Please note: This session covers psychiatric medication and deprescribing. The content is intended to support counsellors in collaborating with prescribers and informing clients — not to replace the role of the prescribing physician. Decisions about medication should always involve the client's treating doctor.
Antidepressant use in Australia has reached remarkable levels, with 1 in 6 adults currently taking these medications — and two of the most common, sertraline and escitalopram, sitting in the top 10 most prescribed drugs in the country. While guidelines recommend use for 6–12 months, many people remain on antidepressants for years or even decades, often without adequate support for eventually coming off them. Research is now confirming what patients have long reported: for some, withdrawal reactions can be far more severe and prolonged than previously recognised, requiring entirely new tapering approaches — a shift reflected in the GP College's 2024 endorsement of the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines. Counsellors are uniquely positioned to support clients through this process, helping them distinguish withdrawal symptoms from relapse, challenge outdated beliefs such as the "chemical imbalance" theory, and build the psychological skills that make medication unnecessary — since therapy is at least as effective as antidepressants, and with a lower relapse rate. This event will equip participants with practical knowledge and communication strategies to work collaboratively with prescribers and clients, supporting informed decisions about both continuing and safely withdrawing from antidepressant medication.
Learning outcomes:
Participants will:
- Understand the history of deprescribing, including how current research now supports the lived experience of people who had difficulty coming off antidepressants.
- Develop awareness of medication side effects, relapse and withdrawal symptoms, and build skills for supporting clients in navigating all of them.
- Understand the indications and contraindications, risks and benefits for deprescribing antidepressants.
- Explore the myth and simplification of the "chemical imbalance" theory, and understand how these medications may work instead.
- Understand counselling and therapy as a viable alternative to medication, particularly for preventing relapse.
Who is this event for?
This session is designed for non-prescribing mental health practitioners working with adult clients — particularly those who support and work with clients who are on medication and collaborate with prescribers.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday 12 August 2026
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm (ACST) / 6:30pm – 8:30pm (AEST)
Location: Online via Zoom
Please check your time zone to avoid disappointment
Recording provided to all registrants
Presenter: Dr Martin Russell
Dr Russell studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, then completed his GP degree in 1997. In 2000 he started in solo practice working exclusively in counselling. In 2016 he went back to being an employee doctor at a Work Health Clinic. Then in 2025 returned to solo practice, once again exclusively in psychological medicine, this time including work in deprescribing.
CPD
Attending this webinar counts as 2 hours of Category A CPD (Continuing Professional Development). Watching a recording of this webinar, which will be provided to registrants, can be used towards 2 hours of Category B CPD.
You must attend 75% of a webinar to receive a CPD certificate for Category A CPD.
Ticket Prices
PACFA Members: $35.00 + GST ($38.50)
Student Members: $25.00 + GST ($27.50)
Non-Members: $50.00 + GST ($55.00)
What to Expect After You Register
Once registered, your personal Zoom link will be dispatched directly to you via email from Zoom within 1 hour of registration and 1 hour prior to the event. Please keep an eye on your inbox for an email from Zoom ([email protected]). All future correspondence pertaining to this event, including event recordings, will be communicated through the PACFA email address ([email protected]). To ensure a seamless experience, we recommend adding both email addresses to your safe sender list to prevent missed communications.
Alternatively, you can find the Zoom link if you log into your account under the "My events" tab.
Event Cancellations
Customers seeking to cancel their registration more than 5 working days (for courses) and 48 hours (for webinars) prior to the event date may request a credit to be applied to their account. Cancellations must be made in writing to [email protected]. Cancellations made with less notice than this are non-refundable or exchangeable. Credits are valid for up to a year from the purchase date. This policy is at PACFA's discretion and may change.