Male Psychologist in Beaumaris & Bayside | Evolve Psychology

You've thought about talking with someone. You just haven't booked it yet.

Maybe things at home are strained and the same argument keeps coming back. Maybe work is taking more than it gives, or the anxiety that used to be background noise is now hard to ignore. There's a tired idea that men won't talk about any of this. Most of the men I see aren't like that at all. They think plenty about what's going on; they just haven't sat down with someone whose job is to help them work it through. If that's roughly where you are, you don't need convincing. You need to know who you'd be talking to, and whether they're any good.

Relationships and separation strain at home, the same argument on repeat, divorce

Work and career stress, burnout, a job that takes more than it gives

Anxiety and OCD worry, intrusive thoughts, rituals that have taken hold

Anger and irritability a shorter fuse than you'd like, at home or at work

Low mood flatness, lost motivation, feeling stuck

I also work with fatherhood, grief and loss, self-esteem and life direction, and the heavier end of things: suicidal thoughts, trauma, long-standing patterns.

Know who you're talking to

Craig Parker, Psychologist

Evolve is my practice. You see me, every session.

I'm a registered psychologist with fifteen years in mental health. Before private practice I spent years as a counsellor at MensLine Australia and SuicideLine, talking with men across the country about relationships, separation, work and the things that keep them up at night. That work taught me how men talk about what's going on, and how to be useful without dressing it up.

Men make up a large part of my practice, and many have been coming to see me for years. Plenty arrived sceptical. I don't mind scepticism; it usually means you're taking the decision seriously. The first session is a conversation, and you can judge for yourself whether I'm someone you can work with.

I grew up nearby, and Beaumaris has been home to my practice for the better part of a decade. No intake team, no being matched with whoever has a gap. When you book here, you're booking me.

My work draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, Ericksonian Brief Therapy and mindfulness. Registered with AHPRA and a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists (AAPi).

— Craig

How I work

Straight talk, taken seriously.

Sessions here are a direct, honest conversation. I'll tell you what I think, ask the questions worth asking, and take what matters to you seriously. We get clear on where you want things to be and what's in the way, and then we work on it.

Some men come in with something specific: a marriage under pressure, a separation, anxiety, a job that's grinding them down. Others come in because things are flat and they can't say exactly why. The work goes as deep as it needs to, and it's practical where practical is useful.

Getting started

01

Book or email

Book online in under a minute, or send an email and I'll get back to you, usually within one business day.

02

The first session

Fifty minutes to lay out what's going on and what you want from this. It's also a chance for both of us to see whether we're the right fit.

03

The ongoing work

Evidence-based, tailored to you, and at a pace you set. Some men come for a few sessions to sort a specific problem; others do longer, deeper work.

Fees & Medicare

What will it cost?

Session fee

$220

50 minutes

→

Medicare rebate

$101.55

with a GP plan

→

You pay

≈$118

per session

No referral is needed to book privately; the Mental Health Care Plan from your GP is only for claiming the rebate.

Sessions can also be funded through TAC, WorkCover and NDIS:

TAC WorkCover NDIS Private health

Beaumaris, Thursdays and Fridays.

17 South Concourse, Beaumaris VIC 3193, in Bayside Melbourne, with online sessions available. Easy parking. The consulting room is up a flight of stairs; if stairs are a barrier, online sessions are available.

Men come from across the bay: Black Rock, Sandringham, Hampton, Brighton, Cheltenham, Mentone, Parkdale, Mordialloc and surrounds.

The consulting room at Evolve Psychology, Beaumaris

Common questions

I've never seen a psychologist. What actually happens?

The first session is a conversation. You lay out what's going on, in whatever order it comes, and I'll ask questions to make sure I understand it properly. By the end you'll have a sense of how I work and whether it's a fit.

My partner suggested I come. Does that change anything?

Not really, and it's one of the most common ways men end up here. The work is still yours and confidential. What tends to matter is that at some point it becomes something you want for yourself, and that usually sorts itself out within a session or two.

I'm not much of a talker.

You don't need to be. It's my job to make the conversation work, not yours. Plenty of the men I see would never describe themselves as talkers, and it has never been the thing that decides whether therapy helps.

Do I need a referral?

No. You can book privately any time. A GP Mental Health Care Plan just lets you claim the Medicare rebate.

What will I actually pay per session?

About $118 with a Mental Health Care Plan: the $220 fee minus the $101.55 Medicare rebate. Without a plan, the full $220.

Will anyone know I'm coming?

What you say here stays here, with the standard exceptions around safety. If you use Medicare, a brief letter goes to your referring GP; if you book privately, no one is notified at all.

Can I use private health insurance?

Some extras policies include psychology. Check your cover with your insurer. For any one session you can claim either the Medicare rebate or private health, not both.

Is the room wheelchair accessible?

Unfortunately not. The consulting room is up a flight of stairs and there is no lift. If stairs are a barrier, online sessions are available; mention it when you get in touch and we'll work out what suits.

When you're ready, it takes a minute.

Book online, or get in touch by email or SMS. I'm usually in session during the day, so I'll return your message at my earliest opportunity, typically within one business day. If you'd rather talk it through by phone first, send your contact details and a good time to call.

Book appointment Email Craig SMS 0490 247 960