“Client perspectives of ACT Therapy” Presented by: Ree Pritchard, Clinical Leader, Knox C.H.S. & Helen Ryan, Team Leader, Halcyon PDRS Day Program, E.A.C.H. Feb 2013 “Client perspectives of ACT Therapy”

Knox Community Heath Service and the SURE Team. Knox Community Health Service is a multi disciplinary service in the Eastern suburbs. Our ATOD team provide an integrated whole of health approach that screens for physical and oral health concerns and works collaboratively with our internal dental, diabetes, dietetics, physio and other health services to provide an integrated approach. We have an entire team trained in co-occurring capability and trauma informed practice. We also have a capacity building project called Project HOPE which stands for Hearing Other Peoples Experiences, this project is all about learning from those with the lived experience and honouring their strengths and resilience, their wisdom and inspiration in the journey to wellness. We want to honour the experts by experience today.

HALCYON- PDRS Day Program Halcyon is a community mental health service of EASTERN ACCESS COMMUNITY HEALTH. We provide educational, self development, social support and individual support to clients with a mental illness in the city of Knox. We have had secondary consult with KCH AOD services for the past 3 years and have established a good working relationship with KCH. The staff of KCH approached us about collaborating to provide an ACT group specifically for people with a dual diagnosis. We were very excited about this idea as we have shared clients and many of our clients struggle with AOD addictions. KCH AOD staff were very experienced in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and were very generous in the information and training they were willing to share with us. We saw this therapy as valuable to our clients as strategies they had tried before such as thought blocking had not helped and we saw this therapy as a very practical effective way to manage the anxiety experienced by people dealing with intrusive voices, thought and hallucinations. Many of these clients had used substances in the past to manage this anxiety. We also saw this therapy as recovery focused and it empowered people to participate in their recovery. In working together we had very clear roles to assist in the success of the group.

ACT Group 2012 Week 1 Introduction Session- Self Compassion Scale Introduction to ACT and Mindfulness Week 3 Avoidance and Values Week 4 Awareness of Thoughts Week 5 Mindfulness of Pleasure Week 6 Awareness of Emotions Week 7 Acting on My Values Week 8 Halcyon Program Evaluation/Follow Up Session.

Video of Laurence

Halcyon ACT Group-2012

Clients Feedback Comments........ What I liked:........... “the sharing of examples from the group presenters life that illustrated the points that were being made at the time. It really helped to put everything in perspective”.

Clients Feedback Comments........ What I liked: ..... “Everything/ very enjoyable.... it helped me when I was in hospital”. –Nigel

Clients Feedback Comments........ What I liked....... “Going over the I.B.S.C. (Itty-Bitty-Shitty-Committee) & the Wise Minds figure”.

TOM from Group........

Helen & Ree’s experience........ What surprised me about the group was the enthusiasm and consistency the clients displayed in attending and participating in the group. Also most of the clients are continuing to practice strategies and skills learned in the group. The benefits of participating in the group therapy was the power of realizing that everyone has negative intrusive thoughts and feelings and this had enormous benefits to clients especially as staff were participating in the therapy with clients. What surprised me about the ACT THERAPY was how effective it has been for me in my own personal and work life.

Thank you Any questions?