WorkCover Counselling QLD

Counselling for Work-Related Trauma

Some occupations involve regular exposure to situations that most people may rarely, if ever, encounter. At other times, a psychological injury may develop following a particular workplace incident or experience.

You may be seeking counselling following experiences such as:

• exposure to traumatic or distressing events

• workplace violence or assault

• witnessing serious injury or death

• cumulative exposure to trauma

• workplace accidents

• bullying or interpersonal conflict

• experiences which have affected your confidence or sense of safety at work

• psychological difficulties following a physical workplace injury.

The impact of these experiences can sometimes extend beyond the workplace. You may notice yourself becoming more withdrawn or irritable, avoiding reminders of what happened, struggling to switch off, or finding that relationships and activities which previously mattered to you have become more difficult.

Counselling provides a space to work with both the immediate impact of the injury and the broader ways in which it has affected your life.

My Approach to WorkCover Counselling

My approach is always guided by the individual, their experiences and what they would like to work towards.

Depending on your needs, counselling may draw from Trauma-Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (TF-ACT), Prolonged Exposure, Compassion Focused Therapy and other evidence-based therapeutic approaches.

Where appropriate and desired, I also provide EMDR therapy for work-related trauma.

EMDR can be particularly useful when distress continues to be connected to specific events, images, memories or experiences. Rather than simply learning to manage the symptoms that have developed around the trauma, EMDR provides an opportunity to directly process the experiences that continue to feel unresolved.

Recovery does not necessarily mean forgetting what happened or returning to exactly who you were before the experience. Therapy can instead support you in making sense of what has happened, reducing the hold that difficult experiences have over your present life, and reconnecting with the things that are important to you.

Returning to Work

For some people, returning to work is an important part of recovery. For others, even thinking about returning to the workplace can bring up fear, uncertainty or difficult memories.

Counselling can support you in gradually working towards your recovery and return-to-work goals while recognising that this process may look different for each person.

Where required as part of your WorkCover treatment, I can also communicate with relevant members of your treatment team regarding your progress and treatment.

Accessing WorkCover Counselling

If you have experienced a work-related mental health injury in Queensland, WorkCover may fund counselling as part of your treatment and recovery.

WorkCover Queensland may also fund certain mental health treatment while a psychological injury claim is still being assessed. Eligibility and approval will depend on your individual circumstances and claim.

If you have a current WorkCover Queensland claim and would like to enquire about counselling, you are welcome to contact me to discuss whether I am able to provide treatment under your claim.

Online WorkCover Counselling QLD

All appointments through Wellbeing Counsellor are provided online via telehealth, allowing you to access counselling from your own private space.

Online counselling is available to adults throughout Queensland.