Exercise Physiology
for Mental Health
Exercise is a first-line clinical intervention for depression, anxiety and PTSD. Not as a supplement to treatment, as a treatment. Our lead clinician began his career in psychiatric and mental health inpatient settings, and brings that clinical depth to every mental health program we deliver.
Takes 60 seconds · No referral needed to start · Medicare rebates available
Our Clinical Background
Exercise for mental health is not a wellness trend. It is clinical medicine.
The evidence for exercise as a clinical intervention in mental health is substantial and has grown significantly over the past two decades. Exercise produces measurable changes in neurotransmitter activity, HPA axis regulation, inflammatory markers and neuroplasticity, the biological mechanisms underlying depression, anxiety and PTSD. These are not abstract concepts. They are the reasons exercise works.
Our lead clinician Braeden began his career working in psychiatric and mental health inpatient settings, where exercise programming for severely unwell patients required a depth of clinical understanding that most EP clinics do not have. We bring that understanding to every mental health program we deliver.
Braeden King — AEP, CDE
Braeden began his Exercise Physiology career in a psychiatric and mental health inpatient setting, working with patients experiencing severe depression, anxiety, psychosis and complex trauma. This foundation shapes his clinical approach to mental health exercise programming at Beachside EP. He understands that mental health presentations require a different kind of clinical sensitivity, flexibility and patience than physical health conditions, and designs programs accordingly.
Conditions We Work With
Depression, anxiety and PTSD — each with a specific clinical approach
The mechanisms by which exercise benefits mental health differ across conditions, which means the prescription differs too. We assess your specific presentation before designing your program.
Depression
Exercise produces antidepressant effects through multiple neurobiological pathways including BDNF upregulation, serotonin and dopamine modulation, and HPA axis regulation. We design programs that are achievable and build momentum gradually, understanding that motivation and energy are often the primary barriers.
Anxiety
Regular aerobic exercise reduces baseline anxiety through habituation of the physiological arousal response and regulation of the sympathetic nervous system. We also use exercise to directly address the somatic symptoms of anxiety including tension, restlessness and hyperarousal. The program is designed to be predictable and controllable.
PTSD
Exercise programming for PTSD requires particular clinical sensitivity around trauma-related triggers, hypervigilance and avoidance. We approach PTSD exercise with an understanding of trauma-informed practice, working collaboratively with your treating psychologist or psychiatrist to design exercise that supports your broader treatment plan.
What We Do
A program that meets you where you are and builds from there
Mental health presentations vary enormously in their severity and how they affect a person's capacity to engage with exercise. We design programs that are realistic for your current state, not where you think you should be or where the guidelines assume you to be.
Aerobic exercise programmingRegular aerobic exercise, walking, cycling, swimming, is the most evidence-based exercise intervention for depression and anxiety. We prescribe this in a format and frequency that is genuinely achievable from your current starting point.
Resistance training for mood regulationResistance training produces significant improvements in depression severity through neurobiological mechanisms distinct from aerobic exercise. The two modalities are complementary and we incorporate both where appropriate.
Behavioural activation through exerciseExercise provides a structured, meaningful activity that supports behavioural activation, a key component of depression treatment. We help establish routine and momentum around exercise as a daily or weekly anchor.
Trauma-informed approach for PTSDSessions are designed with predictability, patient control and choice at their centre. We do not use exercise modalities or environments that are likely to be triggering without careful discussion. We work within your comfort zone and expand it gradually.
Flexible scheduling and session formatOn harder days, a session might start with a conversation and end with a short walk. That is clinically appropriate and acceptable. We do not apply rigid session structures to presentations that require flexibility.
Sleep, energy and physical healthDepression and anxiety frequently disrupt sleep, appetite and physical health. We address the physical health consequences of mental illness including deconditioning, weight change and metabolic effects as part of a holistic program.
Coordination with your mental health teamWe work collaboratively with your GP, psychiatrist or psychologist. Written reports are provided after every review and we communicate directly with your treating team where clinically relevant.
