Parkinson's Specific Counselling and Support
for individuals and families
Areas of Assistance
Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s or experiencing a deterioration in symptoms can be a distressing time. Speaking to someone who understands Parkinson’s to provide support and advice, can greatly improve quality of life and overall coping. Amanda uses a client focused, strengths approach to counselling.
She can also provide:
- Psycho-educational support in relation Parkinson’s
- Strategies to deal with anxiety and depression including mindfulness
- Short term case management and referral
- Family meetings
- Ongoing counselling
- Group sessions for young onset newly diagnosed individuals
- Referral to expert multi-disciplinary teams who assist people with Parkinson’s. Education Services
Amanda has extensive experience delivering education sessions on Parkinson’s to all areas of the community. She has presented at conferences, care facilities and to the community on all aspects of managing Parkinson’s disease. She is also a qualified trainer. Consultancy
Amanda provides expert consultation services to organisations in the chronic illness sector. She has developed training modules for volunteers on how to support people with chronic conditions, and authored manuals on the subject. Hours of Operation
Appointments are available on a part time basis (Fridays and Saturday mornings). Some out of hours group work is available (depending on demand). Telephone sessions are available in exceptional circumstances following an initial assessment face to face. Rooms are located in Carlton, please telephone and make an appointment prior on 0408 522 270 or email [email protected]
About Amanda
Amanda has a Bachelor of Social Work with Honours class 2B (2001), a Certificate IV in Assessment and Training (2008) and is a Mental Health Social Worker Accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers. She has over 15 years experience working with individuals and families affected by chronic illness. In 2007, she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigated models of care for Young-Onset Parkinson’s Disease. Her recommendations were accepted by Parkinson’s Australia and led to the inaugural Young Onset Parkinson’s Conference. Having worked for Parkinson’s Victoria, she is passionate about supporting people faced with neurological illness and is experienced supporting people through her past work over the helpline, facilitating support groups, coordinating support forums and conducting family meetings. She was also interviewed by the 7:30 report as a guest expert on the relationship between Dopamine Agonists and Gambling. Fees and Charges
Amanda is an accredited Mental Health Social Worker. Fees are charged below the AASW recommended schedule ($160 per hour – individual and $50pp for groupwork). Referrals received from a GP with a Mental Health Care Plan are eligible for a Medicare rebate as described below:
Medicare & Mental Health Descriptions
Better Access to Mental Health Care
The Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative introduced new mental health Medicare items on 1 November 2006. These items enable people with a diagnosed mental disorder (ie. Depression or Anxiety) to be referred to a mental health service provider, including accredited mental health social workers, by their GP under a GP Mental Health Care Plan assessment and management plan, or on a direct referral from a psychiatrist. Accredited mental health social workers are able to provide ‘Focused Psychological Strategies’ to individuals up to a maximum number of 10 sessions per client per calendar year, with a review by the referring doctor required after the initial six sessions. In addition, individuals are also eligible for 10 group sessions, where appropriate, in a calendar year. Chronic Disease Management program (Enhanced Primary Care)
The Medicare Allied Health and Dental Care initiative (previously known as ‘Enhanced Primary Care’) commenced in July 2004 to provide Medicare rebates for allied health services delivered for the management of chronic disease. Accredited mental health social workers are eligible to provide these services under the category ‘mental health worker’. The Medicare items can only be provided to people with chronic conditions and complex care needs who are being managed by a GP. The GP is required to develop a GP Management Plan and a written Team Care Arrangements in conjunction with at least two other allied health professionals and then provide referrals to those allied health services the team believes would most benefit the patient/client. A person with a complex and/or chronic medical illness can claim up to 5 visits (in total) to certain allied health professionals within a calendar year.
