At Synergy Specialist Clinic and TMS Gold Coast, we are passionate about the mental health of veterans and defence personnel. We offer following services:
Our Services
1. Psychiatric Assessment
Psychiatric assessment and comprehensive treatment planning for general practitioners.
2. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
This treatment is very effective in dealing with Major Depressive Disorder. It can also help a range of psychiatric conditions commonly affecting veterans, such as PTSD, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and tinnitus.
3. Psychological Treatments
Psychological treatments using a range of treatment modalities, as follows:
4. Psychiatric reports
Psychiatric reports for your claim with the DVA. Our psychiatrists have experience in providing meticulously compiled reports and DVA documentationthat support your DVA mental health claim.
1. Psychiatric assessment and comprehensive treatment planning for general practitioners. Defence Personnel and Veterans deal with significant and specific mental challenges that require a specialist, detailed and compassionate approach to assessments and treatment planning. With years of experience and work with veterans, we endeavour to deal with the mental health issues veterans face. We can provide ongoing support or support your GP and Psychologist by giving a detailed assessment and treatment plan. Mental health problems where we can help:
- PTSD and other trauma-related disorders related to service and deployments
- Stress and adjustment disorders related to service and transitioning to civilian life
- Anxiety disorders related to service
- Comorbid drugs and alcohol use disorder
- Major Depressive Disorder and other mood disorders
- Moral Injury
- Relationship problems
- Grief and loss
- Psychological and psychiatric aspects of chronic pain
2. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. This treatment is very effective in dealing with Major Depressive Disorder. It can also help a range of psychiatric conditions commonly affecting veterans, such as PTSD, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and tinnitus.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a novel treatment that can help with Major Depressive Disorder and many other psychiatric and physical health problems veterans deal with. It is a very safe and effective treatment. It can provide relief from symptoms even when medications and psychological therapies have failed to provide benefits. A few key points about TMS treatment are as follows:
- Medication-free alternative to treat psychiatric conditions
- Safe and generally more effective than conventional treatments
- Very well tolerated and accepted by patients
- Can help with many other mental health and physical health issues associated with depression that veterans deal with, such as PTSD, anxiety, chronic pain, tinnitus etc.
- Benefits from treatment can be relatively long-term
3. Psychological treatments using a range of treatment modalities, as follows:
CBT is a structured, evidence-based approach that focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours. It is widely used for anxiety, depression, and a range of other concerns.
ACT supports individuals in developing psychological flexibility by learning to accept difficult thoughts and emotions while committing to behaviours aligned with personal values. It integrates mindfulness strategies to help clients live more meaningful lives.
An integrative therapy combining elements of CBT, attachment theory, and psychodynamic models. Schema Therapy focuses on identifying and healing long-standing patterns or “schemas” developed early in life that affect current functioning.
EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that helps clients process distressing memories and experiences using bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements), reducing their emotional intensity and impact. EMDR is a highly evidence-based, trauma-focused therapy recommended by the World Health Organisation for the treatment of PTSD.
Mindfulness involves cultivating present-moment awareness and acceptance without judgment. Mindfulness practices are used in therapy to support emotion regulation, stress reduction, and overall well-being.
Simple, evidence-based breathing techniques are incorporated to help regulate the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and manage stress responses.
PMR is a technique that involves systematically tensing and relaxing muscle groups to promote physical and emotional relaxation. It is particularly helpful for managing stress, anxiety, and sleep difficulties.
4. Psychiatric reports for your claim with the DVA. Our psychiatrists have experience in providing meticulously compiled reports and DVA documentationthat support your DVA mental health claim. Doctors at Synergy Specialist Clinic can help with the following:
- Initial assessment, diagnosis and report.
- Permanent impairment reports.
- Incapacity reports.
Claim Process:
Step-1 – You submit a Mental Health Compensation Claim
Step-2- Request for psychiatric assessment and report is received
Step 3- Referral sent to the psychiatrist
Step 4- Your appointment booked with the psychiatrist followed by their assessment and completion of the report
Step5- Report is uploaded by our team via DVA secure online portal
Step6- DVA assesses the evidence and will finalise your claim
Timeframes: We will endeavour to provide you first appointment with in 8 weeks of receving the referral and complete the report within 4-8 weeks of seeing you first time. Time taken by the DVA to process the claim once all the evidence is submitted varies depending to pending claims at the time of submission.
Advocacy Support: You can get support from an advocate who can guide you through the process. You can search for an advocate by using the link below: https://www.advocateregister.org.au/
FAQs:
You can lodge your claim via:
- MyGov or MyService portal
- Or, by completing and submitting a D2051 form.
At the time of lodgement, it is not necessary to provide supporting documentation, as the Department may request further evidence during the assessment process if required.
DVA will contact you to collect the necessary documentation for your claim. This may include medical records, service records, and any other relevant evidence that links the condition to military service. You may seek assistance from an advocate regarding this or provide the documentation yourself.
DVA will contact you or us directly to seek a structured medical report once they have reviewed your documentation.
It is essential to prepare a thorough psychiatric report to maximise the chances of a successful claim. We take this process seriously and go through various aspects of your psychiatric history and the impact of your service on your mental health. The assessment often requires 2-3 sessions, liaison with your general practitioner, psychologists and collateral from a family member. We also use a range of internationally validated psychometric tools to capture the distress and impairment caused by your conditions. This also helps us to quantify the impairment caused by your psychiatric conditions.
We submit the report via DVA’s secure online portal.
The time frames are beyond our control. We are aware that the DVA has a large number of claims to finalise, which means there may be a delay in processing your claim. Your advocate may help liaise with the DVA regarding the expected timeframes.
Veterans and ADF Specific Helpline:
Open Arms Veterans & Family Counselling
Open Arms offers free 24/7 counselling support 24/7 to those currently serving or who have served in the ADF. It also provides support to partners, children, siblings and parents. ADF
ADF All Hours Support Line
24/7 confidential telephone and bereavement support for ADF members and their families, including psychology, medical, social work and chaplain services.
Defence Member and Family Helpline
Provides 24/7 phone support from qualified human services professionals, including social workers and psychologists. General Mental Health Helplines for our websites frontpage (not DVA Page)
Lifeline Australia
Provides free 24/7 phone support services to those in crisis or in an emergency who need to talk to someone. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Relationship Australia
Provides support services, including counselling, mediation and family dispute resolution. Call between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm AEST on 1300 364 277.
Head to Health
Provides free resources to support mental health and wellbeing online and in person. Call 1800 595 212. 1800 RESPECT Provides free and confidential 24-hour counselling services to support those impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence. Call 1800 732 732 or 13 14 50 to access an interpreter.
Beyond Blue
Provides 24/7 qualified telephone and online counselling support, mental health coaching and access to an anonymous, supportive peer community to share your feelings and experiences. Call 1300 22 4636.