Prepare for an Independent Medical Examination (IME)

If you’ve been asked to attend an Independent Medical Examination (IME) under WorkSafe Victoria, it’s completely normal to feel anxious, uncertain, or overwhelmed. Many people tell us the process feels intimidating- particularly when their claim, treatment, or income may feel like it’s “on the line”.

At Cetas Psychology, our sessions are designed to support you psychologically before an IME, helping you understand the process, clarify its purpose, and feel emotionally prepared-so the experience feels less daunting and more manageable.

Why IMEs Can Feel Stressful

An IME is not a therapeutic appointment. It is an assessment requested by WorkSafe or its agent to gather an independent opinion about your injury, treatment, or work capacity.

For many people, stress arises because:

• The IME is unfamiliar and highly structured

• The examiner is not your treating clinician

• There is uncertainty about how the report may be used

• The appointment can feel evaluative rather than supportive

This stress can increase anxiety, emotional dysregulation, or fear of being misunderstood—particularly for people already navigating pain, trauma, or psychological injury.

How Cetas Psychology Sessions Can Support You

Our role is not to coach you on what to say or influence the IME outcome. Instead, we focus on psychological preparation, clarity, and emotional regulation-so you can attend the IME feeling grounded, informed, and supported.

1. Taking You Through the IME Process

In sessions, we can:

• Explain what an IME is and how it differs from therapy

• Walk you through what typically happens before, during, and after the appointment

• Clarify common questions IMEs are asked to address

• Discuss how IME reports are generally used within the WorkSafe system

Understanding the structure and intent of the process often reduces fear of the unknown.

2. Understanding the Intent of the IME Report

Many clients worry that an IME is designed to “catch them out” or disprove their experience. While IMEs are independent assessments, they are typically focused on:

• Clarifying medical or psychological information

• Assessing current functioning and work capacity

• Providing an external opinion to support decision-making

We help you understand what the report is for, what it can and cannot do, and how it fits into the broader claims process—so the appointment feels less personal and less threatening.

3. Psychological Preparation and Emotional Regulation

Leading up to an IME, anxiety can increase physical symptoms, emotional distress, or shutdown responses. In sessions, we may focus on:

• Managing anticipatory anxiety

• Grounding and emotion regulation strategies

• Reducing fear-based thinking and catastrophic assumptions

• Preparing for the emotional impact of discussing your injury or experiences

This is particularly important for clients with psychological injuries, trauma histories, or high levels of stress or burnout.

4. Supporting You to Feel Calm and Centred

Our goal is to help you attend the IME:

• Feeling emotionally regulated

• Clear-headed rather than overwhelmed

• Less reactive and more present

This isn’t about “performing well”-it’s about protecting your mental wellbeing during a stressful administrative process.

After the IME: Ongoing Psychological Support

The impact of an IME doesn’t always end when the appointment does. Some people feel emotionally drained, invalidated, or distressed afterward—especially while waiting for outcomes.

Cetas Psychology can continue to support you by:

• Processing emotional reactions following the IME

• Managing uncertainty while decisions are pending

• Supporting your ongoing recovery and mental health

• Helping you stay focused on rehabilitation and wellbeing, not just the claim

You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone

Attending an IME can feel like another hurdle in an already challenging recovery journey. Psychological support before and after an IME can make a meaningful difference to how manageable the process feels.

At Cetas Psychology, we offer compassionate, evidence-based support to help WorkSafe clients feel informed, emotionally prepared, and supported, without judgment or pressure.

If you have an upcoming IME and would like psychological support to prepare for the process, you’re welcome to get in touch with Cetas Psychology to discuss how we can help.