Adjustment to injury counselling
Recovering from a work-related injury or illness can be physically and mentally challenging. If you’re finding things hard, we can support you with Adjustment to Injury Counselling.
Support for when life gets tough
When life gets hard – whether with financial stress, health concerns or personal struggles – there’s help and support available.
What is adjustment to injury counselling?
How counselling can help
Adjustment to Injury Counselling (ATIC) gives you a safe space to talk with a trained provider, such as a psychologist, rehabilitation counsellor or social worker.
They can help you understand your injury, develop coping strategies and support you as you return to work and everyday life.
You can speak to us at any time if you’d like more information about this support.
When counselling might be needed
Many people feel overwhelmed after an injury or illness.
You may benefit from counselling if you are:
- very focused on your pain
- experiencing anxiety or mood swings
- avoiding leaving home or not doing your usual activities
- feeling like you don’t have support
- confused about information you’ve received
- having flashbacks or nightmares
- scared about treatment or surgery your doctor has suggested or we have approved.
Sometimes other people, like your employer, your health provider, a family member or even your claim contact, may notice you’re struggling.
You’re not alone. These feelings are common and recognising them early helps us give you the best support we can provide.
Scott’s story
Scott, an experienced fitter and turner at Daradgee Welding Works near Innisfail, was injured while cleaning a shaft in a lathe – something he had done hundreds of times before.
‘Split second’
It only took moments for the experienced tradesman’s hand to be pulled into the machine tool.
“Split second, my hand got dragged into the machine and I just remember looking down at my hand and yelling and I could see that my thumb was gone,” Scott said.
Scott was airlifted to Brisbane, where doctors operated overnight to reattach his thumb to his hand.
His surgery and treatment were approved straight away, as well as his wages while he was off work, which Scott says brought peace of mind to him and his family.
However, while he was in hospital, Scott said he started to notice he wasn’t feeling like himself.
“It's just good to have someone else to talk to about things, just to have someone else's perspective on things and it’s given me tools... to cope with how I was feeling at the time.”
A different perspective
“In hospital I felt really like, down and I didn't want to see anyone. This is probably after a couple of weeks,” he explained.
Through his claim, Scott was able to access adjustment to injury counselling sessions. This support is available to workers to help get life back on track, even if they have a physical injury.
“It's just good to have someone else to talk to about things, just to have someone else's perspective on things and it’s given me tools... to cope with how I was feeling at the time,” he said.
Scott’s case manager Kristy Mitchell said it has been “unreal” to see his motivation to get back to work and how he has maximised the various tools on offer to aid in his recovery.
“He really took advantage of adjustment to injury [counselling] and had a really good psychologist that worked with us to get him that treatment that he needed,” Kristy said.
'It's great to have him back'
Scott was keen to get back to work and a sense of normality after his injury, so he went back to work on part-time hours initially, before building up his tasks and hours as things got better.
“I’ve known Scott for a long time, little town, you know everybody,” Jason Sapuppo, Scott’s employer and the Director of Daradgee Welding Works, said.
“I class him as a mate and a friend and it was just great having him here, just to be able to walk around and watch what people are doing and give them advice.
“He was doing a bit of quoting for me and he's sort of good with all that stuff, as well as being a good tradesman.
“It’s great to have him back.”
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