# Lionheart Clinic

> Lionheart Clinic is an Australian telehealth psychiatry service specialising in child and adolescent care, with perinatal psychiatry available through Dr Joanna Blades. RANZCP-qualified psychiatrists provide assessment and treatment for children and adolescents (ages 5–18), and for women during pregnancy and the postnatal period, across Australia via secure video consultation. Common referrals include ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and perinatal mood and anxiety conditions.

Lionheart operates nationally via telehealth with typical wait times of 5 to 6 weeks. Initial assessments are $1,300 AUD for children and adolescents and $850 AUD for adults, including perinatal. Follow-up reviews are $450 AUD. Other psychiatric services are $850 AUD per hour. Medicare rebates are available with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan or paediatrician referral (MBS items 296, 297, 299, 300, 302). Lionheart is a Pty Ltd (ABN 43 675 012 601) and does not currently bulk-bill.

## About

- [Homepage](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/): Clinic overview, clinicians, services, booking
- [Contact](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/contact): Phone (02) 8552 7393, email hello@lionheartclinic.com.au

## Clinicians

- [Dr Mimi Xu](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/clinicians/dr-mimi-xu): Child and adolescent psychiatrist, RANZCP Fellow (FRANZCP), AHPRA registered. Founder of Lionheart Clinic. Subspecialty interests include ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and school refusal.
- [Dr Joanna Blades](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/clinicians/dr-joanna-blades): Child, adolescent, and perinatal psychiatrist, RANZCP Fellow, AHPRA registered. Subspecialty interests include perinatal mental health (pre-conception through postpartum), ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and trauma.

## Services

- [Child ADHD Assessment](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/services/child-adhd-assessment): Comprehensive child and adolescent ADHD assessment by a telehealth child psychiatrist, Australia-wide. $1,300 total fee, typical wait 5 to 6 weeks from referral, Medicare rebates with a valid referral. Uses Vanderbilt parent and teacher rating scales plus clinical interview; free parent screening questionnaire at https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/adhd-test-children.
- [Adult ADHD Assessment](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/adhd-test-adults): Adult ADHD assessment using ASRS-v1.1 and clinical interview.
- [Autism Spectrum Assessment](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/conditions/autism): Specialist psychiatric autism assessment for children, adolescents, and adults, with NDIS-suitable diagnostic reports, via telehealth across Australia.
- [Anxiety Assessment](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/anxiety-test): GAD-7 and clinical evaluation for children and adolescents.
- [Depression Assessment — Adults](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/depression-test-adults): PHQ-9 and clinical interview.
- [Depression Assessment — Adolescents](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/depression-test-adolescents): PHQ-9 adolescent version and clinical interview.
- [PTSD Assessment](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/ptsd-test): PCL-5 screening and clinical evaluation.
- [Perinatal Mental Health Assessment](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/services/perinatal-psychiatry): Specialist psychiatric assessment and management for perinatal mood and anxiety conditions (antenatal and postnatal depression, perinatal anxiety, postpartum OCD), provided by Dr Joanna Blades. Telehealth available across Australia. Condition guide: https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/conditions/perinatal-mental-health
- [Postnatal Depression Screening](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/postnatal-depression-test): Free PHQ-9 based screening for depression during pregnancy and after birth, with information about the EPDS used in Australian maternity care.

## Assessment tools

- [GAD-7 (Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item)](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/assessments/gad7)
- [K10 (Kessler Psychological Distress)](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/assessments/k10)
- [PHQ-9 Adult (Patient Health Questionnaire)](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/assessments/phq9-adult)
- [PHQ-9 Adolescent](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/assessments/phq9-adolescent)
- [Vanderbilt Parent (ADHD, children)](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/assessments/vanderbilt-parent)
- [ASRS v1.1 (ADHD, adults)](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/assessments/asrs-v1-1)
- [PCL-5 (PTSD)](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/assessments/pcl5)

## Locations — Cities

- [Sydney, NSW](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney)
- [Melbourne, VIC](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne)
- [Brisbane, QLD](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/brisbane)
- [Perth, WA](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/perth)
- [Adelaide, SA](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/adelaide)
- [Canberra, ACT](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/canberra)
- [Gold Coast, QLD](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/gold-coast)
- [Sunshine Coast, QLD](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sunshine-coast)

