Our Clinical Principles

Good psychiatric care is thoughtful, evidence-based and shared.

These principles set out how our clinicians work — with patients, with their treating teams, and with the wider health system — to deliver safe, high-quality mental health care.

Our clinicians follow evidence-based assessment and prescribing practices, grounded in current clinical evidence and professional standards, including those of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).

Assessment and treatment decisions draw one stablished guidelines, individual clinical judgement and the specific needs of each patient.

Dokotela operates a collaborative-care model in which psychiatrists, general practitioners, nurse practitioners, psychologists and other health professionals work together to support each patient.

Working alongside a patient’s existing treating team help sensure care is coordinated, informed and continuous.

We believe good care is a partnership.

Our clinicians discuss the potential benefits and risks of different options, provide clear recommendations, and support patients to make informed decisions about their own treatment.

Patients are active participants in their care, share responsibility for their treatment journey, and retain autonomy over the decisions that affect them.

Where medication forms part of treatment, our clinicians prescribe carefully and review it regularly.

Psychostimulant treatment, for example, forms one component of ADHD management: treatment decisions are individualised and incorporate clinical history, physical health considerations, substance use assessment and ongoing monitoring requirements.

ADHD assessments involve comprehensive psychiatric assessment, review of developmental history, consideration of alternative explanations for symptoms, screening for co-occurring psychiatric conditions and assessment of functional impairment.

This thorough approach helps ensure a diagnosis is accurate and that any treatment is well matched to a patient’s needs.

Benzodiazepines may have an important role in selected clinical circumstances.

Long-term prescribing is reviewed regularly to ensure that benefits continue to outweigh risks and that alternative treatments have been appropriately considered.

Substance use can affect assessment and treatment.

Active THC use, for example, may complicate the assessment of attention, concentration, executive functioning and psychiatric symptoms.

Where relevant, our clinicians discuss substance use openly with patients and may recommend reduction or cessation before initiating certain treatments, as part of a safe and effective treatment plan.

Mental health care works best when it is ongoing.

Our clinicians aim to provide consistent, connected care over time, and to communicate clearly with a patient’s GP and treating team so that everyone supporting a patient is working from the same picture.

Care is a shared effort.

Patients are active participants in their treatment and share responsibility for engagement with recommended assessments, monitoring and treatment plans — including attending appointments and sharing relevant information openly.

This partnership helps our clinicians provide the safest and most effective care possible.

We welcome feedback and take concerns seriously.

If a patient is unhappy with any aspect of their care, we encourage them to let us know so we can listen, respond and continue to improve.