Increased mental health support has arrived for people in the Mid-Coast

The Mid-Coast community has gained increased access to much-needed mental health support services after The Rosewood Centre opened its doors to the public in Taree this week.

The not-for-profit practice, located on Pulteney Street, is serviced by four psychologists and three behaviour support practitioners.

Psychologist and Manager, Kelly Pavan, said The Rosewood Centre team looks forward to welcoming and supporting people of all ages and stages of life.

"Our team provides counselling, clinical assessments and behaviour support," Ms Pavan said, "and like our namesake, the strong and resilient Australian Rosewood tree, we are here to help the community grow and thrive."

Ms Pavan, who has more than two decades of experience working in the counselling and clinical services field, said that demand for mental health services is at an all-time high.

"As the stigma surrounding mental illness continues to lessen, many people who have diagnosed clinical conditions such as depression and anxiety have become increasingly inclined to seek our support for treatment,” Ms Pavan said.

She added that now more than ever, a growing number of people appear to understand the value of prioritising their mental health.

"We've come a long way since the days when only people with a mental illness sought out support from psychologists. Now, we see a lot of people seeking guidance to navigate situational pressures caused by several years of upheaval related to COVID-19 and the natural disasters that have devastated parts of the Mid-Coast community " Ms Pavan said.

"And many others are making appointments to proactively build their capacity to deal with challenges so that when they do inevitably arise, they are better equipped to handle them."

The Taree practice is the third location for The Rosewood Centre, which established its operations just over a year ago in Hamilton (Newcastle), and opened a second practice in Maitland earlier this year.

"We hope that by opening this new service in Taree it will make it easier for people to access the support they require, when and where they need it most," Ms Pavan said.

The Rosewood Centre Taree is accepting new clients and is open 9 am-4.30 pm, Monday to Friday.

The Rosewood Centre offers counselling for individuals and couples of all ages through Medicare, the NDIS and other referral pathways. The team also provide Neurofeedback, NDIS behaviour support, clinical assessments for conditions such as Autism and ADHD, as well as for cognitive function.

To find out more, or to book an appointment, visit rosewoodcentre.com.au or call 1800 613 555.

The Rosewood Centre is a separate business unit of CatholicCare Hunter-Manning, which is a registered charitable organisation. All proceeds from our work contribute to domestic violence interventions, refugee support services, food programs, and housing services. By supporting The Rosewood Centre, you are also giving back to your local community.