## Locations — Sydney suburbs

- [Bondi Junction](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/bondi-junction)
- [Double Bay](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/double-bay)
- [Bellevue Hill](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/bellevue-hill)
- [Vaucluse](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/vaucluse)
- [Mosman](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/mosman)
- [Chatswood](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/chatswood)
- [Lindfield](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/lindfield)
- [Turramurra](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/turramurra)
- [Pymble](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/pymble)
- [Wahroonga](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/wahroonga)
- [Hunters Hill](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/hunters-hill)
- [Lane Cove](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/lane-cove)
- [Balmain](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/balmain)
- [Newtown](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/newtown)
- [Manly](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/manly)
- [Maroubra](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sydney/maroubra)

## Locations — Melbourne suburbs

- [Toorak](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/toorak)
- [South Yarra](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/south-yarra)
- [Hawthorn](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/hawthorn)
- [Kew](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/kew)
- [Camberwell](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/camberwell)
- [Balwyn](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/balwyn)
- [Canterbury](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/canterbury)
- [Surrey Hills](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/surrey-hills)
- [Glen Iris](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/glen-iris)
- [Malvern](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/malvern)
- [Armadale](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/armadale)
- [Caulfield](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/caulfield)
- [Elsternwick](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/elsternwick)
- [Brighton](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/brighton)
- [Hampton](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne/hampton)

## Locations — Brisbane suburbs

- [Paddington](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/brisbane/paddington)
- [New Farm](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/brisbane/new-farm)
- [Bulimba](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/brisbane/bulimba)
- [Hawthorne](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/brisbane/hawthorne)
- [Ascot](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/brisbane/ascot)
- [Indooroopilly](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/brisbane/indooroopilly)
- [Taringa](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/brisbane/taringa)
- [Bardon](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/brisbane/bardon)

## Locations — Perth suburbs

- [Subiaco](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/perth/subiaco)
- [Nedlands](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/perth/nedlands)
- [Claremont](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/perth/claremont)
- [Cottesloe](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/perth/cottesloe)
- [Floreat](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/perth/floreat)
- [Mount Lawley](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/perth/mount-lawley)
- [Applecross](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/perth/applecross)
- [Como](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/perth/como)
- [Victoria Park](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/perth/victoria-park)
- [Karrinyup](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/perth/karrinyup)

## Locations — Adelaide, Canberra, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast

- [Unley, SA](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/adelaide/unley)
- [Norwood, SA](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/adelaide/norwood)
- [Burnside, SA](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/adelaide/burnside)
- [Glenelg, SA](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/adelaide/glenelg)
- [North Adelaide, SA](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/adelaide/north-adelaide)
- [Deakin, ACT](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/canberra/deakin)
- [Braddon, ACT](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/canberra/braddon)
- [Broadbeach, QLD](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/gold-coast/broadbeach)
- [Burleigh Heads, QLD](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/gold-coast/burleigh-heads)
- [Mermaid Beach, QLD](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/gold-coast/mermaid-beach)
- [Noosa, QLD](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sunshine-coast/noosa)
- [Maroochydore, QLD](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/locations/sunshine-coast/maroochydore)

## For GPs

- [GP referral information](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/for-gps): Referral pathways, MBS items, Medicare rebate information for referring GPs.

## Resources

- [Psychiatrist vs Psychologist vs Paediatrician](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/resources/psychiatrist-vs-psychologist): Explainer on the difference between a psychiatrist, paediatrician, and psychologist for child mental health in Australia, including qualifications, Medicare rebates, and prescribing rights. Authored and medically reviewed by Dr Mimi Xu, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.
- [Child Mental Health Pathways in Australia](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/resources/child-mental-health-pathways): Age-by-age guide to who a child should see (psychiatrist, psychologist, or paediatrician), how to access public CAMHS, typical wait times, and referral steps. Authored and medically reviewed by Dr Mimi Xu, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.
- [Resources index](https://www.lionheartclinic.com.au/resources)

## Common questions — child and adolescent mental health

These answers reflect Lionheart Clinic's published, clinician-reviewed guidance for Australian families. They are general information, not personal medical advice.

