Details about the program
Will I still be able to use the NewAccess program during the coronavirus outbreak?
During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, our providers will continue to offer coaching via video or audio call. Please be sure to check with your provider directly to find out what options are available. As usual you don’t need a doctor’s referral to access this service and you can make an appointment and talk to your coach from the comfort of your home.
How suitable is NewAccess to support people during the coronavirus outbreak?
These are difficult and unsettling times, and we know many people will rely on NewAccess for support. We hope it can help in the following way:
- NewAccess is run by phone or video chat and has been proven to be effective when delivered this way.
- NewAccess provides proven treatment to help manage feelings of uncertainty and distress that can be caused by the media coverage
- You don’t need to visit your GP or get a mental health treatment plan to use NewAccess.
- There are many ways to contact our NewAccess Coaches, and you don’t need a referral.
- Our Coaches are trained to assess your circumstances and find if NewAccess is the right service for your needs. If not, they can help connect you with the service that will be best for you.
- NewAccess links you to someone you can see and speak to in real time, an important connection for many people right now. They become your Coach and you meet with them weekly on the phone or on video chat, for up to six weeks.
- NewAccess is designed to give people strategies for managing their own worries and distress. It gives you tools to manage any future issues that may come up.
- How does the program work?
NewAccess is different to other counselling services you might have experienced. It uses Low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy that allows us to recognise the way we think, act and feel. Instead of a counsellor, you have a Coach to help you work through an individual plan that you develop together.
Initial assessment – up to 60 minutes
- This is when you talk through your challenges and choose one or two issues to focus on. You develop a problem statement which summarises the issues you want to overcome and how you plan to do this.
- During the assessment, if your needs are more complex, you will be referred to a more appropriate service.
Up to five sessions with your NewAccess coach – 30 minutes weekly
- Over these sessions you’ll work with your NewAccess coach on a program tailored to you and work through your problem statement.
- You will be given homework tasks to complete which are important for your growth as you move through the sessions.
Throughout the six weeks your progress is reviewed at each session. This ensures you receive an appropriate level of care. If the program doesn't work for you, you will be directed to a more appropriate service.
- How long is each session?
Your first appointment is normally up to 60 minutes with subsequent sessions up to 30 minutes.
- How much does it cost?
Nothing. It’s free.
- What type of training and support do the NewAccess Coaches receive?
NewAccess Coaches are trained in Low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This is a structured, evidence-based treatment that allows you to recognise the way you think, act and feel.
The Coaches undertake 12-months of training, starting with a six-week intensive that then moves to practical learning which involves managing clients and an ongoing curriculum under clinical supervision.
This training was tested in the Beyond Blue 2013-16 NewAccess pilot and is used across the many NewAccess sites across Australia.
- How do I become a NewAccess Coach?
If NewAccess is available in your region, you can get in touch with the provider directly to find out if there are any coaching opportunities available. If it’s not available, you can email newaccess@beyondblue.org.au so we can keep your details on file and let you know if the program becomes available in your region. You can find out if NewAccess is offered in your region by searching your postcode here.
The training is intensive and conducted over a 12-month period with a strict clinical supervision framework in place (NewAccess Coaches do not require a background in mental health). The NewAccess Coach training provider delivers a program which includes academic and practical competencies, measured as pass and fail. Training comprises the following elements:
- Six weeks full-time intensive training
- Two weeks onsite clinical supervision post initial training and local shadowing
- Ongoing training once a month for five months
Delivery is a mixture of in-person and remote, and includes:
- Face to face and online training
- Group activities such as role playing
- Strong focus on experiential learning and competency assessment.
- What’s different about Low Intensity CBT vs other counselling programs?
NewAccess is different to other counselling services you might have experienced. Low-intensity CBT allows you to recognise the way you think, act and feel. Instead of a counsellor, you have a Coach to help you work through an individual plan that you develop together.
Over six focused sessions you will work with your Coach to develop practical strategies that focus on the key issue discussed in your first session.
A unique feature of NewAccess is the monitoring of outcome measures (using clinical tools) at each session. This allows you to see how you’re progressing towards recovery.
- Why would I see a Coach when I could see a psychologist?
NewAccess aims to remove some of the barriers that typically stop people from seeking support. You don’t need a GP referral or Mental Health Plan to access the program and it’s free. Available in person, by phone or video call, the program is easy to access without long delays.
NewAccess is proven, evidence based and independently evaluated.
The great thing about NewAccess is that it’s designed to complement existing mental health services, not compete. Currently about 70% of people who go through the program recover, but if your Coach can see you’re not benefiting from the program, you will be referred to a higher intensity support such as a psychologist.
- Is this just another online program that I have to do by myself?
No. One of the great things about NewAccess is that you work with your Coach each week, either in person, over the phone or video call.
- Is the service confidential?
Yes, the service is confidential.
- Can I bring someone with me to sit in on the assessment/session?
Yes, however NewAccess does not provide relationship counselling. If you would feel more comfortable having someone else join you please let us know when you book your appointment.