Psychological Interventions
AWP offers evidence-based and individualised psychological interventions that help you overcome your mental health challenges. We use a range of therapeutic modalities and all our interventions are trauma-informed and neurodivergent-informed to suit your needs.
We Treat The following concerns:
Forensic Services
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Offenders typically are the most heterogeneous population. While mental health does not typically cause offending behaviours, except for a select few disorders (e.g., psychotic or bipolar disorders), childhood trauma may impair an individual’s social, emotion, and moral development, which can lead to offending behaviours. The causes and clinical drivers of offending behaviour are often individualised and specific to each individual. Often, drugs and alcohol are involved.
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It is our experience that not enough attention is placed on an individual’s post-release wellbeing. Having a long gaol term can displace a person’s ability to adapt to community living and expectations, which can affect their reoffending risk. We are able to work with individuals post-release to assist with their transition back to community living and coping with daily societal demands.
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Our psychologists have expertise in treating drug and alcohol abuse issues for a wide range of drugs. We also have a wide network of rehabilitation centres, which we can readily refer to for the client’s court requirements. Addiction is as much of a psychological issue as a medical issue, which is why we often work collaboratively with rehabilitation centres and medical practitioners when treating drugs and alcohol presentations.
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Our psychologists have expertise in treating all forms of psychological trauma presentations. Post traumatic Stress Disorder is an emotional response following exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence (DSM-5). Complex Post traumatic Stress Disorder may develop following exposure to an event or serious of events of an extremely threatening or horrific nature, most commonly prolonged or repetitive events from which escape is difficult or impossible (e.g., torture, slavery, genocide campaigns, prolonged domestic violence, repeated childhood sexual or physical abuse, etc.) (ICD-11).
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Our psychologists can treat anger issues at varying levels of severity. Anger is typically what we call “secondary emotion”, which masks “primary emotions” of embarrassment, insecurity, hurt, shame, or fear.
The aim is to teach emotion literacy and emotion regulation strategies, which will help the individual to manage their emotion dysregulation in the future.
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Psychosis is a condition that affects the way a person’s brain processes information. It is often characterised by a disconnection from reality. Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, disorganisation, and a lack of insight into their illness.
This is a psychiatric illness, which often requires both pharmaceutical and psychological therapy to treat. We often work collaboratively with psychiatrists when treating psychotic disorders.
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Mood disorders are mental health disorders that affect a person’s emotional state, including depression, bipolar disorder, etc. Treatment of depressive disorders typically involve psychological therapy, whereas bipolar disorder includes both psychiatric and psychological care.
Our psychologists often work collaboratively with psychiatrists when their services are required for the individual.
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Personality disorders are often treated in a team setting. Our psychologists have specialist knowledge in treating personality disorders and often work together to manage the client’s symptoms and facilitate long-lasting behavioural change. Personality disorders encompass a broad range of personality disorders, where there are lifelong patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about themselves, others and their environment. It also affects their interpersonal functioning and impulse control.
Personality disorders are grouped into three distinct “clusters”.
Cluster A often appear odd or eccentric (e.g., paranoid, schizoid, or schizotypal).
Cluster B often appear dramatic, emotional or erratic (e.g., antisocial, borderline, histrionic, or narcissistic).
Cluster C often appear anxious or fearful (e.g., avoidant, dependent or obsessive-compulsive).
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This is an umbrella term for a number of anxiety-related disorders, such as phobias, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalised anxiety disorder, etc. Avoidance and safety behaviours often underpin and perpetuate these disorders, which are our exact therapeutic targets.
Anxiety disorders are one of the most treatable and well-researched mental health disorders with long-lasting effects.
What to Expect
from your first appointment
During your initial consultations, your psychologist will spend some time discussing your concerns. They will also spend some time discussing your developmental, family, and health history to understand the context of your concerns.
After the initial sessions (typically two (2) sessions max), your psychologist may recommend a therapy approach suitable for you. They will work collaboratively with you to treat your worries and concerns.
Each treatment session will typically last for 50 minutes.
You may be eligible for rebates under Medicare if you have a referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP.
We accept NDIS referrals if you are either Self-Managed or Plan-Managed.
Online therapy sessions are available.
Clinical Services
