Peace of mind on the Coast for those who need it most

Wednesday, 26 April 2017

A new psychology clinic at the University of Newcastle’s (UON) Ourimbah Campus will open its doors to the community this week, marking a significant step forward for mental health on the Coast.

Peace of mind on the Coast for those who need it most

The Ourimbah Psychology Clinic, run by UON’s School of Psychology, will support clinical psychology postgraduate training and research, and is accessible for anyone with or without a referral.

Offering sessions at a substantially discounted rate, the Ourimbah Clinic will provide a range of services including psychological intervention and assessment, individual and family-based therapy and group-based programs that address parenting and childhood behavioural and intellectual difficulties.

Clinic Director, Dr Sean Halpin, stressed the importance of prioritising mental health, which can often fall to the wayside for those leading busy lives.

“As a clinical psychologist, I fully understand the stigma that comes with seeking psychological help, as well as the barrier many can face financially.

“The Ourimbah Clinic is a casual, accessible space open to all the community. With individual sessions starting at $15, I urge everyone to start taking their mental health seriously,” he said.

With UON’s discipline of Psychology ranked amongst the top 150 in the world*, Dr Halpin said the new clinic would provide an invaluable service for those who need it most, whilst also allowing graduates training for their Master of Clinical Psychology the opportunity to flourish.

“The clinic is unique in that it’s a mutually beneficial practice. The sessions are carried out by trained staff and postgraduate students who hold either provisional registration or full registration as psychologists.

“The students are closely supervised by experienced clinical psychologists, giving them the opportunity to find their feet in the industry with the full support of experienced professionals,” he said.

A satellite practice to the successful Callaghan Psychology Clinic, the Ourimbah Clinic will allow the invaluable service to reach a whole new community, as well as provide students and graduates commuting to Newcastle an alternative location to practice.

“Many of our students live on the Central Coast or in Sydney and have to commute to the Callaghan Campus to complete their work. The Ourimbah Clinic will help bridge that gap to ensure our students and graduates are getting the most from their learning experience.”

The Ourimbah Psychology Clinic will initially open on Mondays and Tuesdays. More information, including appointment details and session costs can be found here.

*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017


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