Group Treatment

Group treatment is CBT therapeutic intervention applied in a group setting. It offers a low cost alternative to individual treatment and there is an extensive evidence base to show that it works.

You will also benefit from the support of other group members.

How it works?

• Call to find out more or complete an online contact form
• Your suitability for group therapy will be assessed on a phone consultation by a CBT therapist (no charge)
• Session are held weekly and last between 1.5 hours and 2 hours
• A treatment course will last between 4 – 8 weeks (depending on the group).
• We are currently offering the following groups:
  • Anxiety & Depression using ACT (what is ACT?) - click here to read more
  • “Dealing with Depression” - click here to read more
  • “Take a break from Anxiety” - click here to read more
  • “Caring coping and change” for Dementia sufferers and their carers - click here to read more
  • “Facts & Feelings” for younger people with Dementia and their carers - click here to read more

---

What is ACT?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is often described as a “third-wave” or third -generation cognitive and behavioural therapy. Although ACT has been developed from the theories underpinning the traditional approach to Behavioural and Cognitive therapies it has a different focus to the more traditional approaches.

ACT is not primarily focused on symptom reduction or on changing thoughts/beliefs but instead looks at developing acceptance and mindfulness skills in order to be able to have our difficult thoughts/feelings in a way that frees us from the ongoing struggle with them and therefore frees us to engage more fully in our lives and the things that matter to us.

The emphasis in ACT is not to change what we think and feel but to change how we think and feel, therefore to change our relationship with our thoughts, feelings and histories so that they don’t function as a barrier to the things that matter to us, for example, our relationships, career, health, social life.

Recommended reading:
The happiness Trap – Russ Harris
Get out of your life and into your mind – Steven Hayes

---

Dealing with Depression

This is a 6 week group which will run once a week for 2 hours. The group focuses on your experiences of low mood, and how that can be conceptualised within a cognitive behavioural framework.

You will learn the role of behaviour and how this affects your mood. Strategies will be used to motivate different behaviours that will be helpful in enhancing mood. The role of thoughts and thinking is also highlighted, and you will learn to challenge unhelpful thoughts. Other strategies for lifting mood are also considered; the role of exercise, medication, complementary therapies etc. Throughout the group you will use your own experiences to develop skills to combat low mood. The final week looks at consolidation of skills and goal setting for the future and relapse prevention.

---

Take a Break from Anxiety

This is a 6 week group for people who suffer with anxiety and will run once a week for 1.5 hours. You will learn the physiology of anxiety, and how this affects your current functioning and thinking. Changes in behaviour which reinforce the anxiety will be discussed, and experiments with thoughts that drive the anxiety can be learnt. You will have the opportunity to use their own experiences to develop more helpful techniques to combat anxiety. Setting realistic goals in a graded way will be discussed to ensure you achieve your ultimate goals.

---

Caring, Coping and Change

This is a 8 week group for carers of people with dementia run weekly for 2 hours. This group is looking at the emotional impact on carers and some of the loss and changes that carers go through when caring for someone with dementia.

The group is CBT orientated so some of the strategies are looking at thoughts and their role and behaviours. Each member sets goals for the group from the outset which they can achieve in the 8 weeks.

---

Facts and Feelings

This group is aimed at younger people with dementia and their carers. The group is split into 2 45 minute sessions, where the first session looks at the some of the facts of the consequences of a diagnosis. This includes issues like understanding dementia, dealing with family, finances and your rights at work. The second part of the session focuses on the feelings associated with the chosen topic. For the second part of the session the group splits in two, where the carers work together and the people with a diagnosis also come together. There is time for reforming at the end of the session.