Solicitor Wellbeing Service (SoWell)

1800 592 296

SoWell is a dedicated and confidential counselling service for NSW solicitors.

Introducing SoWell: Free, confidential wellbeing support for solicitors 

On 20 January, we proudly introduced our refreshed confidential professional mental health support for solicitors: Solicitor Wellbeing Service (SoWell). 

SoWell has replaced the Solicitor Outreach Service (SOS) and comes with additional services designed to support solicitors at every stage of their career - not just during times of crisis.  

What is SoWell? 

SoWell is a support service paid for by the Law Society of NSW but provided by an independent third party. Through SoWell, NSW solicitors can confidentially access: 

  • Three free sessions with a registered psychologist each financial year 
  • Services offered include individual therapy, couples counselling, and general wellbeing checks 
  • Unlimited telephone crisis support, available 24/7  
  • While crisis support is essential, SoWell supports solicitors in prioritising year-round mental health maintenance, not just emergency care.

If your or someone else’s life is in danger, phone 000 immediately.

SoWell is an initiative of the Law Society of NSW and is delivered by third party provider, PeopleSense by Altius.

Accessing SoWell is easy 

  • Call: 1800 592 296 (24/7) 

  • Book a counselling session here

Our SoWell program’s custom booking site allows our solicitors to register with PeopleSense and access our SoWell program. 

  • Access free professional counselling delivered by psychologists
  • Gain practical skills to hep with personal or work-related challenges
  • 100 per cent private and confidential

On Friday 19 April 2024, it was launched a pilot that involves a limited number of psychologists moving into the new system, and with them their active clients. Clients whose psychologist moves to the new system will be able to:

  • See their EAP program entitlement and usage,
  • Make online bookings directly with their psychologist, and
  • Manage upcoming appointments.

Selected new users will be able to make online bookings, subject to availability. Preview the online booking experience at our Help Centre.

The team at PeopleSense will always continue to support users via phone and email when direct online booking is not available, or when it does not suit a user.

Introducing Your Booking Code

With the pilot launch, the general booking form at peoplesense.au was also updated to ask for a Booking Code, giving users another way to access your custom site. 

Visit www.peoplesense.au and use the booking code 77N-JU8 to make and manage bookings for our SoWell program.
 

PeopleSense-77N-JU8.jpg

The Law Society has worked with PeopleSense to give their psychologists an understanding of the key pressures that NSW solicitors commonly face in their practice.

All SoWell psychologists are Medicare registered. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may be eligible to access Medicare-subsidised treatment from the same psychologist outside of SoWell with a referral from your GP under the Medicare Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative.

If you need support, are struggling to carry-out day-to-day activities or have experienced difficulties coping for two weeks or more, consider seeking professional advice.

 Common reasons why people see a psychologist include:

  • Anxiety and worry
  • Low mood, sadness and depression
  • Burnout
  • Trauma and vicarious trauma
  • Stress management
  • Conflict at home or at work
  • Bullying in the workplace
  • Anger management
  • Life stages
  • Alcohol/drug use and other addictions
  • Relationship problems or break-down
  • Bereavement and grief
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Decision making
  • Sleep difficulties
  • Erratic and/or risky behaviours


No information will be provided to the Law Society of NSW which could identify solicitors accessing SoWell. To ensure that the services being provided are meeting the mental health and wellbeing needs of NSW solicitors, PeopleSense will provide the Law Society with de-identified and aggregated reports. These reports will not contain any individual or identifiable information. Please discuss any questions about confidentiality directly with PeopleSense, by phoning 1800 592 296.

FAQs
 

SoWell is available to solicitors who hold a current practising certificate from the Law Society of NSW.

SoWell is only available to NSW solicitors.

You can access SoWell irrespective of where you are located. Treatment may be provided in person, over the phone or via video-conferencing technology, depending on your individual circumstances.

In Australia, psychologists are registered health professionals. Psychologists have completed university training and professional supervision, and they are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia and listed with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

Psychologists need to satisfy yearly requirements to maintain their registration status. Psychologists must also adhere to strict professional standards and code of ethics.

Psychologists use evidence-based strategies to help people cope with emotional, work, stress, relationship, addiction, mental health and other difficulties.

You can access SoWell for any concern or difficulty that you may be experiencing, personal or professional.

Yes, engagement with SoWell is confidential. Although SoWell is an initiative of the Law Society of NSW, the services are being delivered by third party provider, PeopleSense by Altius. PeopleSense will not be sharing any information with the Law Society of NSW which could identify solicitors accessing SoWell.

As part of the psychological services provided, the psychologist will need to collect and record personal information relevant to your situation. Psychologists must comply with strict regulations around privacy and confidentiality.

To ensure that SoWell is meeting the broad mental health and wellbeing needs of NSW solicitors, PeopleSense will be providing the Law Society of NSW with de-identified and aggregated reports. These reports will not contain any individual or identifiable information.

Please discuss any questions about confidentiality directly with PeopleSense, by phoning 1800 592 296.

Each NSW solicitor can access up to three psychology counselling sessions per financial year, as well as immediate access to crisis counselling if in distress, paid for by the Law Society of NSW.

The psychologists employed by PeopleSense are registered with Medicare. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may be able to access Medicare-subsidised treatment with the same psychologist outside SoWell with a referral from your GP under the Medicare Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative. More information is available here.

You do not need a referral from your GP to access SoWell. However, you will need to consult with your GP if you wish to access Medicare-subsidised treatment outside SoWell. More information is available here.

If you need support, are struggling to carry-out day-to-day activities or have experienced difficulties coping for two weeks or more, consider seeking professional support.

The crisis counselling is primarily intended for people experiencing acute distress or thinking about suicide.

It is common to feel nervous or uncomfortable to begin with. These feelings often abate once treatment has commenced. During the initial session, the psychologist will ask questions so they can understand your situation and develop a customised treatment plan.

Psychology is talking therapy. Psychological treatment is a collaborative process, and results can take time and effort. Psychology tends to be goal directed and solution focused. You may be asked to identify treatment goals, to complete tasks outside of session and to report back on these within session. People generally require multiple sessions before noticing changes/improvements.

You can find out more information about PeopleSense here.

This is the service offered via SoWell. However, there are a range of other services that provide crisis support, mental health resources and online programs. You can find out more about some of these services here. There are also many privately operated mental health services. Your GP may recommend someone, or the Australian Psychological Society has an online directory which can be used to locate a psychologist via location or presenting issue.

The psychology services funded by the Law Society and which are provided as part of SoWell are being delivered by PeopleSense by Altius. The Law Society is unable to offer funding or reimbursement for psychological sessions delivered by other service providers.

 

Disclaimer: The Law Society of NSW does not warrant, guarantee or provide any representation in respect of the services provided by PeopleSense by Altius as part of SoWell. The Law Society of NSW is not liable in relation to any aspect of the services which PeopleSense by Altius may provide to you. The Law Society of NSW shall not be liable for any damages or costs of any type arising out of or in any way connected with any use of these services by any person. The general information provided by the Law Society of NSW about SoWell is not advice and should not be treated as such. This information is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. Please consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider for advice about a medical condition.