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Choose the right consultation pathway, complete the essential viewing, and send your GP referral to reception.
Dr Rob Purssey is one of Australia’s foremost psychiatric experts in this area and is recognised internationally for his expertise in hyperbolic deprescribing: a careful, science-based approach to reducing medication while building psychological flexibility and re-engaging with life.
Coming off psychiatric medication can be much more difficult than people expect. Physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms are common and are often mistaken for relapse. Some people also seek help because of fatigue, weight gain, emotional or sexual numbing, inner restlessness, or a sense of feeling disconnected from life and relationships.
Dr Purssey assists with antidepressants and other psychiatric medication, including benzodiazepines and antipsychotics. He can prescribe small hyperbolic dosages and collaborate with an expert compounding pharmacy where appropriate. Audiovisual telehealth appointments are available throughout Australia.
His aim is to provide medication information and ACT skills-building material that help people become increasingly independent rather than dependent upon long-term specialist care.
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Few psychiatrists in Australia know how to safely get people off psychiatric drugs using gradual hyperbolic tapering - Dr Purssey is one of those rare exceptions.
Dr Rob Purssey is one of Australia’s leading clinicians in psychiatric medication tapering. His careful, evidence-informed approach combines hyperbolic prescribing, psychological flexibility skills and collaboration with each patient’s treating team.
Please complete the following before your initial assessment. This shared foundation allows appointment time to focus on your history, goals and the most useful next steps.
Please be clear about the pathway you are requesting before the first appointment. This helps Dr Purssey focus the assessment effectively and ensures reception books the correct appointment type.
A comprehensive 90-minute assessment of your mental health, medication history, previous tapering experiences and goals.
An initial 90-minute assessment followed by medication review and ACT or modern CBT psychological flexibility skills training.
Tell reception which option you are seeking when you send your referral.
More detail about what to expect from assessment, tapering and ongoing ACT support.
Dr Purssey reviews you as a person, your mental health and medication history, previous reduction attempts, adverse effects, withdrawal experiences, current supports and goals. The session is structured to produce a clear plan of action and relevant follow-up resources.
Ongoing care combines medication review with ACT and modern CBT psychological flexibility training. Depending on your needs, this can include:
Tapering is slow, individualised and hyperbolic. Reductions generally become smaller at lower doses, and the rate is adjusted according to each person’s response. Small compounded doses and collaboration with an expert compounding pharmacy may be used where appropriate.
Deprescribing is more than chemistry. Withdrawal experiences can pull attention towards symptoms, worry, rumination and threat monitoring. ACT skills help people respond more flexibly, make room for difficult internal experiences and remain connected with meaningful life directions as emotions become more available.
Yes. Depending on the consultation pathway, he can provide a one-off plan for you to take forward with your GP or usual treating team, or provide ongoing care and collaborate with your GP, psychologist and other clinicians where appropriate.
Yes. Dr Purssey provides audiovisual telehealth appointments throughout Australia and can manage hyperbolic tapering prescriptions remotely.
No. Please send your GP referral and booking request to reception. Individual clinical advice requires a booked assessment and cannot be provided through pre-appointment email correspondence.
Please say whether you are requesting a one-off consultation or ongoing support.
Use the form below for general reception and booking enquiries. Clinical advice cannot be provided before your assessment appointment.