Counselling & Psychology Services

Access specialist psychology support in Victoria

One of the least recognised aspects of disability is the psychological impact. For those who acquire a disability, it’s often difficult to adjust to life when the way you do things and the way you feel about yourself has changed. Even for those who have lived with disability since birth, each new phase of life brings new challenges. The lives of your family members may also be affected in different ways.

When it was first established in 2001, our psychology service was the first of its kind in Victoria. Today we remain one of only a handful of organisations offering disability specific counselling and psychological services. Our specialty is working with people with a spinal cord injury or people who have had polio, but we also counsel people dealing with any form of physical disability.

Our counselling service is available to individuals, couples or families in Victoria who seek greater health, happiness and enjoyment in their lives. We address a wide range of concerns including:

Counselling and Psychology Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the counselling and psychology service?

• Our psychology service is available for anyone in Victoria who has a physical disability and/or their family members. Children and teenagers may be referred on to more specialised child and adolescent services.
• Any person with a physical disability is eligible to attend. You may have only recently acquired a disability, or have lived with a disability for many years (or a lifetime).
• If eligible, a GP referral (Mental Health Care Plan) may be required

How do I access the counselling and psychology service?

Once you have determined your eligibility, you can access our psychology and counselling service by calling us directly on 1300 704 456 or email [email protected]. Please note you can either submit the referral, or someone else can submit this on your behalf. Following this, one of psychologists will make a time to meet with you.

What is the fee structure (cost) for the psychology and counselling service?

If you do not receive approval from TAC, Workcover or have a Mental Health Plan in place so that we can bulk bill Medicare, you’ll be charged $10 a session if you receive a pension, or $1 for every $1000 earned annually e.g. if your annual salary is $70,000 your fee will be $70 a session

Or you may be eligible for a small number of free sessions. Please call us for a confidential discussion on 1300 704 456.

Are after hours counselling and psychology sessions available?

Unfortunately after hours or crisis services are unavailable. Sessions with the psychologists are available from Monday to Friday during normal business hours. Peer support groups may be held in the evenings

How does therapy or counselling work?

We offer a confidential, supportive and non-judgemental therapy or counselling service where consumers can:

• • • Seek support, information or feedback
    • Gain a better understanding of what they’re experiencing
    • Discover different perspectives to their situation
    • Discuss choices or opportunities
    • Gain insight into personal strengths and challenges
    • Explore ways of coping with troubling thoughts, emotions or situations

The goals of therapy are discussed in the initial sessions and are driven by your personal needs. The specific purpose or aim of any therapy will vary from person to person, and depends upon your situation and needs.

What can I expect from the counselling and psychology service?

Initial sessions are geared towards obtaining background information and clarifying the range of problems or concerns you might like to address in therapy or counselling. If you’re unsure what to expect, then any queries can be discussed in these initial appointments. You’re required to attend sessions at Independence Australia’s premises in West Footscray and Kew, although some telephone support can be provided if a person is unable to attend due to health or mobility reasons (this is a limited service negotiated on a case by case basis). Sessions are usually one hour long and may occur weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on your needs. At times, you may be given reading material or other in between session activities to complete. On average, consumers can expect to receive services for 6 months. However, there may be some flexibility depending on your needs and the availability of the psychologist.

Who are your psychologists?

Our psychologists are registered with The Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) and practice according to its Code of Behaviour for Psychologists and the Australian Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics and Ethical Guidelines. The team are trained in cognitive behavioural therapy, neuropsychology and other disciplines.

Jenny Koadlow

Jenny has worked as a psychologist in the disability field for most of her professional life. She began her career specialising with adults with an intellectual or physical disability, both in Australia and the UK. She later specialised in children with disabilities and their families. Since 2007 she has worked in the psychology team of Independence Australia helping individuals, couples and families with counselling needs. She also co-facilitates a support group for people who have a family member with a spinal cord injury.

Jenny has firsthand experience and personal insight into what many loved ones of people with disability experience. She has been personally affected by a number of family members with disabilities; her older sister had MS, her mum had vascular induced dementia, and her sister in law survived a severe stroke and is unable to walk.

Do you offer peer support groups?

We offer different support groups or workshops through the psychology service. Groups vary in their focus and may be specific to people with a physical disability or their family members. Currently we are running two ongoing support groups.

How long must I wait before I can see a psychologist?

Due to demand for this service, we often need to place you on a waitlist for this service. But we’ll try our best to advise you of an estimated start date and provide an appointment at the earliest convenience. If our psychology service is unable to cater for your needs, a referral will be made to another appropriate service.

Do you accept student placements in the psychology team?

Yes, we have limited placements for postgraduate students studying health psychology or clinical psychology. For more information please email [email protected].

What research has been undertaken by your psychology team?

Sinclair, A., Allen, N. B., Kim, Y. & Trinder, J. (2000, February). Autonomic cardiac control during positive and negative affect. Poster session presented at the 10th World Congress of the International Organisation of Psychophysiology conference, Sydney.

Smith, P. L., Wolfgang, B. J. and Sinclair, A. J. (2004). Mask-dependent attention curing effects in visual signal detection: the psychometric function for contrast. Attention, Perception & Psychophysics, 66. 6, 1056-1975.

Migliorini, C., Tonge, B., Sinclair, A. (2011). Developing and piloting of ePACT: an online psychological treatment of depression for adults with spinal cord injury. Behavioural Change, 28 (1), 45-54.

Migliorini, C., Sinclair, A., Brown, D., Tonge, B. & New. P. (2015).The prevalence of mood disturbance in Australian adults with chronic spinal cord injury, Internal Medicine Journal, 45 (10), 1014-1019

Migliorini, C., Sinclair, A., Brown, D., Tonge, B. & New. P. (2016). A randomised control trial of an internet-based cognitive behaviour treatment for mood disorder in adults with chronic spinal cord injury, Spinal Cord 54, 695-701

What other after hours or crisis services are available to me?

Support for addictions 

Support for other Health or Legal Concerns

Please note our service does not receive any direct government funding. Through the generosity of donations, trusts and bequests we can make our clinical psychology service accessible to individuals, couples and families with disabilities for therapy or counselling.

For more information about our counselling service, please call us on 1300 704 456 or email [email protected].