Treatment programs
disorders treated
crisis
quick facts
A crisis is any negative, threatening situation or tragedy that happens to someone. This may include a death or significant loss, serious injury or major upheaval. . It is an event which is considered generally outside the range of ordinary human experiences. The result of such an event being can be strong emotional reactions which have the potential to interfere with the persons ability to manage the situation.
This reaction is common to people who respond to emergencies or encounter highly stressful events almost every day. However, everyday events have the potential to distress those vulnerable to the point of needing professional intervention.
options for Treatment
Evidence demonstrates that early intervention in these instances helps prevent any long-term psychiatric problems such
Treatment Programs
Perth Clinic offers a variety of programs that would be suitable for the treatment of a range of crises. The programmes offer a brief, effective intervention that ensures that crises and critical incidents are quickly managed.
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...
- Goal setting/planning
- Family mapping
- Managing anxiety and panic attacks
- Managing depression
- Communication/assertion skills
- Self esteem
- Stress management
- Relaxation techniques
- Healthy lifestyles
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.