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| The Marian Centre provides a full range of Therapy Programs that are designed to effectively meet the needs of all patients. | ||
Click on a link below to go to read information:
- What is Therapy?
- What Therapy Programs are available?
- Why use group therapy?
- The Therapy Groups at a glance
- Inpatient Therapy Services
- Activities Based Therapy Group
- Enhanced Coping Skills Group
- Relaxation Training Group
- Specialist Psychological Treatment Programs
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Program
- Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
- Adolescent Therapy Program
- Therapy Services at The Marian Centre: Timetable
- Inpatient Therapy Program
- Specialist Psychological Treatment Programs
- How to get the most out of the group therapy programs
There are many misconceptions about therapy. People often have ideas of lying on a leather sofa while talking about their feelings to a psychiatrist who sits behind you. Therapy (as practiced at The Marian Centre) is really another way of saying support and education. Therapy aims to provide you with:
- an opportunity to express your feelings and be listened to in a non-judgmental way
- identify problem areas in your life
- find solutions to these problems
- teach you adaptive and functional coping tools and problem solving skills.
In this way we hope the skills and resources you acquire not only help you to cope in the immediate present, but assist you to do so in the future.
IN SHORT THERAPY IS ALL ABOUT HELPING YOU TO GET BETTER AND STAY BETTER.
What Therapy Programs are available? "Stepped-Care": Matching need to service
The Marian Centre’s Therapy Programs have been designed according to a “Stepped-Care” approach to the provision of psychological treatment. This refers to the level of care that is provided to you as part of your treatment. This “stepped-care” approach aims to provide with access to the treatment format most suited to your needs at any particular point in time. This is based on the premise that you will most likely need different amounts of help, support & intervention at different stages of your illness & recovery.
The stepped care approach will therefore enable you to access a seamless continuity of care that does not provide you too much or too little support given your needs, acuity and stage of recovery.
The following table describes the stepped-care approach & the Therapy Programs that fall under each category.
Level of care |
Therapy Programs |
Target Group |
Overall Aims |
Inpatient Therapy Program |
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Patients who are distressed & require hospitalization & have been admitted as an inpatient |
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Specialist Psychological Treatment Programs |
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Patients who are distressed & who need psychological treatment, but do not require immediate crisis support or hospitalization |
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The table above demonstrates that your level of care is matched to your particular needs, whether that be inpatient care and therapy (Inpatient Therapy Program), more structured same day care while living at home in the community (Partial Hospitalisation) or more intensive and focused same day psychological treatment (Specialist Psychological Treatment Programs). This is illustrated in the diagram below.
| Lower needs Less acute stage of illness |
Higher needs |
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Why use group therapy?
The Marian Centre uses a Group Therapy Model in providing psychological treatment to patients. Group therapy represents a very effective way of helping you to identify significant problems in your life, set goals and work towards achieving them in an efficient manner.
There are many advantages to group therapy. These include:
- It provides you with multiple perspectives and inputs which promotes faster and more effective learning. This means you are more likely to get better in the minimum time possible, allowing you to return to your everyday functioning as soon as possible
- Participants in group tend to help each other by providing mutual support and understanding, which promotes a sense of care, trust, concern and respect
- Group therapy helps you to recognize you are not alone, that other people like yourself experience mental health problems. This often helps to reduce the stigma and feelings of guilt, shame, weakness and/or embarrassment that is often associated with mental health problems
- Therapy in a group also allows participants to learn from each other, by identifying strategies and coping tools that have proven effective for one another with similar problems
- Groups also provide you with an opportunity to apply new skills and coping tools that you are learning in a safe, supportive environment. This might include practicing new and more effective ways of communicating and being assertive before doing so with a significant other in real life. This helps to build not only your coping abilities but also your confidence
- By attending a group it also gives you the opportunity to contribute your own thoughts, opinions, ideas and experiences, which may potentially be helpful to another patient. Helping others tends to promote positive feelings and a sense of value and purpose
- Group therapy can also be more cost-effective than individual therapy. This relates to the finding that group therapy enables more people to receive treatment at the same time, thereby reducing the amount of therapist time. This obviously translates to reductions in the overall cost of treatment.
The Therapy Groups at a glance
The following provides a general overview of the different therapy groups on offer at The Marian Centre.
