Driving anxiety after a car accident

What feels different about travelling?

You might want to talk about approaching an intersection, travelling on a busy road, sitting in a passenger seat or planning the route to work. Sometimes the concern is not the journey itself but the worry beforehand, reliance on someone else to drive or the effect on independence.

These are examples of concerns you can bring to an appointment, not a checklist that diagnoses a condition. You do not need to have PTSD or know the name of a therapy before speaking with our team.

Start by understanding the concern

Your psychologist will ask about the situations that feel difficult, how you respond and how this is affecting everyday activities. They also need to understand any physical injuries, medical advice, fatigue or other factors relevant to your care.

You can be specific about your priorities. For one person, the immediate goal may be getting to medical appointments. For another it may be talking through what happens when they are a passenger. Your plan should reflect those differences rather than assume everyone needs the same approach.

A considered approach to care

Assessment helps your psychologist discuss suitable options and explain the reasons for recommending them. Ask what treatment will involve, what you might be asked to practise between sessions and how you will review progress together.

We will not ask you to undertake unsafe driving or ignore medical restrictions. Psychological care is not a driving lesson, a licence assessment or a declaration that you are medically fit to drive. Those questions need the relevant medical and driving professionals.

You do not have to drive to the first appointment

Tell our team if the journey to a clinic is itself a concern. We can discuss clinics near public transport or whether telehealth may be appropriate. Asking about telehealth does not commit you to having every appointment online.

For insurer-funded care, we will also clarify the CTP arrangements before proceeding. A preference for a particular format is part of the discussion, not automatic approval.

Explore NSW telehealth appointments.