Lyneham mother Emma Browning fears her recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression is about to take a step backwards.
Eighteen months ago, when she began her treatment with Gungahlin Mental Health Team, she couldn't leave the house or answer the door for fear of crowds and people.
Today she can go out alone and talk confidently, but her hard-won recovery could be about to halt, she says.
Soon to move into community housing in Ainslie, five minutes away, Ms Browning was told she would have to change psychiatrists.
Ms Browning, who has a nine-month-old son, said she only began feeling comfortable enough to talk about her trauma with her psychiatrists a few months ago, and that it had taken time to build trust with them.
"I'm only just beginning to see progress with my current doctors," she said.
While suffering from agoraphobia, she wouldn't leave the house. Her former husband would have to phone her before approaching the door, so she would know it was him.
It was hard to build relationships with psychiatrists or clinical psychologists, she said.
"It took me a long time to be able to open up about day to day problems, let alone talking about really upsetting things that happened in my past."
Ms Browning began her treatment after being admitted to hospital.
With therapy, she started leaving the house more often, first with company and then by herself.
When she moved from Bonner to Lyneham a year ago, she was told that although she was moving out of the coverage zone for Gungahlin Mental Health Team, an exception would be made and she could continue with her current psychiatrists.
ACT Health says transfers occur in consultation with clients.
However Ms Browning said no arrangement to continue with her current doctors had been made this time, and she didn't want to retell her traumatic experiences to a new psychiatrist.
"I'm not prepared to do that, because I don't want to have to put myself through that. It's quite distressing to go through."
ACT Health said while it could not comment on individual cases for privacy reasons, its mental health services were delivered based on geographical catchment areas.
"Consumers are generally allocated to a mental health team based on their residential address. This is done to ensure resources are distributed effectively to meet the needs of the Canberra community," it said.
Clients moving to another catchment area would be transferred to a different mental health team.
"However, this occurs in consultation and collaboration with the consumer. It involves a thorough clinical handover process so that the transfer of care from one team to another is focused on the continuity of care for the individual.
"There are also occasions where a decision is made, based on the individual's circumstances and a clinical assessment by the treating team, for the transfer to occur in a more gradual manner."
Ms Browning says she hasn't been consulted about the change, and feels she may have to stop her therapy altogether.
She has written to Mental Health Minister Shane Rattenbury about the matter.
"It feels as though protocol and procedure is more important than taking care of patients."
She spoke out about her situation to draw attention to the system, Ms Browning said.
"It could be really dangerous for other people and their mental health could deteriorate."