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Mental Health Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapy Services for Mental Health & Wellbeing on the Sunshine Coast

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Occupational Therapy Services for Adolescents and Adults

Occupational Therapists work differently to other professionals in Mental Health, with an approach that focuses on using engagement in meaningful activities to bring about recovery in the individual.

Mind Over Matter incorporates a range of evidence-based approaches and therapies into practice including Motivational Interviewing, Attachment Theory, Trauma Informed Principles, Principles of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Principles of Schema Therapy, Sensory Modulation, Mindfulness Skills Training, emotional awareness and regulation, Interoception, Somatics, and Yoga-based body movements.

Find Your Path to a Fulfilling Life

Mind Over Matter Occupational Therapy empowers you to discover your strengths, reignite your interests, and enhance your engagement in meaningful activities, adding purpose, joy, and meaning to your life.

We utilize evidence-based practices such as DBT, Schema Therapy, and TIP to help you effectively manage your emotions, ensuring your emotional well-being. Our holistic services guide you on the path to improved mental health and a better quality of life.

How We Help You

Discover Mental Health Occupational Therapy

Mental health difficulties can lead to a disruption in an individual’s performance within day-to-day routines and roles in work, home, and social activities. Even simple and everyday tasks can seem so much more challenging and overwhelming. Individuals can experience reduced coping skills, social isolation, and disinterest in everyday activities including meaningful activities.

Mental Health Occupational Therapy is a client-centred and practical approach towards understanding an individual’s unique mental health/psychosocial challenges and the impact of these on their ability to do what’s important in their daily life.

The aim is to help each individual live the kind of life they want by targeting the things that are getting in their way. For example:

  • Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues
  • Lowered motivation
  • Fatigue and ‘cognitive fog’
  • Difficulty caring for yourself in ways that nourish you
  • Feelings of overwhelm, burnout, and/or stress
  • Environmental factors
  • Isolation
  • Difficulty regulating emotions

Mind Over Matter Occupational Therapy believes that each person’s journey towards psychological healing is unique and often occurs in the context of a complex life story. Our therapeutic support is approached through a client-centred, evidence-based, holistic, and trauma-informed lens, working with you to rebuild meaning in your life and achieve your personal goals.

Mental Health Occupational Therapy is important in promoting holistic well-being because it addresses the following aspects:

  • Identifies barriers in managing your daily tasks and routines
  • Identifies your interests and increase engagement in meaningful activities
  • Identifies ways to reconnect with activities or people that bring purpose, joy, and meaning
  • Identifies your existing strengths and skills
  • Manage difficult emotions by drawing on a range of evidence based psychological coping skills (ACT, DBT, Schema Therapy, TIP etc).

Mind Over Matter’s Mental Health Occupational Therapist can facilitate the following solutions:

  • Yoga-based and Somatic movement therapy 
  • Trauma Informed Approach to support
  • Support with understanding trauma reactions – such as being triggered
  • Helping with motivation – We understand that mental health affects your motivation and together we can build motivation to get the best use of your day
  • Sensory assessments and support with sensory modulation
  • Emotional awareness and regulation strategies
  • Stress/Anxiety management and relaxation techniques
  • Social skills and communication strategies
  • Everyday living skills and problem solving
  • Skill building for money management and positive management of ‘life admin’
  • Motivational interviewing and goal setting
  • Cognitive assessments and interventions (planning, orginisation, memory, concentration and attention)
  • Relaxation and coping strategies to improve mood and engagement in daily life
  • Carer/family skills training
  • Functional Capacity Assessments and reports
  • Support with establishing habits, routines, and self-help skills
  • Daily living skills: We can help you to be as independent as possible with day-to-day activities, including self-care, home duties and community engagement
  • ADL retraining or adaption
  • Implementing graded approaches to compliment input from other allied health professionals
  • Sleep hygiene strategies

NDIS

  • Mind Over Matter Occupational Therapy provide services to Self-managed and Plan Managed NDIS Participants.
  • Fees are charged in accordance with the current NDIS Price Guide and Support Catalogue.
  • As per the NDIS Price Guide and Support Catalogue, all travel is calculated according to the NDIS Modified Monash Model (MMM) i.e., up to 30 minutes at the hourly rate in the metropolitan and regional areas.

