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A workplace injury can change your life in ways you never expected.

Whether you’ve been injured physically, experienced psychological trauma at work, or both, life can suddenly become consumed by doctor’s appointments, paperwork, phone calls, independent medical examinations (IMEs), and waiting for decisions that feel completely outside your control. You’re trying to recover while navigating a system you’ve probably never had to deal with before.

You may be worrying about money, missing your workmates, struggling with chronic pain, or grieving the life you had before your injury. The hobbies that once helped you cope may no longer be possible. You might be spending far more time at home than you ever imagined, feeling isolated and wondering what your future will look like.

And the guilt. One of the hardest parts of being on WorkCover is feeling like other people don’t understand. There can be an unspoken belief that you’re lucky to be off work or that you’re exaggerating your injury. In reality, most people I meet would do almost anything to have their normal life back.

Your injury may be the reason you’re here, but counselling isn’t just about the injury. It’s about helping you navigate everything that changed because of it.

Counselling That Understands the WorkCover Journey

Many health professionals involved in your recovery are focused on treating your injury or assessing your capacity for work. Your GP has limited time. Your physiotherapist is helping your body recover. Your case manager has a role within the WorkCover system, often balancing your recovery with planning your return to work.

Counselling is different. My role isn’t to decide whether you’re ready to return to work or to meet someone else’s objectives. My role is to support you.

I’ve worked with many people navigating the Victorian WorkCover system and understand how emotionally exhausting the process can become. The uncertainty, repeated assessments, delays, claim disputes, financial pressure and constant need to explain yourself can become almost as difficult as the injury itself.

You don’t need to explain why you’re feeling so overwhelmed by the process, I get it. I understand the system, and more importantly, I understand the impact it can have on your mental health.

Our sessions are your space. Somewhere you don’t have to justify how you’re feeling or convince anyone that you’re struggling. A place where we can slow everything down and focus on you.

What is WorkCover Counselling?

If your GP or treating doctor recommends counselling and your WorkCover claim has approved psychological treatment, your counselling sessions are funded through WorkCover, meaning there is no out-of-pocket cost for your approved sessions.

Counselling can help with:

• The emotional impact of a physical workplace injury
• Workplace trauma or psychological injuries
• Anxiety, stress and depression during recovery
• Chronic pain and the emotional toll it creates
• Grief and loss following major changes to your life
• Loss of confidence and identity when you’re unable to work
• Managing uncertainty about the future
• Preparing emotionally for returning to work, changing careers, or adjusting to a different future

Every recovery looks different. Counselling is tailored to your individual circumstances, your goals and your pace.

How I Work

No two people experience a workplace injury in the same way.

Some people need practical strategies to cope with overwhelming anxiety or frustration. Others need somewhere to process a traumatic workplace incident. Rather than applying the same approach to everyone, I work collaboratively with you to understand what’s keeping you stuck.

Together we might work on:

• Managing anxiety, stress and overwhelm
• Processing traumatic experiences
• Coping with chronic pain and its emotional impact
• Building emotional regulation skills
• Reconnecting with your identity beyond work
• Navigating difficult relationships with employers, insurers or family members
• Rebuilding confidence and hope for the future

My approach is trauma-informed, collaborative and paced according to what feels manageable for you. Recovery isn’t about pushing through or pretending everything is okay. It’s about helping your nervous system, your emotions and your life gradually find solid ground again.

Counselling offers a place to step away from the appointments, paperwork and expectations for a little while, make sense of everything that’s happened, and begin moving forward in a way that feels right for you.