Treatment programs

disorders treated

Anxiety disorders

Quick facts

Panic attacks, phobias, extreme shyness, obsessive-compulsive behaviours and generalised anxiety disrupt the lives of about 15% of the population. Yet,
anxiety is a normal part of human experience. Anxiety disorders are therefore the result of severe or extreme levels of anxiety and associated unhelpful or inappropriate behaviours.

We all know what it's like to get anxious at times - to perspire profusely at a job interview, to turn red in front of someone we secretly like, or to freeze when we see a big spider. These anxieties are common and understandable. Indeed, they may be a part of our biology, a programmed consequence of our evolution, and a built in safety mechanism for humans. However, in our world, which can be full of unexpected and even dangerous surprises, this mechanism can become our worst enemy.

People with anxiety disorders will find that their anxiety is a constant and dominating force that severely disrupts the quality and enjoyment of their lives and goes far beyond mere occasional "nervousness." Anxiety can be triggered frequently, both through the occurrence of 'real life' events, but also through imagined, negative consequences.

The result of such negative and catastrophic interpretations of even daily, seemingly trivial events can be any one of the range of anxiety disorders.

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Anxiety symptoms

Specific anxiety Disorders

Panic Disorder
seemingly spontaneous anxiety attacks at a disruptive frequency.
Agoraphobia
extreme anticipatory fear that restricts one from leaving a "safe-zone."
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
jittery nerves all the time.
Specific Phobia
debilitating fear of a specific object or situation.
Social Anxiety
fear of being around other humans.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
ritualized behaviors or obsessions driven by anxious thought.
Children and Anxiety
phobias, fears, and anxieties specific to children.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
anxiety tied to a past traumatic experience

Further reading

options for Treatment

People with anxiety disorders tend to have negative and threatening interpretations or cognitions in response to perceived physical or psychosocial danger. In everyday life, there are many situations which are objectively dangerous. In these situations, individuals' perceptions are often realistic appraisals of threat. However, in anxiety states, individuals systematically overestimate the danger in a given situation. Such overestimates automatically activate the 'anxiety programme'.

This is a set of responses known as the fight or flight response, which we have inherited from our evolutionary past was originally designed to protect us from harm in a primitive environment. They include: changes in autonomic arousal as preparation for flight, fight, fainting; inhibition of ongoing behaviour; and selectively scanning the environment for possible sources of danger.

Many of the symptoms of anxiety can be traced back to the body's natural response to threat.

Treatment of anxiety disorders involves challenging the negative and unhelpful threat interpretations the individual is making, as well as providing alternative rational explanations (psychoeducation) for what is happening to their body. Unhelpful behaviours that have subsequently developed may be challenged, with particular attention to any situations which the individual has begun to avoid. This may call for a special strategy called "exposure and response prevention".

In addition to the above approaches, relaxation training has been proven as an effective means of controlling many of the physiological symptoms of the body. It is also helpful to use anxiolytic medication to assist with the overall treatment of the disorder.

Further reading

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Treatment Programs

Perth clinic offers a range of treatment programmes for anxiety disorders. Admission to one of the following programmes begins with a thorough assessment to gauge which program is most suitable initially. The person can then be moved between programmes as progress is made.

Structured care
The structured Care Programme aims to provide support, structure and meaning for those individuals who have extreme levels of anxiety, depression, stress or other severe symptoms which need to be stabilised or contained.

Within the therapy programme patients are involved in activity-based therapy, social outings, education, self-esteem/self awareness activities, crisis management, daily/weekend planning and re-motivation groups.

The programme is based on attendance from 9.15 am to 3.00 pm daily. This offers three group sessions daily of 1.5 hours each (4.5 hours contact time daily).

Acute Admissions Programme
The Acute Admissions Programme is a flexible, intensive therapy programme designed to deal with severe anxiety and depression symptoms. It provides patients with the opportunity to develop new insights, goals and coping strategies for dealing with their problems using brief, solution focused and cognitive behavioural therapy approaches.

Patients discuss topics which include depression and anxiety management, goal setting, daily planning, social networks, coping skills training, relaxation techniques, self awareness and discharge planning.

The programme is based on attendance from 9.15 am to 3.00 pm daily. This offers three group sessions daily of 1.5 hours each (4.5 hours contact time daily).

Intensive closed group CBT Program
The intensive cognitive behavioural therapy programme is aimed at assisting people with a wide range of moderate to severe psychological, social and behavioural difficulties. The main aim of the intensive cognitive behavioural therapy programme is to help participants develop their skills and resources so they can deal more effectively with their problems. It also aims to assist people to develop more balanced lifestyles. The emphasis of the programme is on building confidence in the use of more effective coping strategies to deal with stress and problems thus allowing the participants to feel more in control of their lives and themselves.

A wide range of material is covered in the programme...

Although some sections of the programme are highly structured, provision is made within sessions to meet the differing needs of each individual participant. An important characteristic of the programme is that it is flexible and responsive to the needs of each group member.

Other topics are included into the program depending upon the participants' needs, including anger management, management of guilt, and grief resolution.

Each day begins at 9.00 am and concludes at 4.45pm. Patients are in a group of up to eight participants for the two weeks. The are four sessions in the day commencing at 9.00 am to 4.45 pm. . Days are structured so that participants work intensively together for 3 sessions of 90 minutes each. The last session of each day provides an opportunity for participants to fully unwind in a relaxation session before heading home.

Patients are also offered two follow-up sessions at six and twelve weeks after the group. At this time their progress can be monitored and their application of skills and techniques learned in the programme can be reviewed.

What does Homework mean and do we have to do it?
The CBT program at Perth Clinic is highly effective if you - the participant - are willing to make the commitment to try the strategies we teach you. Homework plays an important role in the recovery process as the major part of therapy takes place in everyday life, where the participant puts into practise the skills learnt in the group sessions.

Participants are assigned homework tasks which give you the opportunity to practice what you've learnt. Time is set aside each week to undertake such practice on your own. Participants may also be encouraged to do specific tasks each night and at the weekend.

If you are concerned that you didn't enjoy homework at school, and that you are not a great student, do not despair. Our homework is completely different from that and comprises a healthy mixture of self-nurturing tasks and active practice tasks. For instance, a very depressed person might be assigned the task of going for a long slow walk in the local park or at the beach and to pay particular attention to their surroundings and their resultant pleasure. Or, a highly anxious person who has for years avoided shopping centres for fear of having a panic attack - they did last time they went to one - will be taught some anxiety management strategies to practice as they slowly build up the confidence to now approach a shopping centre.

All tasks are designed to be a little bit challenging but not too much so that you feel too scared to try. We know that there is nothing to be gained from pushing someone too far too fast. Thus, therapists don't force you to do anything you don't feel confident or capable of doing. Tasks are developed in collaboration between therapists and each participant. That is, you are very much involved in deciding what and how much you do as homework.

Of course, if you elect not to do any homework, then the chances of your improvement through CBT is significantly reduced! You make the choice.

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