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What is NDIS Counselling? Why should I consider counselling as an NDIS participant?

Writer's picture: Amirah Ahmad ShahAmirah Ahmad Shah

Updated: Dec 3, 2023

Often times, NDIS participants are not aware of or offered NDIS Counselling services. Why should you, an NDIS participant, consider counselling?


NDIS Counselling comes under the category "Improved Daily Living Skills" in your NDIS plan and the NDIS Support Catalogue. However, the NDIS portal uses "CB Daily Activity". Why NDIS Counselling is categorized under different names is a mystery to me.


NDIS Registered Provider: NDIS Counselling
NDIS Registered Provider: NDIS Counselling

Why NDIS Counselling?


NDIS counselling provides participants with a safe and confidential environment to express emotions, discuss challenges and aspects of mental health with a qualified and experienced counsellor.


Confidentiality helps you feel safe with your counsellor and helps build trust so that you are comfortable enough to talk about more personal feelings and experiences without fear that your information would leave the room. Confidentiality also protects you and your information from being exposed to third-parties or the public domain.


Supporting your mental health and wellbeing through NDIS Counselling helps:

  • Improve your wellbeing by cultivating positive habits,

  • Achieve your personal goals through practical strategies,

  • Incorporate scientifically proven techniques to assist you in reaching your personal goals sustainably and,

  • Empower you towards living your best life by revealing your strengths.

NDIS counselling services provide specific therapeutic support to help you with a variety of life challenges such as

  • managing stress,

  • improving interpersonal relationships,

  • developing communication skills,

  • managing anxiety and depression,

  • coping with other mental health conditions like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD (CPTSD), attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), Schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), borderline personality disorder (BPD), Bipolar disorder, and various Phobias

  • dealing with grief and loss,

  • increasing morale and motivation to develop skills for independence and wellbeing,

  • living with visible and invisible disabilities in a more wholesome and holistic way,

  • thriving with employment,

  • helping you create a meaningful life, and many more.

Ultimately, NDIS counselling offers you a customised treatment plan or intervention that addresses your specific goals, needs and challenges.


What are my NDIS Counselling needs?


It is important to consider whether you prefer face-to-face counselling or online counselling. Would you need an interpreter with you? How will you travel? Do you need a computer, or phone, or a certain app (i.e. Teams, Zoom, or Skype) to speak to your NDIS counsellor online?

NDIS counselling services for improved mental health and wellbeing
NDIS Counselling Online/ Telehealth

So, it is also important to think about transportation and whether you will require a support worker to assist you with your attendance. Some NDIS counsellors can also travel to you, depending on where you are located. Many NDIS registered counsellors such as myself at Road to Recovery are flexible because we are aware that you have very specific needs.


You should also think about the specific challenges or goals you want to work on and find the right NDIS counselling service or counsellor to address them.


Talk to your support coordinator or support worker about your NDIS Counselling options and needs.


How to find a counsellor for NDIS Counselling?


It is a good idea to choose a therapist that is registered with a counselling body such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). Registered counsellors are bound by an ethical code and a framework for best practice.


You may choose between a registered or an unregistered NDIS counsellor. An NDIS registered counsellor is a provider that has registered its services and has been approved by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to deliver NDIS funded services.


An unregistered counsellor has chosen not to complete the NDIS approval process, though can still offer a valid service to participants.


What are the difference between a registered NDIS Counsellor and an unregistered counsellor?

  • Unregistered providers working with self-managing participants are free to set their prices, but registered providers must follow NDIS price limits. Unregistered providers may cost less or more than $156.16/hour (current NDIS rate for counselling/therapeutic supports in 2023)

  • You can access unregistered providers only when you have a plan-managed or self-managed NDIS plan. If you are agency-managed, you only have access to registered NDIS providers

  • If you self-manage your NDIS plan, unregistered providers will send their invoices to you to pay and you will then have to manually claim the funds back from the NDIS using the NDIS portal – but if you’re plan managed, your NDIS plan manager does this for you

In summary, the difference lies in price, access, and administration.

find the right NDIS Counselling service, find the right NDIS counsellor
You support coordinator or your support worker can help you find the right NDIS Counselling provider

You are also welcome to book an appointment with me to discuss your NDIS Counselling needs. I am an NDIS Registered Provider, and if I am not the best person to support your needs, I will be sure to refer you to one of my trusted colleagues.



Sources



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