Catastrophic Injury · WorkCover QLD · Insurer funded · Telehealth & Sunshine Coast

Catastrophic Injury

A catastrophic injury changes everything in an instant. The physical impact is only part of the picture. The psychological, emotional, and social disruption that follows can be just as significant, and just as deserving of specialist care. Coastal Sands provides evidence based psychological and psychosocial support for individuals and families navigating life after serious injury.

What we treat

Injuries we support

We work with adults who have sustained catastrophic or life-altering injuries, whether from motor vehicle accidents, workplace incidents, sporting events, or other trauma. Every presentation is unique, and our support is tailored accordingly.

Spinal cord injury

Paraplegia, tetraplegia, and incomplete spinal injuries resulting in profound changes to mobility, independence, identity, and daily function.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Moderate to severe TBI resulting in cognitive, behavioural, emotional, and personality changes that affect relationships, work capacity, and sense of self.

Acquired brain injury (ABI)

Brain injury arising from stroke, hypoxia, infection, or other non-traumatic causes, including the long-term psychological and psychosocial impacts on the individual and their family.

Severe burns

Significant burns injuries involving disfigurement, chronic pain, and prolonged medical treatment with profound impacts on body image, trauma, and social participation.

Amputation

Traumatic or surgical amputation of limbs, involving grief, adjustment to altered body image, phantom pain, prosthetic rehabilitation, and reconstruction of vocational and personal identity.

Complex orthopaedic & multi trauma

Multiple or severe orthopaedic injuries, internal organ damage, and polytrauma particularly where recovery is prolonged, complicated by chronic pain, or involving medico-legal complexity.

Understanding the impact

The psychological weight of catastrophic injury

Beyond physical rehabilitation, catastrophic injury disrupts a person's fundamental sense of self, their relationships, their role in the world, and their sense of the future. These impacts are not secondary they are central to recovery.

Identity & role disruption

Grief and loss

Trauma & PTSD

Anxiety & depression

Relationship & family strain

System & claims complexity

Our approach

Psychological support & intervention

Our work is rehabilitation informed and biopsychosocial. We draw on evidence based frameworks and tailor intervention to the individual's stage of recovery, goals, and the systems surrounding them.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Acceptance & commitment therapy (ACT)

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Compassion-focused therapy (CFT)

Adjustment to injury counselling (ATIC)

Clinical & medico legal reports

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Telehealth & in-person sessions

Community reintegration support

"Recovery from catastrophic injury is not simply about restoring physical function. It is about rebuilding a sense of self, meaning, and direction in a life that has fundamentally changed."

Colm Sands - Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Coastal Sands Counselling
Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Ready to get started?

In-person or telehealth · all funding accepted

Book directly online via Halaxy, or contact us to discuss your situation and the right referral pathway.

Making a referral?

GPs, case managers, WorkCover, and insurer referrals are all accepted. We acknowledge within one business day and provide clear, timely reporting throughout treatment.

Service at a glance
Provider
Colm Sands

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker

Session length
50-60 minutes

Initial assessment may be longer

Delivery
Telehealth & in-person

Sunshine Coast · Australia-wide telehealth

Medicare number
1978631T

GP MHTP referrals accepted

WorkCover number
P0007636706

QLD WorkCover provider

Catastrophic Injury is available everywhere via telehealth

All Catastrophic Injury services are available via secure video across Australia. Interstate WorkCover and insurer referrals are accepted.

Start your recovery - or refer a client today

Early psychological support after injury makes a genuine difference to recovery outcomes. Whether you're looking for support for yourself or making a referral, we're ready to help.