More access to low-cost wellness services in Rocky - CQUniversity

25 March 2024

Clinical psychology registrar at CQUniversity's Wellness Centre Yingying Tang

CQUniversity's Wellness Centre in Rockhampton has broadened its level of service for clients with the appointment of a clinical psychology registrar.

Yingying Tang brings a wealth of experience to her new role as clinical registrar at the Centre where she will now complete two years of supervised practice to become a clinical psychologist.

According to Director of the Centre Dr Leonie Lorien, Ms Tang's appointment enables the Centre to take on a broader scope of practice, including the new individual therapy program 'Managing Big Emotions for Kids' which is designed for children to help them identify and manage big emotions, such as feeling scared, frustrated, worried, sad and angry.

Ms Tang has experience working across the age span, from children to adults, in both individual and group treatment environments, and encompasses a client-focused approach to treatment.

With a special affinity for working with children, Ms Tang believes in creating a safe space for young clients which nurtures their wellbeing.

"My approach is marked by kindness, respect, and a commitment to encouraging client autonomy," Ms Tang explained.

"I employ evidence-based practices tailored to clients' needs, while believing in their internal energy and potential for positive change."

Ms Tang is proficient in cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, play-based therapy, and other client-centred strategies.

CQUniversity's Wellness Centre has been providing low-cost psychology and counselling services to CQUniversity students and the Central Queensland community since 2011.

As a university clinic, registered psychologists who are enrolled in the Master of Clinical Psychology course provide services that are based on the latest evidence-based practice.

The Centre offers a range of therapy services and psychometric assessments for children (from six years), adolescents and adults.

Therapy is offered for people with a range of issues that impact their wellbeing, including depression, stress, anxiety, interpersonal relationships, coping with change, grief and loss and living with chronic health conditions.

Assessments offered include cognitive capacity and achievement testing, assessment of specific learning disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and memory functioning.

The reports provided from these assessments are of a high professional standard, and provide relevant clinical evidence required to make diagnostic, intervention and support-related decisions. As such they are often utilised by paediatricians, schools and in NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) applications.

For the past six years, the Centre has also worked with MS Queensland to deliver Living Well with MS group programs in-person and online.

The initial group programs, delivered in 2017, were based on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), with an alternative acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) program developed in 2018 by Kelly-Ann Burman, a former Master of Clinical Psychology student, as part of her thesis.

Clients within a 300km radius of Rockhampton can access the Wellness Centre's services.

Clients can self-refer or be referred by their treating health professional. Referrals are accepted based on the training needs of students in the clinic, as students need to see clients across lifespan (from children to older adults), complete a range of clinical assessments and therapeutic interventions and be assessed as competent against practice standards for psychologists.

The Centre is open Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, and as services are predominantly provided by Master of Clinical Psychology students on placement, fees are kept low.

Wellness Centre referral forms are available online and more information about the referral process can be found by emailing [email protected] or phoning 49232233.