Warwick Psychological Services (WPS) is proud to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work, dedication, and service that our police officers demonstrate on a daily basis. The role of a police officer is often challenging and demanding, with individuals required to make quick and informed decisions in high-pressure situations, putting themselves at risk to maintain the safety and security of their communities. However, the mental toll of this work can be significant, and it is important for officers to seek support when needed.

The nature of policing means that officers often experience high levels of stress, which can lead to a range of psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The unpredictability of the job, the need to make decisions quickly, and the risk of encountering dangerous situations can all contribute to mental health issues.

Police officers are often expected to be resilient and tough, which can make it difficult for them to acknowledge when they are struggling. Unfortunately, this can lead to a culture of silence, where officers avoid seeking help and try to deal with their mental health concerns alone. However, ignoring these issues can lead to more significant problems down the line, affecting not only the individual but also their family, colleagues, and community.

That is why WPS is dedicated to providing mental health services to police officers who need them. Our experienced therapists, Christina Qin, Michela Cochrane, and Paul Ward, are all trained to provide a range of counselling services to support police officers in managing and overcoming their mental health challenges.

It is worth noting that seeking support is not a sign of weakness, and indeed, it is a strength to acknowledge when you need help. The availability of fully-funded mental health support is a significant resource that should be taken advantage of, especially by those in high-stress occupations like police officers.

If you are a police officer, know that Warwick Psychological Services is here to help you. Once approval is obtained through the WA Police Force Psychology Unit, our sessions are fully funded by the WA Police Service. Please call us on 04688 911 00 to make a booking, informing us that you are from WA Police. Our therapists are fluent in a range of languages, including Mandarin and Italian, in addition to English, to ensure that our services are accessible to all.

OUR TEAM

Book With Christina Now

Book With Michela Now

Paul is currently fully booked, please contact admin@wps.support, letting them know you are a member of the Western Australian Police Force and would like to be added to a waiting list.

A new wellbeing course from Counsellor Shannon Fraser and Art Therapist Lynsey Baughen

Journey Away From That Toxic Ex
A Course For Reclaiming Yourself After A Break Up

A six week offering to help anyone who feels they may have experienced a toxic relationship.

Open to ages 16 and up. All genders are welcome and it does not matter how long ago the break up happened or the circumstances surrounding the separation, we will endeavour to personalise support.

It’s been so hard…

So you’ve been buying books, listening to podcasts and googling ‘narcissistic abuse’, ‘emotionally unavailable’, ’attachment issues’, ’toxic partners’… And more. 

You have many mixed emotions about what exactly has happened and constant thoughts of why it happened… and cognitive dissonance about what it all means. Your friends and family may be offering you suggestions and ideas of how to get through this tough time, but it seems like no one truly understands your experience.

You’re desperately trying to stay grounded and focused whilst caught in an emotional storm of stress, uncertainty, anger and grief. 

What is going on?

You are potentially feeling the aftermath of a toxic relationship. You may even be someone who is still feeling those effects years on from the initial separation. Perhaps you are blaming yourself for something out of your control at the time? Perhaps you are still stuck trying to decipher the reasons for your ex’s behaviour?

Unfortunately there is only one person who can get through this and improve the situation that’s you.

Trouble is you have been focussing on your ex, maybe their new partner and anyone else your break up may have effected. You have been putting so much effort into focussing outwardly, that you may have lost the ability to look inwardly. When this happens it is likely you are finding it difficult to reconcile a positive sense of yourself and find your true voice amidst the chaos.

If you are ready…

Shannon and Lynsey from Warwick Psychological Services have developed a structure to help you work towards reclaiming your identity. They can support you to discover ways to feel more empowered, to form some essential boundaries and to begin to restore your self esteem. The main aim of this course is to shift the your perspective from focusing on what went wrong …to considering what feels right. In turn this may lead you to finally rebalance and find some peace. 

At Warwick Psychological Services; counsellor Shannon Fraser and Art Therapist Lynsey Baughen, are now offering a six week course entitled ‘Journey Away from That Toxic Ex.’

The Course is structured as a series of 1:1 sessions that focus on YOU and your story.

A ‘Toxic Person’ can be defined as anyone whose [purposeful or accidental] behaviour adds anxiety, confusion, negativity and/or upset to your life. 

We know that many times, people who you may look to label as ‘toxic’ are dealing with their own stresses and traumas. 

Yet let’s take the focus off them for a while and help you find yourself by attending to ways to reaffirm your identity and restore a positive and healthy inner voice.

For more information, to receive a brochure or a quote and/or to book, please contact our Front Desk Staff on 046 88 911 00 or at admin@wps.support – they will be happy to listen to you and answer any questions you may have

By Emma Grace Brown

There are many reasons families in self-isolating households might feel stressed and tense. These range from trying to balance a working schedule with familial obligations to boredom and fear. Here are a few of the most common causes along with tips and advice on how to sidestep stress so that you can get through this pandemic with your sanity safely intact.

Working From Home

As the Studio Be Mindfulness blog has pointed out before, working from home is a dream come true for many. Unfortunately, when you don’t have a choice, punching a time clock from home can quickly become a nightmare. What’s important here is that you learn to separate work from home.