INPATIENT THERAPY SERVICES
Patients who are admitted as inpatients to The Marian Centre will have access to the following therapy services:
- Activities based therapy group
- Enhanced coping skills group
- Relaxation training group
Patient information leaflet for the Inpatient Therapy Program
Activities Based Therapy Group
Rationale: |
Based on the therapeutic benefits of providing you with an opportunity to participate in a range of different activities while an inpatient at the Centre. |
Aims: |
To provide you with structure, routine & distraction via participation in a range of different activities that will help to improve your mood, restore motivation, build confidence in yourself & your abilities, increase self-esteem & promote social interaction. |
Target group: |
This group is designed to help those patients who are currently to unwell to attend a discussion based group. When you are feeling particularly unwell participating in other types of activities (other than therapy classes) can help to direct your attention away from your negative & distressing thoughts, & focus on other activities that are more pleasurable & engaging. |
Time: |
Daily from 9.00 to 12.15 pm. |
Enhanced Coping Skills Group
Rationale: |
Often times mental health problems are caused or perpetuated by the use of unhelpful ways of dealing with problems. This group is designed to replace these unhelpful coping tools with more effective ways of solving problems. |
Aims: |
To teach you more functional ways of managing symptoms, reducing your distress, & dealing with problems & stressors. |
Target group: |
All patients who are well enough to attend a discussion based group & who need skills in managing anxiety & depression. |
Time: |
Daily from 9.00 to 12.15 pm. |
Patient information leaflet for the Enhanced Coping Skills Group
Relaxation Training Group
Rationale: |
Learning how to relax is essential in being able to reduce stress & anxiety in our lives. While we may have different ways of relaxing such as listening to music, taking a walk or going for a swim, learning formal relaxation techniques can help you to deepen your level of relaxation & hence further combat feelings of stress. |
Aims: |
To teach you different techniques to help you reduce stress, irritability, anxiety, frustration & anger. |
Target group: |
Anyone who needs to learn ways to reduce their level of tension, stress & anxiety. In effect relaxation can be of benefit to just about everyone. |
Time: |
Daily from 1.30 to 3.00 pm. |
Patient information leaflet for the Relaxation Training Group
Patient information leaflet for the Intensive Community Treatment Program
SPECIALIST PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS
Patients who are not admitted to The Marian Centre as inpatients can be referred for the following Specialist Psychological Treatment Programs:
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy 4-week Program (evening)
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy 2-week Intensive Program (day)
- Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Program (evening)
- Adolescent Therapy Program (evening)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Program
Rationale: |
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is based on the idea that how we think & the way we interpret different situations plays a powerful role in determining how we feel & act. When we are experiencing strong emotions such as depression or anxiety, we tend to be negatively biased in the way we think & this serves to reinforce these negative emotions, thereby deepening our depression &/or anxiety. |
Aims: |
The CBT Program aims to help you to become more aware of the role that negatively biased thoughts & beliefs play in perpetuating mental health problems, & to learn ways of evaluating your thoughts & developing more rational & helpful alternatives. The CBT program also aims to increase your confidence in yourself & your abilities & thereby enables you to become your own therapist. Suited to problems of low self-esteem, poor motivation, procrastination, excessive worry, anxiety and depression.
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Target group: |
All outpatients who need skills in managing depression & anxiety, building self-esteem, gaining skills to deal with problems. |
Time: |
2-week day program: Ten full-day sessions, Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 4.15 pm. Supporters session on Thursday of the 2nd week, at 3.30 to 4.30 pm.
