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Treatment-resistant depression clinic — Sydney
Our psychiatrist-led clinic assesses whether advanced treatment options — including TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) — may be suitable for you.
Your first step is a comprehensive video assessment with one of our psychiatrists, from wherever you are.
If advanced treatment is right for you, we build a plan around it and keep your GP informed at every stage. In-clinic treatment sessions are delivered by experienced mental health nurses under psychiatrist oversight, currently through accredited partner clinics in Sydney.
One assessment opens every suitable pathway, so the recommendation is based on what suits you, not what a clinic happens to offer.
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What is treatment-resistant depression?
Depression is called treatment-resistant when at least two different antidepressant medicines, taken at the right dose for long enough, haven't brought enough relief. It affects as many as one in three people treated for depression, and it is not a dead end.
If this sounds like your experience, a specialist review can look at your history, confirm whether your depression meets this definition, and talk you through what can come next.
Your assessment and treatment options
Your first step is a comprehensive assessment with one of our psychiatrists, by video from wherever you are. If advanced treatment is right for you, your psychiatrist will discuss the options available.
Because Dokotela offers more than one pathway, the recommendation is based on what suits you, not what a clinic happens to have.
Supervised in-clinic treatment
Some patients may be suited to a clinic-based treatment program delivered under the supervision of trained clinicians, with structured monitoring at every session.
Your psychiatrist will explain the options that may apply to you, including PBS-subsidised treatments where eligibility criteria are met.
What your assessment involves
Your psychiatrist reviews your full history: the medicines you have tried, at what dose and for how long, what helped and what didn't, and whether anything else may be contributing to how you feel.
This matters because “treatment-resistant” is a specific clinical picture, and confirming it is what opens access to advanced treatment options and their funding pathways.
You will leave the assessment knowing where you stand and what your options are, and your GP receives a letter so your care stays coordinated.
Who this clinic may suit
This service is designed for adults who:
- Have been diagnosed with depression and treated with at least two different antidepressants without enough improvement
- Are looking for evidence-based next steps beyond medication changes alone
- Want their treatment coordinated between a psychiatrist, their GP and experienced clinic staff.
This is not an emergency service.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 in an emergency.
Fees and funding
You should know what treatment costs before you commit. Your assessment is billed as a standard Dokotela psychiatry consultation.
Treatment costs depend on the pathway your psychiatrist recommends: Medicare supports TMS initial courses for eligible patients, and PBS subsidies apply to some clinic-based treatments where criteria are met. You will receive a clear written estimate before treatment begins.
Why Dokotela
Dokotela has provided psychiatrist care to Australians for over a decade, including communities where specialist help is hardest to find.
Our treatment-resistant depression clinic brings that same model — psychiatrist-led, GP-connected, nurse-delivered — to advanced depression care.
- Psychiatrist-led: every treatment plan is made and monitored by a psychiatrist.
- More than one pathway: recommendations based on your needs, not a single machine or program.
- GP partnership: your GP is kept informed at every stage.
Register your interest
Our treatment-resistant depression clinic is opening soon.
If you would like to hear when referrals open, leave your details and we will be in touch. GPs and health professionals are welcome to register too.
Registering does not create a referral or an appointment.
Please speak with your GP about your current care in the meantime.
Your questions answered
Depression is called treatment-resistant when at least two different antidepressant medicines, taken at the right dose for long enough, haven't brought enough relief. It affects as many as one in three people treated for depression, and it is not a dead end. A psychiatrist can confirm whether your history meets this definition and talk you through what can come next.
A psychiatrist assessment is the starting point. Your psychiatrist reviews your history and diagnosis, considers whether anything else may be contributing, and talks through the options that could suit you. Depending on your circumstances, that may include reviewing your current treatment, TMS, or a supervised clinic-based treatment program. Everything is discussed with you before any treatment begins.
Assessments and reviews with your psychiatrist are by video, so you can attend from home or from your GP practice anywhere in Australia. In-clinic treatment sessions are delivered in person, currently through accredited partner clinics in Sydney, with a Dokotela clinic at Bondi Junction planned.
You are able to change or cancel your appointment anytime up until 48 hours before your appointment at no cost by completing a patient contact form or calling 02 8003 7668. Specialists providing care through Dokotela maintain a cancellation policy which requires at least 48 hours notice if you would like to cancel or change your appointment. These appointments are difficult to fill where your specialist has not been provided with enough notice, so they may charge a cancellation fee if you do not give at least 48 hours’ notice of a change/cancellation or you fail to show up for your appointment.
We are here to help.
We also offer TMS therapy at our clinic
TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) is the other advanced pathway available through this clinic, and it treats the same condition: depression that hasn't responded to at least two antidepressants.
Because we offer both, one assessment with your psychiatrist considers every option, and you are recommended the treatment that suits you rather than the one a clinic happens to have.
Medicare supports an initial course of TMS for eligible adults.