Telehealth availableFor patients for whom attending in person is a significant barrier, telehealth exercise sessions are available. Sometimes starting at home is the right first step.
A note on what to expect
We do not expect you to arrive motivated, energetic or ready to exercise. Many of our mental health patients come to their first appointment having not exercised in months or years, feeling uncertain about whether exercise can help or whether they can do it. We start exactly where you are. The first session is often just a conversation and a very small start. That is enough.
Your Program
What to expect from your first appointment
Initial assessment, at your pace
We take a full history of your mental health situation, current treatment, medications, physical health and what you want to achieve. We assess your current physical capacity but we go at your pace entirely. If the first appointment is mostly conversation, that is appropriate and valuable. We do not rush.
Program design, realistic from day one
We design a program that is genuinely achievable from your current state. We are realistic about what depression, anxiety or PTSD make difficult, and we build your program around those realities rather than ignoring them. Your program is delivered via our exercise app with clear, simple instructions.
Supervised sessions with flexibility built in
We supervise your exercise and adapt each session to how you are presenting on the day. Good days and hard days look different. We respond to both appropriately without judgment. Consistency over time matters more than the intensity of any single session.
Regular reviews with reports to your treating team
We conduct regular reviews and send written reports to your GP and mental health treating team. We do not operate in isolation from your broader treatment. Exercise is most effective as part of a coordinated care plan.
Funding and Rebates
Multiple ways to fund your mental health program
Medicare CDM Plan
Mental health conditions including depression and anxiety qualify under the CDM pathway. Up to 5 subsidised allied health sessions per year.
Mental Health Treatment Plan
GPs can also issue a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Discuss with your GP which plan is most appropriate for your situation and which includes Exercise Physiology.
DVA Gold and White Card
DVA Gold Card holders have mental health Exercise Physiology sessions covered. PTSD in veterans is specifically supported under DVA funding.
NDIS
Exercise Physiology for mental health funded under Improved Health and Wellbeing for eligible self-managed and plan-managed participants.
Private Health Insurance
Most extras policies cover Exercise Physiology. Check your policy for your annual limit and rebate amount.
Private
No referral needed. Book directly and pay privately. No GP visit required to get started.
Common Questions
Mental health program FAQs
Does exercise actually help depression and anxiety or is this overstated?
The evidence is robust and has been replicated across many high-quality trials. Exercise produces antidepressant effects in mild to moderate depression, with a number needed to treat that compares favourably to pharmacological interventions in some populations. For anxiety, regular aerobic exercise reduces baseline anxiety significantly through neurobiological mechanisms that are well understood. This is not wellness messaging. It is clinical evidence. We can point you to the specific research if you are interested.
I am on antidepressants or other psychiatric medication. Can I still do this?
Yes. Most psychiatric medications are entirely compatible with exercise. Some medications have specific cardiovascular effects that we need to be aware of, which is why we take a full medication history before your first session. We also work within the context of your broader treatment rather than positioning exercise as an alternative to medication.
What if I do not feel up to exercising when I arrive?
We work with where you are on the day. Sometimes the most valuable thing we do is meet you where you are, have a conversation and do a small amount of movement together. That is still a productive session. We do not apply rigid session formats to presentations that require flexibility and we never make you feel like you have failed by having a hard day.
Do you work with my psychologist or psychiatrist?
Yes. We actively seek to coordinate with your mental health treating team. We provide written reports after every review and are willing to communicate directly with your psychologist or psychiatrist where clinically relevant. Exercise is most effective as part of a coordinated approach to mental health care, not in isolation from it.
Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can book directly and be seen privately. If you have a Medicare CDM plan or Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP that includes Exercise Physiology, bring it to your first appointment and we will process your rebate on the spot.
Ready to take the first step?
Call or book online. The first appointment is just a conversation if that is all you can manage today. That is enough to start.
Start Your Plan (Book Your First Appointment)Takes 60 seconds · No referral needed · Medicare rebates available