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Patient information leaflet for the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Program
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Program Information Flyer
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Program
Rationale: |
Mindfulness training is based on the idea that by learning to pay attention to our experience in a non-judgmental way, we can learn to be better able to accept this experience just as it is at that moment in time. This enables us to discover that even unpleasant experiences like a negative thoughts or negative emotions (depression, anxiety, anger or guilt) or physical sensation (such as pain) can be tolerated long enough for its intensity to fade. It is a skilful way of preventing escalations in stress, anxiety, or depressed mood. |
Aims: |
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) aims to teach present moment focus using meditation techniques. In this way you can learn to manage your mood and be better able to accept unpleasant experiences, which may not be able to be changed immediately. The core skills focus on developing a daily meditation practice, staying present, acceptance, and relating to your thoughts differently. |
Target group: |
MBCT is shown to help people who need to be able to reduce stress, anxiety & depression as well as the distress associated with chronic pain. MBCT is especially suited for patients who have been suffering from depression for a long period of time, have improved somewhat, but need to improve further, and are vulnerable to relapse. It is necessary to be relatively stable in mood and able to commit to the time required to develop a regular level of meditation practice. |
Time: |
Wednesday from 5.30 to 8.30 pm over 8 weeks. |
Patient information leaflet for the Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Program
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Program Information Flyer
Adolescent Therapy Program
Rationale: |
Research has demonstrated that mental health problems such as depression and anxiety are common in childhood and adolescence warranting appropriate medical and psychological intervention. |
Aims: |
This programs aims to help you to recover from mental health problems by teaching you proven CBT concepts & techniques (see above). The program also aims to provide you with treatment in a way that allows you to continue to attend to your normal daily responsibilities such as going to school, university or work. |
Target group: |
Adolescents experiencing mental health problems with a focus on anxiety & depression. |
Time: |
Tuesday & Thursday from 4.30 to 7.30 pm over 4 weeks plus 2 supporter's sessions. |
Patient information leaflet on the Adolescent Therapy Program.
Adolescent Therapy Program Information Flyer.
Therapy Services at The Marian Centre: Timetable
Inpatient Therapy Program
Group |
Day |
Time |
Length of Program |
Activities Based Therapy Group |
Daily |
9.00 to 10.30 am |
Open-ended |
Enhanced Coping Skills Group |
Daily |
9.00 to 10.30 am |
Open-ended |
Relaxation |
Daily |
1.30 to 3.00 pm |
Open-ended |
Specialist Psychological Treatment Programs
These programs run regularly throughout the year. Please telephone the Daypatient Coordinator for further information (Tel: 9380 4999)
Group |
Day |
Time |
Length of Program |
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Program (CBT) 4-Week. |
Tuesday & Thursday |
5.30 to 8.30 pm |
4 weeks 8 group sessions 1 supporters session |
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Program (CBT) 2-Week Intensive |
Daily: Monday to Friday |
9.00 to 4.15 pm |
10 full-day sessions, 1 supporters session, |
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Program (MBCT) |
Wednesday |
5.30 to 8.30 pm |
8 weeks 8 group sessions |
Adolescent Therapy Program |
Tuesday & Thursday |
4.30 to 7.30 pm |
4 weeks 8 group sessions |
How to get the most out of the group therapy programs
The following are suggestions to help you get the most out of attending group therapy:
Attend all sessions: Therapy can only be effective and help you achieve your goals if you attend. There may be times that you may not feel like attending group therapy, however you are likely to discover that you often feel worse rather than better for not attending. Therapy helps to keep you focused on learning adaptive coping solutions to your problems and hence keeps you from focusing on negative thoughts that only serves to worsen your mood and ability to cope. So even when you don’t feel like attending, it is often worth trying as hard as possible to do so.
Contribute:When attending group, be willing to contribute in an open and honest manner. Put your own issues forward, ask questions if you don’t understand something that has been discussed or that you disagree with and be prepared to do so in an assertive and respectful manner.
Listen:Ensure that you don’t “tune out” during group. You can’t learn if you don’t listen. This relates not only to when you are being directly addressed or if the topic of the group is relevant to you, but also at other times as you might find the information to be valuable or you might be able to contribute something that could be helpful to another group member.
Stay focused: While group therapy enables members to help each other it is important to remember to stay focused - you are in group to deal with your own issues and find solutions to your own problems and difficulties. You are not responsible for finding solutions to the problems of other group members. Therefore remember to maintain appropriate boundaries when interacting with others, both in and out of therapy.
Don’t compare: While there may be similarities between yourself and other patients, it is important to remember no two people are exactly the same. Therefore the nature of their problems and illnesses, its treatment and response will be different. Be careful not to compare yourself to other patients in group, as this often serves to increase stress levels and interfere with treatment.
Maintain confidentiality: Therapy loses effectiveness when patients don’t feel as though what they disclose in group stays in group. Therefore it is a requirement that all patients respect each other’s right to privacy.
Take responsibility: The Marian Centre encourages patients to take an active and responsible role in their treatment. Therapy can often be thought of as a simple equation: What you put in = What you get out. Therapy can only work if you follow the above suggestions and be prepared to work with us in helping you to ultimately help yourself. A non-active approach to therapy where you wait for the therapist to “cure you” tends to result in no positive change.