Family Talks Clinic - St Leonards, New South Wales

Amelia H.

I have had hundreds of appointments with Dr Mohsen, and I could really not ever complain about the continuous care and help he has provided my family and I. I’ve had him as a psychiatrist for around 6 years or so, and I have never had any doubt in his expertise. He has always been so understanding, clinically critical in the best way and very thorough. I have always felt extremely safe and well treated by him and his staff.

I am disappointed in some of these reviews regarding him. I think once you really take into account that our psychiatrists are humans like us, and so are their staff, and we are truely paying for their COPIOUS years of studying and qualifications, I think it really helps one to be understanding. As personally coming from a medical admin point of view, I believe the staff at Family Talk Clinic are amazing and do their job great.

Dr Mohsen has always provided the best care and has been extremely helpful and supportive in my life challenges. I have suggested his support and clinic to many.

S M.

I have been attending this clinic for over a year now and have only had great experiences with Dr Miranda Sonntag and reception staff, who have been nothing but kind, patient and caring.

Dr Sonntag has provided me with excellent care and displays extensive medical and pharmaceutical knowledge. She always prioritises my mental health and wellbeing and we have worked together throughout our sessions to find the most fitting solution for my complex condition and needs. She has displayed proficiency in both medical care and emotional understanding, which has truly eased this journey for me.

K S.

My partner filled out a new patient form after being referred here by her GP. After waiting 10 days she received a call from a rude receptionist who was incredibly condescending and said there were no availabilities at all. The receptionist then proceeded to go on google and read out to my partner over the phone other clinics after telling my partner to just go on google.

Alexandra J.

Impressed at how Dr Lakmali from Family Talks clinic only briefly spoke to me and my daughter and provided an extensive clinical diagnosis out of which now in hindsight, each one of the aspects are prooving to be true. Very grateful for the service and highly recommending Dr Lakmali.

Maya H.

I reported this company for Medicare Fraud - I knew something was up when I was charged three different item codes during the 2 sessions: 350, 291 and a 306. None of these were for psychotherapy which is what I was seeing the doctor for. Multiple family members shouldn't be charged item codes for a single session. There was no report written for my GP for the 291 because my GP did not ask for one - that was not the purpose of my psychotherapy sessions. I was charged all three item codes and family members were simultaneously charged 306's for the same session. There were two item codes charged per session.
Please review your receipts and report the practice to Medicare. ONLY ONE patients' Medicare card should be charged per session and it is One SINGLE item code for all sessions. Clients look up the item codes you were charged on the Medicare site. This business is running illegal schemes. Carolyn you processed all my receipts we discussed how the practice charges multiple family members Medicare cards for single appointments and in return the client is rewarded with a smaller gap payment overall.
The doctors and the office manager were so candid about the "arrangement" to me and my family.
I passed on all my receipts and the receipts of the other family members you fraudulently billed to medicare at the beginning of 2021 and they opened up a formal investigation against the Doctor who charged me. I called yesterday and no one would speak to me. I have watched the Medicare investigation on ABC and am deeply alarmed that your practice may still be stealing from public funds, hence why I am posting this now. Your doctors have no intention of helping their patients, they are there to exploit vulnerable members of the public.
I am not asking for compensation for the family members that were fraudulently charged, I am not trying to blackmail you or threaten you all I want is the fraud to stop. Period. I pay taxes, I don't lie, cheat or steal. I don't believe doctors should be exempt from the same rules other Australians abide by. Medicare theft is an unconscionable act. Organisations like this tarnish the medical profession.

L

My GP referred me to this clinic to see Dr Mirzaie. I filled out the new patient form and received a prompt response saying I was not able to see Dr Mirzaie but I could see Dr Edirimanne to which I agreed. I didn’t hear back for two days so I decided to follow up. I received a reply saying Dr Edirimanne had rejected me - no reason was given. I was then told that a third dr would review my form and decide whether they could take me on. I called the practice for clarification was greeted by a woman called Anna who was incredibly condescending and rude. I explained to Anna that my GP was a friend of Dr Mirzaie and had referred me there to see him. Anna told me to send a copy of my referral and specified that it had to be a pdf. I explained that I don’t have a scanner but I could take a photo - I was told I would have to convert the images. I understand processes and procedures are in place but you are creating a barrier to mental health care. Seeing a GP, getting a referral and making an appointment (or trying to) for someone suffering from mental health issues is incredibly taxing and hard. As a receptionist working at a mental health facility, I would expect more grace and kindness. And as I have read from your other reviews, this seems to be a consistent issue. I will be going back to my GP to get a referral elsewhere - where hopefully respect to patients is a priority.

Ela E.

Reception knows how to charge $300 per appointment without putting Medicare rebates through while forgetting to send my script to the chemist and make me wait two weeks for my medication, very dangerous and frustrating this place isn’t getting anymore money from me anymore if you charge someone $300 per appointment you would expect their script to go through to the chemist straight away don’t waste your money on this expensive scam of a place

Edit: The audacity of this reception scamming me over $1000 and lying saying my script was sent on time, expect nothing less and may I mention I tried putting Medicare rebates through and the pathetic excuse for a reception could not have been bothered to give me the codes so not only has my time been wasted; my money has been wasted. Can’t believe this reception is in charge of a place that caters to people with psychiatric disorders

Samantha P.

I never normally write reviews but I am so upset and disappointed with the service I have received from Family Talks Clinic. After being advised by a GP and counsellor that my 15yo son needed to see a psychiatrist (so many not taking on new patients) I was told by another psychiatrist that they had checked and Family Talks are taking on new patients. I filled in their online new patient form and received a response back to call to make an appt with Dr Gordon. I did call but was advised that "sorry, he has just closed his books" but resubmit your form and specify Dr Falcov and that he was taking on new patients. I did this and waited a week and then chased up with the response they couldn't find my new form but would forward the original to him. Left another week and chased up, sorry he hasn't got back to you, I will resend and get him to respond as he is in today and "he normally responds in a few days". 4 days later I call again and Receptionist says "he obviously isn't able to take on your son as a patient if he hasn't responded" and that we can't help you. Surely, if this was the case, a quick email saying this so I could have looked elsewhere instead of waiting would have been appropriate. When you are working in the area of youth mental health, I feel this service was so unsatisfactory. After many weeks wasted, trying to get a response from them, I am now back to where I was. Waste of my time.