Bandai Choi
Clinical Psychologist | Board-approved supervisor
Breathe-n-Smile Psychology, Essendon North, Footscray and telehealth across Australia
“My pain is real, so why has my doctor suggested a psychologist?” A psychology referral does not mean your pain is imagined. Persistent pain is real and can interact with injury, nervous-system responses, sleep and stress. Psychology may support coping with fear, exhaustion, low mood and lost routines alongside medical care and rehabilitation. It is one part of care, not a substitute for investigating your injury. [1][2]
TL;DR
- Ongoing pain after a crash is real. Psychological factors can influence the experience of pain without disproving a physical injury. [1]
- Pain, broken sleep, low mood and reduced activity can feed into one another, making recovery more difficult. [1][2]
- Psychological strategies may support activity pacing, coping and daily functioning. They do not replace medical or physiotherapy assessment. [1][2]
- If pain is disrupting work, rehabilitation or family life, discuss coordinated care and any relevant TAC arrangements with your treating team. [2][4]
Understanding persistent pain
Persistent pain generally continues regularly for more than about three months. [3] After a collision, it may accompany muscle, joint, nerve or other injuries, or persist after some aspects have improved.
Pain involves communication between the body and nervous system. Sometimes the system becomes more sensitive, so ordinary movement feels more threatening or painful than expected. TAC explains that persistent pain does not always mean fresh tissue damage is occurring whenever pain is felt. [1]
That is not a reason to dismiss worsening symptoms. New weakness, numbness, fever, rapidly changing pain or other concerning signs need timely medical review. Follow injury-specific medical restrictions and clinical advice.
Pain, sleep and mood
Pain may keep you awake. Poor sleep can then leave you more tired, stressed and sensitive to discomfort the next day. You might also worry about missed work, financial pressure, driving, family responsibilities or whether recovery is taking longer than expected. TAC describes the connections between pain, sleep and emotional wellbeing. [1]
Activity can become difficult in two different ways. You might stop moving because you fear doing more damage. Or you might tackle everything on a better day and then spend the next few days recovering from the flare-up. TAC describes this cycle of overactivity followed by prolonged rest. [1]
Identifying the pattern can inform changes to sleep, activity, stress and daily goals.
The role of psychology
A psychologist may ask how pain affects your life, what worries you and what you hope to resume, such as physiotherapy, a family outing or seeing a friend.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), pain education and behavioural strategies can help identify patterns of worry, avoidance or doing too much at once. Treatment can support coping, mood and everyday participation, though it cannot promise to remove pain completely. [1][2]
Anxiety about another accident or trauma-related symptoms may be addressed when relevant, but ongoing pain should not automatically be attributed to psychological trauma. Our ACT therapy page explains an approach that can help people reconnect with valued activities even while difficulties remain. Treatment choice needs individual discussion.
Activity pacing
On a better day, you may catch up on tasks, then feel exhausted and sore. Pacing means breaking tasks into manageable pieces and planning rest and activity with clinical advice. [1]
If you hope to walk with family again, you and your physiotherapist might agree a safe starting distance and progression. The first version of a meaningful activity may look different from before.
Pacing is not an instruction to push through unsafe pain. Acute injuries, neurological symptoms and specific treatment restrictions must be considered first. A setback is information for the plan, not proof that recovery has failed.
Coordinated rehabilitation
A doctor assesses injury, changing symptoms and medication. A physiotherapist or rehabilitation professional plans safe movement. A psychologist works with distress, sleep, pain-related fear and habits. TAC Pain Management Programs may coordinate these roles. [2]
If you already see a physiotherapist, ask your treating team whether adding psychological care could be useful. Sharing information between professionals should be explained and agreed with you.
If part of your difficulty involves fear of getting into a car again, our driving anxiety after a crash guide addresses that separate problem and the importance of safe, gradual travel.
TAC support
TAC's mental health and wellbeing policy includes pain management among issues for which psychology may be relevant when treatment is reasonably required for a transport-accident-related injury. [4] Eligibility, referral, approval and TAC fee rules still apply. A claim number alone is not a promise that all appointments will be covered.
Tell your treating team how pain affects sleep, mood, daily tasks and rehabilitation. Our WorkCover and TAC support page outlines referral steps, approvals and possible out-of-pocket costs.
Four practical ideas
- Track what pain stops you doing, not just a score. Note changes in sleep, activities, participation and what helped or made the day harder.
- Look for the overdoing-and-resting pattern. Discuss a safe activity level with your physiotherapist or doctor rather than setting an arbitrary target yourself. [1]
- Choose one meaningful goal. A short visit with a friend or attending rehabilitation may be a better starting point than trying to do everything at once.
- Mention mood and sleep as part of pain care. Discussing frustration, anxiety and exhaustion helps your team see the full picture. [1][2]
You may also be interested in
- Does time heal trauma? How reminders of an accident can continue to affect your sense of safety.
- Try a brief dropping-anchor exercise One adaptable way to respond when emotions feel overwhelming.
- Distress tolerance when emotions feel intense Ideas for managing frustration, fear and helplessness.
Frequently asked questions
Does a psychology referral mean my doctor doesn’t believe my pain?
Can psychological therapy make post-accident pain disappear?
It cannot guarantee that. Its aim may be to reduce pain's impact on daily life and support your broader rehabilitation plan. Your individual needs determine what is appropriate. [2]
Get in touch
Breathe-n-Smile Psychology offers clinical psychology support for accident-related distress, pain-related stress and adjustment during rehabilitation.
Appointments are offered in Essendon North and Footscray, with telehealth across Australia.
To enquire or book, call 0431 828 769, email reception@breathe-n-smile.com, or use our online enquiry form.
References
- Transport Accident Commission. Information about pain and how to reduce it. PainCare Collective / St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne resource hosted by TAC; accessed 22 October 2026.
- Transport Accident Commission. Pain management program. TAC client guidance; accessed 22 October 2026.
- Transport Accident Commission. E-therapy. TAC client information; accessed 22 October 2026.
- Transport Accident Commission. Mental health and wellbeing services. TAC policy, updated 4 June 2026; accessed 22 October 2026.