Applied Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) Day program
About Applied Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) Day program
The Applied Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) Day Program supports people to learn how to break away from negative thoughts, thinking patterns and persistent worries that are adversely impacting on their mood and sense of self. It also looks at how we can better manage distressing emotions and letting go of rigid undesirable views, along with exploring important values that we can use to guide us on how to respond to stressful situations.
This program may be suitable for you if:
- There are a few things on your plate at the moment and you’re not sure how you can keep juggling it all.
- You are constantly caught up in your worries and negative thoughts in your mind, and find it difficult to switch off at the end of the day.
- You have been feeling low in mood or struggling with overwhelming anxiety.
- You seem to be stuck in the way you feel and would love to learn how to get out of this cycle, as well as how to better respond and manage important areas of your life.
- You are having a lot of self- doubts and feeling overwhelmed with your daily activities.
Program content
- Understanding and managing anxiety
- Understanding and managing depression
- Breaking away from negative thinking
- Developing healthy self-esteem
- Goal setting and relaxation
- Emotions management and regulation
- Coping with change
- Exploring values and lifestyle balancing
- Making committed actions
- Changing unhelpful behaviours
- Mindfulness
- Juggling expectations
What you will experience
Throughout this program, you will participate in group sessions of between 8-12 participants that are led by Psychologists. Participants will be supported to share lived experiences, and to learn evidence-based coping strategies and skills. Each session focuses on exploring a practical skill that you will have time to practice before the next session, as well as shared with the group what you have learnt for feedback and input.
Treatment objectives
Objective 1
Getting ‘Unstuck’ from Unhelpful Thoughts and Worries – Develop greater psychological flexibility and look at how you can break away from negative thoughts that are impacting on your mood and emotions.
Objective 2
Understanding and Managing Emotions- Learn about what contribute to your stressful emotions and explore the role of emotions, as well as develop strategies to increase your resources so that you can better cope with them.
Objective 3
Values and Commitment – Connect with values that are important to you and learn how to utilise these values to guide you to respond to stressful situation and maintain significant areas of your life. This will help to further break away from unhelpful behaviours (e.g., rumination, avoidance, perfectionism, procrastination and self-defeating actions).
Objective 4
Fostering Acceptance and Letting Go of Rigid Views – Acknowledge the different roles you play and how you can better manage the conflicting expectations from these roles.
What's included
Education
To develop or refine new skills and strategies.
Workbooks
To guide you though education, reflection and exercises designed to tackle your symptoms.
Action Plans
Step-by-step activities to help you put new skills into practice.
Check-ins
Support between treatments to help keep things on track.
Extra Resources
Tools to help you overcome common challenges.
Progress Tracking
Questionnaires to help you monitor your symptoms and/or progress.
How to get started
FOR NEW PATIENTS to access this treatment, we will need a valid referral from your general practitioner to one of our psychiatrists at South Eastern Private Hospital who will complete a preadmission assessment with you to ensure that the treatment is suitable for you. Referrals can be sent via our online referral on our website - www.southeasternprivate.com.au (i.e., under the referral section). FOR EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS to access this treatment, simply discuss with your treating psychiatrist at South Eastern Private Hospital who will then assess your suitability and if appropriate, will refer you to our day programs. General enquiries about this treatment can be made by calling 03 9549 0111.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will find this program helpful?
People who are struggling with depression, anxiety or feeling overwhelmed by their stress and emotions. This program will also benefit people who are finding it difficult to shut off from their own thoughts and worries at the end of the day, as well as struggling to manage different aspects of their lives.
When does this treatment start, and how long does it take?
This treatment is designed to be completed within 6 weeks. Participants attend sessions every Friday from 9:30am to 12.300pm. Morning tea is provided. The treatment can be started any week of the year, and is for admitted patients only. Please note that date, time and duration can be subjected to change.
How much does it cost?
Patients are admitted as a day patient and as such, can claim their attendance via their health fund. Privately paying or funding via TAC/DVA are also an option. We ask that patients confirm any applicable out-of-pocket excess or gap costs directly with South Eastern Private Hospital by calling 03 9549 0111.