Private Health

  • Please contact your private health fund provider for details regarding rebates.

Fee for Service

  • A schedule of private fess is available on request.

Chronic Disease Management Plan

  • A GP referral is required.

Occupational Therapy

Training, Programs, Assessments & Reports

Carers and Family Education and Skills Training

Careers and support workers play a pivotal role when supporting an individual with a mental health or psychosocial disability. Creating a stable and consistent support network is often a critical part for a person’s recovery.

Mind Over Matter Occupational Therapy offers mental health and psychosocial disability specific training, education, and support to carers, support workers and service providers, with a focus on supporting a stable and consistent support network.

Movement and Mindfulness Program

Mind Over Matter Occupational Therapy offers you a 1:1 yoga based somatic movement and mindfulness program to support you in incorporating Yoga-based movements and mindfulness practices into your daily living.

Mind Over Matter Occupational Therapy will work with you to develop a movement-based program that is suitable for your needs. In addition, you will be provided with resources to explore different strategies for stress reduction and nervous system regulation. The aim of the program is to provide practical, supportive and positive strategies for reducing stress, sensations of overwhelm and developing emotional and nervous system regulation.

The sessions can take place in your home environment or at several locations across the Sunshine Coast.

Assessments & Reports

Mind over Matter Occupational Therapy is experienced at completing a range of comprehensive activities of daily living functional assessments and high quality reports. 

This includes assessment of your participation in daily tasks, leisure and social activities, and community tasks; identification of appropriate informal and formal supports, services, and resources; and identification of therapy goals to optimise your function, improve safety, and facilitate your independence.

  • NDIS Access assessment and report
  • Functional Capacity Assessments and report
  • NDIS Plan Review Assessment and report
  • NDIS Home and Living Assessment and report (SIL & ILO)
  • Sensory Assessment and report

About Us

Introducing Ruth Thompson

Ruth is a warm, empathic Mental Health Occupational Therapist with a special interest in mental health and psychosocial disability.

With over two decades of experience within healthcare, Ruth brings a multi-faceted and holistic approach to therapeutic support. With extensive experience in movement-based and somatic modalities, Ruth develops individual and innovative approaches to therapeutic progression, frequently using experience-based approaches to facilitate mental healing. By combing this knowledge with a client-centred approach, and the natural environment of the Sunshine Coast, she delivers effective and enjoyable therapy sessions.

With a belief in the potential for change and growth, Ruth is motivated to supporting individuals towards building their resilience and empowering them to regain their zest for life.

With a Bachelors (Hons) Degree in Occupational Therapy, Ruth holds registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and is a proud member of the Occupational therapy Australia Association (OTA).

Ruth has completed further study and training in Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Principles, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy, Sensory Modulation, Interoception, Narrative Story Telling, Mental Health Assessment and Planning, Palliative support, The Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability, Yoga-Based body movements, and Pilates.

Ruth has also undertaken a number of NDIS specific training and education courses including conducting relevant assessments and writing NDIS Access, Functional Capacity, and Home and Living reports.

Through her unwavering passion for understanding the effects of trauma and her continuous dedication to professional growth, Ruth is committed to integrating trauma-informed practices into therapeutic support. She actively advocates for the inclusion of trauma-informed policies, procedures, and approaches within an individual’s broader support network.

Memberships & Associations

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Contact Us

Speak with an Occupational Therapist

Connecting with Mind Over Matter is an easy and direct way to explore how we can assist you in enhancing your overall well-being.

To get in touch and discuss your unique requirements, please complete our form, and we will respond promptly to help determine if our services align with your needs.

Empower Yourself for a Brighter Tomorrow

Get in touch now to kickstart your journey towards a healthier, more fulfilling life.