Psychological injury from work is a real claim category in Queensland, not a lesser one. But it's surrounded by enough uncertainty that people often delay getting support while they work out whether they're allowed to.
Here's how it actually works, from the therapy side.
What counts
Psychological injury claims can arise from:
- A single critical incident at work: a workplace accident, a death, an assault, a robbery
- Sustained exposure over time, which is common in emergency services, healthcare, education and community work
- Bullying, harassment, or a sustained pattern of unreasonable management conduct
- The psychological weight of a physical injury, where the claim started as something orthopaedic and the mental health impact came later
That last one catches a lot of people out. If you're already on a physical claim and struggling with what it's done to your life, that's not separate from the injury.
What happens with your claim
WorkCover Queensland decides whether a claim is accepted. That decision is theirs, not your therapist's, and nobody can promise you an outcome.
What I can do is confirm what's approved before your first session, so you're not exposed to a cost you didn't agree to. If your claim isn't accepted, we talk about self-funded sessions or I help you find lower-cost options. You won't be left without a next step.
What sessions are like
Exactly the same as any other session. Your claim changes who pays. It doesn't change how I work with you, what we can talk about, or the pace.
That's worth stating because people sometimes arrive expecting a more clinical, box-ticking version of therapy because an insurer is involved. It isn't.
What gets reported, and what doesn't
This is the part people worry about most, and reasonably.
I do have to report on attendance and progress at the level WorkCover requires. I'll tell you plainly what goes into those reports. You should never be surprised by something written about you.
What doesn't go in: the content of what you talk about. Progress reporting is about function and capacity: how you're doing, what's changing, what support you need. It isn't a transcript.
If you're worried about a specific thing being disclosed, raise it in the first session. It's a legitimate question and it deserves a straight answer rather than a reassuring one.
Getting started
- Book a free discovery call. Do this before any paperwork, so we can check the fit first.
- Have your claim number ready, or tell me if you haven't lodged yet, and I'll point you to how that works.
- I confirm what's approved before we begin, so there are no surprise costs.
A note on timing
People often wait until the claim is fully sorted before seeking therapy. You don't have to. The claims process is itself stressful, and being supported while it's happening is often more useful than being supported after it resolves.
If you're not sure whether your situation qualifies, bring it to the discovery call. I'll tell you honestly what I think, including if I think you should be talking to a lawyer or your union rather than to me.
I practise in West End and Milton, and online across Queensland. Sessions in English or Spanish.
