Rehabilitation Services

ALTERNATIVES Consulting Psychologists can assist with:

Psychological assessment to determine whether a client has a diagnosable condition.
Adjustment counselling following motor vehicle accidents or work injury.
Pain or anger management programs.
Treatment programs for clients with depression, anxiety or trauma symptoms.
Vocational assessments to identify alternative employment options.
Rehabilitation Case Management services.
Medico-legal reports.

Assessment and diagnosis

A psychological assessment is used to determine if an individual has developed a ‘diagnosable condition’ or is experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression at a clinically significant level. While an individual may be experiencing symptoms, these symptoms may not meet the criteria to be clinically significant, and therefore a different treatment approach is required.

A psychological assessment using DSM-IV criteria is useful for:

developing an appropriate treatment plan.
determining treatment goals
determining number of sessions required.
establishing treatment time frames and prognosis.
developing a “future focus”.

Early intervention programs

It is not unusual for employees who have sustained a work-related injury to experience feelings of anxiety or depression. However, if these feelings continue over several weeks and begin to impact on the employee’s involvement in regular daily activities, social interactions, or ability to return to work, a few sessions of ‘adjustment counselling’ can help restore a positive attitude, confidence and motivation.

Early intervention programs assist employees with a psychological injury to:

Adjust to changes in life circumstances.
Manage pain or anger.
Manage psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression or panic attacks.
Minimise time away from work.

Adjustment counselling focuses on managing symptoms, accepting changes, rebuilding confidence, managing fears and concerns associated with stressful events, to assist the employee to return to work and previously enjoyed activities.

Vocational assessment

Sometimes an injury prevents an employee from being able to return to their previous employment. A vocational assessment will identify alternative employment options. In a vocational assessment we gather information about education and work history, transferable skills, limitations / constraints, vocational interests, aptitudes, abilities, and work style to identify realistic employment options.

A vocational assessment assists with:

Determining transferable skills and capabilities.
Identifying limitations/constraints.
Identifying realistic employment options.
Developing an action plan for achieving employment goals.
Establishing and monitoring Return to Work programs.

ALTERNATIVES can provide vocational assessment and career planning for people seeking alternative employment directions or wanting to change careers.

Rehabilitation Case Management

Our case management consultants are accredited in Comcare Rehabilitation Case Management practices. We can also assist Workplace Rehabilitation Coordinators in managing psychological injury claims and assisting these employees to return to work.

Workers’ Compensation statistics emphasise the importance of an early return to work for injured workers. This practice not only minimises the financial costs of a claim, but more importantly, greatly assists the healing process and well-being of the injured worker.

Medico-legal services

ALTERNATIVES Consulting Psychologists are experienced in the preparation of medico-legal reports for motor-vehicle or workers compensation claims. We are able to administer psychological assessments using DSM-IV criteria to provide an objective, analytical report of contributing factors, impact of the event, and prognosis.

Benefits

Access to experienced and qualified psychologists offering specialist rehabilitation advice.
Experience with medico-legal matters.
Provision of timely, objective, and accurate reports.
Competitive fees.