Specialised counselling that helps employees to manage the emotional, psychological, and social challenges that arise after sustaining an injury or illness, so they’re better prepared to return to work.
Adjustment to Injury Counselling Adjustment to Injury (or Illness) Counselling (AITC) is a goal-oriented, short-term therapeutic process designed to help individuals manage the emotional, psychological, and social challenges that arise after sustaining an injury or illness, including workplace injuries.
It focuses on building resilience and self-management skills to cope with life changes, pain, and potential psychological barriers, thereby supporting recovery, improving function, and facilitating a return to work.
What it addresses:
- Psychological Impact: Coping with feelings of frustration, anxiety, depression, anger, sadness, and loss of identity.
- Lifestyle Changes: Adapting to a “new normal” and significant changes in daily life and work.
- Pain Management: Learning psychological and behavioural strategies to manage pain and improve function.
- Return-to-Work Barriers: Overcoming psychosocial barriers that may hinder physical recovery and a successful return to work, such as a lack of perceived support, poor coping, poor health or limited motivation
- Emotional and Functional Rehabilitation: Processing what has happened and developing strategies for overall rehabilitation and improved well-being.
AITC uses best practice evidence-based methods and focuses on achieving specific, proactive goals. Using a holistic approach that recognises the biopsychosocial nature of injury, AITC has a self-management focus, empowering individuals with skills to manage their own recovery and well-being, addressing any maladaptive behaviours which impact their recovery and return to work.
AITC is an ideal service for complex claims and/or when psychological or emotional aspects are impacting the individual’s recovery, and is most beneficial when referred early to help prevent secondary psychological concerns and improve overall recovery outcomes.
How it works
In the initial Adjustment to Injury Counselling session, an assessment of the presenting issues, symptoms and psychological history is made and specific assessment tools such as the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS21) may be administered.
The individual will then participate in up to five counselling sessions as recommended by the Registered Psychologist or Rehabilitation Counsellor. These sessions are structured to identify and address triggers for the thoughts, emotions and behaviours that impact on the person’s capacity to return to work. The personalised counselling plan may lead to a variety of topics, options and alternatives:
- Psychoeducation
- Strategies for coping
- Process of adapting
- Education on the rehabilitation process
- Stress management
- Emotion regulation
- Trauma processing
- Mindfulness skills
All adjustment to injury counselling sessions include the development of an individualised goal-orientated management plan to achieve a successful return to work. This plan is developed in a holistic manner that incorporates the following elements:
- The worker’s injury
- The worker’s symptoms
- The worker’s triggers / aggravating factors
- The worker’s pre-injury job role
- The worker’s return to work plan
- The workplace environment
- The worker’s support network
Benefits
Adjustment to Injury Counselling can help both the employee and employer.
This type of counselling is designed to assist an injured worker in overcoming the variety of difficulties often associated with complex return-to-work claims. Access to early intervention injury counselling outcomes empowers individuals with increased awareness and understanding of the psychological processes underlying the issues and barriers they face, and the capacity to take control and respond more effectively to change in their personal and working lives.
People’s lives outside of the workplace can significantly impact their mood and behaviours during work hours. For this reason, KINNECT’s Adjustment to Injury Counselling service includes identifying these difficulties and offering self-management strategies to assist. Adjustment to Injury Counselling teaches self-management strategies that are both practical and effective.
For employers, KINNECT Adjustment to Injury Counselling services result in a smoother and more sustainable recovery, which gets their workers back on site sooner to reduce the length of the current claim and prevent claims in the future.
FAQ
How long is each counselling session?
KINNECT’s adjustment to injury counselling consists of 1 x Initial session, followed by up to 5 x Subsequent sessions as recommended by the Counsellor or Psychologist. All counselling sessions are 60-minutes.
Who conducts Adjustment to Injury Counselling?
Adjustment to Injury Counselling is conducted by a KINNECT Psychologist who holds, at a minimum, provisional registration with The Pyschological Board of Australia, or a KINNECT Rehabilitation Counsellor who holds, at minimum, affiliate registration with the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors.
Who can refer for Adjustment to Injury Counselling?
- Employers
- Supervisors
- Injury Management Co-ordinators
- Health and Safety Advisors
- General Practitioner
- Rehabilitation Consultants
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