This can be difficult since your office is in your home. Set specific hours, and try to avoid multitasking while you work. In other words, let the laundry go until 5 PM, and quit answering emails from the dinner table. You’ll also want to get up and move around to give your eyes and mind a break, both of which will help reduce work-at-home stress.

It’s also wise to address any clutter or cleaning issues now to ensure you have a supportive, comfortable place to work where you don’t feel the constant need to pick up or tidy. Remember, limiting distractions is critical to workplace productivity.

Boredom

You have probably heard your children utter the phrase “I’m bored” more times than you can possibly count over the last several months. And you’ve probably already exhausted their tolerance for board games and books. Fortunately, summer is right around the corner, which provides a chance for everyone to get outside more often. Time outside can easily cut through boredom and stress. Whether it’s backyard activities, spending more time at the beach, hiking or even fishing, your family can get out of the house and reduce tension.

Marital Tension

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, 42% of couples noted the negative effect the pandemic has caused for their relationship, with more than 30% of people considering separation. This is known as a phenomenon called the pandemic divorce. It’s caused by spending entirely too much time with your spouse and not enough time on your own.

For a marriage to work, you have to forge relationships outside of your household. And since you cannot spend time with friends, family, and coworkers, you’ve likely already noticed that you have less intimacy and have nothing to talk about in your down time. If possible, plan to spend a few nights away, and encourage your spouse to do the same occasionally. As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and a cabin in the mountains for a weekend is much easier on your heart, wallet and mind than a divorce.

If you both determine your relationship needs outside assistance, turn to Warwick Psychological Services for counseling or therapeutic yoga to address marital and personal stress.

Lack of Socialization

Even if you are antisocial most of the time, you’ve probably noticed that the lack of human interaction has gotten to you. And if you have kids, they may already be showing signs of depression because they miss their friends. However, social interactions are crucial during childhood.

Make sure that your kids have one-on-one time with their best friends, and don’t be shy about letting them hop on Zoom for a virtual powwow with their pals. Any in-person play dates should be kept outside and in small groups, and they should center around activities, such as riding bikes or hiking, that encourage social distancing.

Fear

One of the top reasons we are all stressed out is simply because we are afraid. Fortunately, scientists are finally starting to dig deeper into the actual coronavirus, and we know much more about it today than we did in March. If you or your kids still feel apprehensive, look for resources for accurate information. Knowledge is truly power in this instance, and knowing your local infection rates and your actual risk of contracting the virus can ease your mind.

While isolating remains one of the best ways to stay safe, it’s also one of the quickest routes to mental health issues. Look for ways to reduce stress within yourself, with your spouse, and for your children. Small steps, such as taking a weekend away and encouraging safe play dates, are all important actions that will reduce stress when you need it most.

Read more by Emma at Emma’s Website

New offerings at Warwick Psychology  

Positive Psychology Coaching – Free Trial : 1hr session (last Saturday of every month – max 4 appointments) (from 27 June)

Energy healing / Reiki – Saturday appointments $70 1hr (from 27 June)

Elena is an accredited Resilience Trainer, Wellbeing Coach and Mental Health First Aid Trainer, well versed in the tools to support and grow healthy minds and healthy people.  B.A., P.G. Certificate in Education,  P.G. Certificate in HR, Cert IV Workplace Trainer, Resilience for Trauma therapist.

Is anxiety sapping your energy and preventing you from doing the things you love? Do you want to get your ‘mojo’ back to build your resilience and improve your performance at work?

Discover the Best You with a range of workshops designed to improve confidence, build emotional intelligence and ‘tame anxiety’.

The ActionPlus toolkit, is designed to show you how to create a personal ‘self care plan’ to encourage new habits and support personal growth. Movement and sound are carefully integrated into this programme to develop new neural pathways and reinforce learning with brain gym and simple Qigong.

The Resilience at Work professional toolkit measures your resilience to leverage your strengths and identify focus areas.

As a teacher and a sports coach Elena’s goal was to motivate her students to grow to their full potential. Rising levels of anxiety in schools meant that Elena’s focus turned to building resilience, improving wellbeing and fitness. Recently she has been working with organisations to create a mentally safe workplace and to improve performance through Resilience Professional Development.

Courses – interactive workshops  60 – 90 minutes    afternoon –  after school – evening

Taming Anxiety                                   six weeks         Teenagers / Adults

Build your Resilience                          six weeks         Teenagers / Adults

Cognitive Development                      four weeks      Adults / Seniors (stay sharp, live longer)

Mental Health First Aid                       two days or blended course online and two half days

Contact admin@wps.support or call 046 88 911 00

Outside of work, Elena loves to kayak on the river and run kayaking courses. She is passionate about that mind body connection and believes that regular exercise, meditation and Qigong practise (Energy + Movement) is the secret of a long healthy life.

Elena enjoys a close connection with Aboriginal elders and loves to ‘yarn’ with them and connect to the land. She is keen to support reconciliation and find a way forward to work together to improve outcomes for indigenous peoples. She loves taking groups to special sites to connect and tap into the wonderful energy of ‘country’.www.elenalennox.com