Professionals

"Alone we can do little. Together we can do so much." – Helen Keller

Leading Edge Psychology has extensive experience working collaboratively with doctors, lawyers, rehabilitation consultants, community agencies and allied health professionals to improve patient/client outcomes.

Who do we treat ?

Insurance claimants (Motor Accident Commission, Worker’s Compensation, Income Protection and Victims of Crime)
Adolescents, women, men
School-aged children experiencing anxiety or trauma from school issues, bullying, relocation, family conflict

Areas of expertise

Leading Edge Psychology specialises in early intervention and risk management programs that enhance recovery from pain and trauma associated with accidents, surgery and injuries.

Other areas of expertise include:

Medico-legal assessment and reports
Pain and injury management
Self-management and life skills
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder / Acute Stress Disorder/ Adjustment Disorder
Bullying and harassment
Emotional dysregulation (anxiety, fear, depression, shame, anger and grief)
Navigating adversity and life transitions
Building resilience: overcoming maladaptive coping patterns
Panic attacks and phobias
Impulsive, avoidance and obsessive behaviours

We utilise a wide range of treatment modalities, including neuro-associative (brain) training.

Our treatment programs based on comprehensive assessment and are tailor-made to match your client/patient's personality and situation. We take pride in minimising relapse and achieving sustainable outcomes.

Learn more about our treatment modalities.

New solutions that prevent and reduce chronic pain

Leading Edge Psychology pain recovery programs are based on seven pillars identified in chronic pain research.

1. Early intervention minimises the risk of developing a chronic pain condition.

Chronic pain research calls for early intervention. Can you identify the risk factors?

2. The treatment of chronic pain requires a different treatment approach to that of acute pain.

Acute pain reduces as an injury heals. Chronic Pain is associated with multiple factors.

Advances in scientific research of the brain have demonstrated that in chronic pain conditions, 'the issue is no longer in the tissues' but arises from the dysregulation and sensitisation of the pain system.

Neuro-science has demonstrated that the sensory component of pain is only a small part of neural connections which form a 'pain matrix' and this sensitisation process is influenced by a variety of psycho-social, personal and bio-mechanical stresses.

3. Understanding the modern science of pain is an effective therapy that helps treat and minimise the risk ofchronic pain.

When it comes to the management of pain, the old saying ”NO pain, NO gain” can sometimes work against recovery from an injury. David Butler, co-author of the best selling book, Explain Pain, offers a different approach to reducing pain: “kNOw pain, kNOw gain”.

Neuroscience has demonstrated the plasticity of the brain. Using principles of neuroscience and learning theory, we teach participants self regulation techniques that reset the pain and stress systems to reduce pain.

The ability to effectively self regulate pain and stress reduces the health risks associated with long term use of pain medications and antidepressants.

4. Focus on Recovery.

People who focus on their pain have an increased risk of developing a chronic pain condition.

Research has also implicated many bio-psychosocial and personal factors in the development and maintenance of chronic pain conditions. Therefore it is not surprising that people who develop a Chronic Pain condition are frequently diagnosed with an Adjustment Disorder with co-morbid anxiety and depression.

Leading Edge Pain Recovery Programs make the groundbreaking paradigm shift in focus from pain management to pain recovery as the framework for improving adjustment skills and addressing an individual's bio-psycho-social risk factors.

We provide our participants with a Blueprint and guidelines that gives them the confidence to know what to do at each stage of their recovery from persistent pain.

Our courses provide guiding principles, information and skills that foster:

Recovery – principles, stages, mindset, healing, roadblocks (their personal risk factors)
Self-regulation – emotions, stress, pain, activity
Self-management – mindfulness, self care, activity pacing, relapse prevention, rebuilding capacity
Social support – assertiveness, communication, claims and medical management guidelines

5. A 'Recovery Mindset' reduces pain focus.

Our Pain Recovery programs identifies four different mindsets, which influences the decisions and actions a person takes in response to pain and stress.

The WARRIOR, WOUNDED and WORRIER mindsets lead to the rocky road of chronic pain and psychological distress.

Our participants learn how to develop a WINNER'S Mindset that assists them to overcome their specific risk factors and develop the confidence and skills that promotes their rehabilitation and recovery.

6. Effective self management skills reduces pain and stress.

Self efficacy (confidence to manage pain) has been shown to be strongly associated with return to work rates and adjustment to the impact of pain and injuries.

The development of effective self-management skills is a cornerstone of traditional pain management programs. Research also shows that effective self-management skills reduce relapse rates, the fear of pain, movement and re-injury, as well as the psychological distress associated with chronic pain.

Leading Edge Pain Recovery programs build on that foundation and includes techniques based on cutting edge neuro-psychological and neuro-physiological research and well established psychological and learning theory.

7. A multidisciplinary approach is the most effective way to reduce chronic pain.

We collaborate with GPs, treating medical providers and work in conjunction with exercise physiologists and occupational therapists to increase functional capacity and ensure sustainable outcomes.

We provide regular reports to all interested parties.

Learn more about our leading edge pain minimisation programs.

How psychological treatment benefits medical outcomes

We can enhance the effectiveness of other medical/treatment interventions by:

a. Improving your patient/client's:

motivation and adherence to other medical programs
emotional stability
rational thinking and problem solving.

b. Reducing your patient/client's stress, reactivity or resistance to your treatment/program.

c. Assisting your patient to prepare for surgery and post-operative recovery.

Promotional offer

Early intervention is the key for reducing the risk of your patient developing a chronic pain condition.

Would you like to quickly identify which of your patients are at risk of developing chronic pain ?

Our Recovery Risk Assessment Inventory takes about 5 minutes to complete and has been designed to help you identify your patient's bio-psycho-social risk factors for developing a chronic pain condition.

Would you like to learn protective strategies that help minimise threats associated with the development of a chronic pain condition?

These protective strategies are outlined in a one page report- 'Five Strategies that Reduce the Risk of Chronic Pain.'

Free training

We offer a free 30 minute training session to doctors and allied health providers to teach you about these protective actions and how to use our Recovery Risk Assessment tools.

How to make a referral

We are happy to talk with you about your client/patient 's situation, to help you decide if we are the most appropriate referral.
If you decide to refer to us, we appreciate receiving your referral letter prior to your patient/client’s initial appointment.