments we provide, and we also share useful information on our blog and newsletter.
Working Together for Better Outcomes
Good communication between professionals helps clients feel supported, understood, and confident in their care. Whether you’re referring a client or seeking support yourself, our team at Aperture Psychology provides clarity, compassion and evidence-based care at every stage of your journey.
To find out more, refer a client or make an appointment, visit our website or contact our team today.