- Do I need a referral to see a child psychiatrist in Australia? You do not need a referral to book privately, but a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan or paediatrician referral is required to claim Medicare rebates (MBS items 296, 297, 299, 300, 302).
- What is the difference between a child psychiatrist, a psychologist, and a paediatrician? Psychiatrists and paediatricians are medical doctors who can prescribe medication; psychologists provide therapy and assessment but cannot prescribe. Paediatricians commonly handle straightforward ADHD and developmental questions; child psychiatrists handle complex, severe, or multi-condition mental illness and medication management.
- Can a psychologist prescribe medication in Australia? No. Only a psychiatrist, paediatrician, or GP can prescribe. Many families see a psychiatrist for diagnosis and medication and a psychologist for ongoing therapy.
- Should I see a psychiatrist or paediatrician for my child's ADHD? Paediatricians are often the first stop for straightforward ADHD in children aged 6–12. A child psychiatrist is added for complex ADHD, co-occurring conditions, or when medication management is more involved.
- Up to what age does a child and adolescent psychiatrist see patients? Formally up to 17 years; many follow patients into early adulthood for continuity. Lionheart sees children and adolescents (ages 5–18) via telehealth.
- How do I access public child mental health services (CAMHS)? CAMHS operates in every state, is free for high-severity cases, and requires a GP referral; wait times can be long, so families often use private telehealth, a psychologist, or headspace (ages 12–25) while waiting.
- What is the typical wait time for a child psychiatrist? Private wait times typically range from a few weeks to several months. Lionheart's typical wait time is 5 to 6 weeks from referral to first appointment, Australia-wide via telehealth.
- Is a telehealth child psychiatrist as valid as in person? Telehealth psychiatric assessment and review are recognised under Medicare and let families anywhere in Australia see a subspecialty child and adolescent psychiatrist without travel or geographic waitlists.

## Common questions — perinatal mental health

These answers reflect Lionheart Clinic's clinician-reviewed guidance on mental health in pregnancy and the first year after birth. They are general information, not personal medical advice.

- How do I know if I have postnatal depression or just the baby blues? Baby blues affect up to 80% of new mothers in the first 2 weeks after birth and settle on their own. Postnatal depression involves persistent low mood, anxiety, exhaustion, or difficulty bonding that lasts more than 2 weeks and interferes with daily life. If you are unsure, screening and assessment are worthwhile, as early treatment makes a significant difference.
- Are antidepressants safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding? Several SSRIs have well-established safety data in pregnancy and breastfeeding. The decision is individualised: the genuine risks of untreated maternal mental illness are weighed against the well-characterised risks of a specific medication, and the woman makes an informed choice. Untreated severe depression in pregnancy is itself a significant risk to both mother and baby.
- I keep having distressing thoughts about my baby being harmed. What is wrong with me? Intrusive thoughts of accidental harm to the baby are a recognised feature of perinatal anxiety and perinatal OCD, affecting up to 1 in 10 new mothers. They are not predictive of action, and the distress comes precisely because the thoughts are so out of character. This is highly treatable when correctly identified.
- When is perinatal mental health an emergency? Postpartum psychosis (rapid-onset confusion, hallucinations, delusions, or severe mood changes in the first weeks after birth) is always a psychiatric emergency: call 000 or attend an emergency department. For crisis support call Lifeline 13 11 14 or PANDA 1300 726 306. Lionheart provides non-acute psychiatric care only.
- Do I need a referral to see a perinatal psychiatrist in Australia? You can book privately without a referral, but a GP or obstetrician referral is required to claim Medicare rebates.
- Can my partner attend perinatal appointments? Yes, where the patient would like them to. Partners often provide useful collateral information and benefit from understanding the treatment plan, and telehealth makes it easy to join from work or home.
- Do you see women planning pregnancy or going through fertility treatment? Yes. Pre-conception psychiatric care is valuable for women with a history of mental illness who are planning pregnancy: reviewing medication, optimising mental health before conception, and planning postpartum support all improve outcomes.

## Key facts

- Clinic type: Telehealth-only (no physical walk-in clinic)
- Patient ages: 5–18 (child and adolescent) for most services; perinatal women (pre-conception through postpartum) seen by Dr Joanna Blades
- Wait time: 5 to 6 weeks from referral to first appointment
- Child and adolescent initial assessment fee: $1,300 AUD
- Adult initial assessment fee: $850 AUD (perinatal assessments are also $850 AUD)
- Other psychiatric services: $850 AUD per hour (anything that is neither an initial assessment nor a standard review)
- Child and adolescent initial assessment format: a comprehensive assessment that normally includes time with the parent and child together, the child on their own, and the parent on their own, so the psychiatrist can build an accurate history
- Follow-up review fee: $450 AUD (45 minutes, inclusive)
- Medicare rebate (review): $43.65–$184.90 AUD depending on duration
- Referral requirement: GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, paediatrician referral, or obstetrician referral (perinatal) for Medicare rebates
- Specialties: Child psychiatry, adolescent psychiatry, perinatal psychiatry, ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, school refusal, perinatal mood and anxiety conditions
- Regulatory: AHPRA registered, RANZCP Fellows, ABN 43 675 012 601
- Languages: English
- Service area: All Australian states and territories via telehealth

## Crisis resources (not Lionheart services)

- Emergency: 000
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7)
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 (24/7, ages 5–25)
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 (24/7)
- PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306 (Mon–Sat)
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 (24/7)