A small, mobile Mental Health Occupational Therapy practice which focuses on providing personalised support and practical strategies for adults who are experiencing a mental health challenge / have a psychosocial disability.
Appointments are provided at Home, in the Community or delivered online via Telehealth.
(Servicing areas north of the river Perth, Western Australia)
Hi, I'm Suzanne, a Mental Health endorsed Occupational Therapist who is registered with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) and a member of OT Australia.
The primary focus of my Occupational Therapy practice is mental health / psychosocial disability and providing focused psychological strategies, therapy supports, psychosocial rehabilitation and capacity building interventions.
I have a special interest and over 27 years extensive experience in the field of mental health, across the spectrum of mental illness, in a range of specialist mental health settings (inpatients and community mental health services) working as a Mental Health Occupational Therapist with adults and older adults and in Senior Occupational Therapy Mental Health positions.
I understand how difficult it can be to struggle with the complexities of living with a mental health challenge / significant psychosocial impairment and I seek to be attentive to the lived and learnt experience of each person, without making assumptions of their needs, as well as recognising that an individual's mental health and daily functioning can fluctuate.
As an Occupational Therapist, I provide occupation-based practice which focuses on how a mental health condition / psychosocial impairment is impacting and/or interfering with a person's functioning in day-to-day life; with self-care, household tasks, work, sleep, rest and relaxation, study, recreation, relationships, daily routine / time management, social and community participation, activity engagement, emotional regulation and self-management.
I support you to implement changes and harness skills and strategies needed for resilience and recovery, to optimise your mental wellbeing so that you can do more of the things that you care about, the activities that matter most to you and take actionable steps to move forward with living a healthier and happier life.
I am passionate about utilising both my Occupational Therapy (OT) skills and Mental Health approaches to make a difference in the lives of those who are experiencing mental health challenges / have chronic and complex mental health needs.
I am committed to providing compassionate, capacity-building, collaborative and customised mental health care that is focused on supporting you to live life well in spite of having a mental health related challenge.
I value delivering a gentle, warm, authentic, responsive, understanding, caring and individualised service, without judgement, that is based on integrity, excellence, trust and best practice. I work alongside and in partnership with you and your support team.
I work with adult NDIS participants who have a primary psychosocial disability or who are experiencing mental health challenges.
Under Medicare's Better Access to Mental Health Scheme, I am an endorsed Allied Health Mental Health Provider. I provide Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS) to adults and older adults who are referred by their GP or Psychiatrist under the Better Access to Mental Health Scheme (BAMHS) with a Mental Health Treatment / Care Plan (MHTP).
Please note that I do not specialise in providing reports for forensic, medico-legal issues, workers comp or similar.
As an OT, I provide occupation-centered practice which looks at your functional needs and what challenges you may be experiencing with everyday living within your unique life situation. The daily tasks / activities that you want to do, would like to do, are expected to do and need to do but aren't able to do, are concerned about or finding challenging to accomplish.
I utilise a range of integrated approaches which include being strengths-oriented, future-focused, wellness-based, participation-focused, action-directed, person-centered, neuro-affirming, needs-based, trauma-informed, solution-focused, goal-directed, recovery-oriented, whole-health oriented, growth-oriented and outcome-based.
I incorporate cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy and compassion focused therapy informed approaches into my OT practice.
I use a range of psychosocial interventions which include - psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, relaxation and mindfulness strategies, problem-solving, anger management, communication and social skills building, anxiety and stress management.
I value and support a whole-person approach to well-being.
I see plan and self-managed adult participants and all fees are set in accordance with the current NDIS pricing guidelines.
As a Mental Health endorsed Occupational Therapist, I am approved to provide Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS) to clients who are referred under Medicare's Better Access to Mental Health Scheme with a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) by their GP or Psychiatrist. You are able to claim a rebate from Medicare for OT sessions provided under the BAMH scheme.
I work with adults and older adults.
I am unable to see Agency / NDIA managed participants. I see Plan and Self-managed NDIS participants.
A psychosocial disability describes an impairment that arises / results from a mental health condition that is significantly impacting a person's engagement in everyday life.
The focus of my Occupational Therapy practice is mental health / psychosocial disability.
I see adults and older adults who have a diagnosis of:
- Agoraphobia
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Bipolar Affective Disorder
I support clients who are experiencing challenges with emotional regulation, self-esteem, worrying thoughts, decreased confidence, low motivation, difficulties with life transitions, interpersonal relationships and stress related concerns.
Although the primary focus of my OT practice is mental health / psychosocial disability, I also work with clients who have co-occurring conditions.
I do not specialise in Assistive Technology (AT) or home adaptations / aids / modifications / equipment. I do not prescribe AT requiring NDIS Assistive Technology reports. If functional needs are identified that are outside of my experience and skill set, I will inform you so that these needs can be assessed and addressed by an appropriate alternative provider.
Please leave a message on my phone message bank or send me a text message on 0457 965 040 or email me at admin@perthmhot.com.au and I will usually get back to you within 1 business day.
Being a sole practitioner, I do not have capacity to provide assistance with NDIS access requests instead I focus on working with adults who are current NDIS participants.
My intake capacity / availability does vary so please contact me with any questions and queries.
I work with clients who live north of the river (NOR).
I am a mobile, community-based service and see clients in the comfort and convenience of their own home or in a preferred community venue where they feel most comfortable such as a cafe or library.
Yes. My Telehealth service is delivered through secure Practice Management Software. You will require a device with a camera, the internet and an email that I can send the Telehealth link to. Most Computers, Phones, Tablets and Notebooks are usually suitable. Telehealth is useful for those clients who experience difficulties or barriers with accessing Mental Health Occupational Therapy services and supports.
To become Mental Health endorsed, an Occupational Therapist (OT) is required to have an appropriate level of post-graduate mental health practice experience and clinical capability, satisfy competency related domains set out by OT Australia, meet the National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce, complete annual professional development related to the provision of focused psychological strategies as well as engage in regular and ongoing mental health-focused supervision.
Suzanne Thomas (Senior Mental Health Occupational Therapist)
Phone Message Bank on mobile 0457 965 040 - please leave a message or send me a text message, or email me at admin@perthmhot.com.au
and I will usually get back to you within 1 business day.
PO Box 989, HILLARYS, WA, 6923
Please ring the 24 hour Mental Health Emergency Response Line if you require urgent or crisis care on 1300 555 788 (Perth)
It pervades our lives and marks our days.
It defines us and is defined by us.
It both shapes the world and is shaped by the world.
It can be known by the tools it uses and the wake it leaves in its path.
It is intangible and invisible until a person engages in it.
It is a performing art.
It can only be seen when a person performs it and only understood when a person tells you its meaning.
(Polatajko, 2007)
Occupational Therapy is a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. The primary goal of Occupational Therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational Therapists achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement. (WFOT 2012)
Copyright © 2023 Perth Mental Health Occupational Therapy - All Rights Reserved.
Tel: 0457 965 040
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