PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILING AND COUNSELLING

Our Clinical Psychologist has a range of assessments and questionnaires which, when administered, can identify a number of reasons as to why a person may not be progressing with their return to work.

This tool can be used in combination with the Return to Work Assessment or as a stand alone service.

Our Psychology staff have worked in the Workers Compensation system, case managing injured employees, so have working knowledge of the Workers Compensation legislation and also the number of factors which often effect a successful return to work.

New Workers Compensation changes, effective from the 1 July 2005, indicate psychological overlay can not be used to evaluate a workers permanent total incapacity. This change may open the opportunity for employees who sustain a physical injury and "are not coping, are stuck, are overwhelmed, feel disempowered" to access psychological assistance early as in doing so they do not increase risk to third parties for increased common law damages through secondary psychological overlay.

VOCATIONAL COUNSELING

• A service provided to assist with career direction decisions
• The career guidance process may involve counseling and assessment services
• Assessments will have three components
  • Interview with a psychologist
  • Personality assessment and
  • Job interests and work skills/ ability assessment

A holistic approach is used to assist our clients to make informed decisions.

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INJURY ADJUSTMENT COUNSELING

This service assists with the process of adapting to a physical injury. With our assistance clients develop a coping and self management plan to assist them with the adaptation process. Some common issues that may be addressed during counseling include:

• Pain management
• Anger and frustration
• Anxiety and depression
• Impact of injury on home and family life
• Social withdrawal and reduction in leisure activities.
• Physical limitations impacting on ability to function at work and loss of job

All psychologist services are provided by qualified Psychologists who have completed a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology.

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