Anxiety and Depression Clinics

We offer 3 different types of anxiety and depression clinics. 2 of our clinics are comprehensive formal anxiety and depression clinics which are conducted both didactically and experientially. These clinics are run separately and differently to our support groups (where newcomers arrive at our groups, either after speaking to one of us personally prior to the meeting, or they 'just walk in through the door'). The following gives a run-down of our clinics which take different didactic or instructive forms, as well as the third form which is largely experiential and process orientated.

1. Anxiety, Depression and Stress Management: A Thoughtful Approach.
(Clinics are based on cognitive behavioural therapy)

The clinics are presented in the following formats.
Part one: a single half day
Part two: a single half day
Advanced Course: A single full day designed as a follow up to the previous, or a stand alone course for those already possessed of a solid grounding in the subjects, covering anxiety, depression, social anxiety and social phobia

Part One:
1. Orientation and General Discussion
2. Diaphragm Breathing and Progressive Muscle Relaxation
3. Understanding Anxiety
4. Finding and destroying "Stinking Thinking"
5. Disputing Negative Cognitions

Part Two:
6. Understanding Depression
7. Meditation and Mindfulness
8. Visualisations and Affirmations
9. Assertiveness and Worry
10. Winding Down and Disbanding

Advanced Course: (in half hour slots)
1. Introduction: Shyness and Social Anxiety; Psychological, Physiological & Behavioural Components
2. Challenging Underlying Beliefs; Evolutionary, Physical, Nutrition & Lifestyle factors
3. Issues in Recovery and Management of Social Anxiety
4. Relaxation Techniques; Diaphragm Breathing; Progressive Muscle Relaxation
5. Changing Thinking Changes Feeling; Negative vs. Positive vs. Realistic Thinking; Meta-cognition (thinking about thinking)
6. Effectively Challenging your Thoughts: Lateral Thinking
7. Self Efficacy, Self Esteem, Self Confidence and Enhancing Motivation: more than just positive thinking
8. Assertion, Communicating effectively
9. Focusing, Challenging Underlying Beliefs, Exposure
10. Not Just Better: Social Recovery Programme
11. Improvement vs. Remission: Life as it should be

2. Anxiety, Depression and Stress Management: A Mindful Approach.
(Clinics are based on acceptance and commitment therapy)

The courses are presented in the following formats.
Part one: a single half day
Part two: a single half day

Part One:
1. Orientation and General Discussion
2. Mindfulness
3. Developing Acceptance and Willingness
4. Undermining Experiential Control
5. Undermining Cognitive Fusion

Part Two:
6. Getting in Touch with the Present Moment
7. Conceptualised Self and Self-As-Context
8. Defining Valued Directions
9. Building Patterns of Action

Advanced Course: A single full day designed as a follow up to the previous, or a stand alone course for those already possessed of a solid grounding in the subjects, will be offered after May 2006.

3. Anxiety, Depression and Stress Management: A Group Process Approach.
(Clinics are smaller and are based on exercise and group process)

These groups are offered on an ad-hoc basis, as and when demand requires the establishment of a new group. These groups are usually run in the mornings and they begin with a 40 minute brisk walk followed by 1? hours of group dynamics. These groups are highly experiential and are popular because they are not designed merely for 'disorders' or 'conditions' (such as anxiety and depression), They address communication skills, styles of interacting, speaking from the heart, empathy and so on, all within the 'presenting problem' of anxiety or depression. As these groups progress, people shift more towards examining their lives in terms of integrity and meaning, as opposed to being caught up in symptoms.

The Presenters:
Michael Cohn and Roy Sugarman are psychotherapists with a host of experience spanning a quarter of a century. Both have Master's degrees (with distinction), and international experience as teachers, facilitators, lecturers and clinicians, as well as advanced expertise in working with other cultures. Michael also has degrees in Commerce and Law and has worked in several countries; Roy has a Doctorate in the field of Clinical Neuropsychology, and until recently was the Principal Psychologist in South Western Sydney as well as serving as the Clinical Director of the Clinical Therapies Programme in Liverpool, targeting the anxiety and mood disorders. The presenters have multiple affiliations with various professional organisations internationally and are highly regarded for their teaching in anxiety, depression, cross cultural psychology and immigration issues, social withdrawal, workplace issues and dealing with difficult people.

To register your interest, please use the contact us section of this site.

Venues and Times to be announced as groups fill up.

Fee: Half day workshops: $150.00 (Includes GST)
Includes beverages and nibbles

Group process groups: $40 per session.

Booking essential as place is limited.

Disclaimer: This site is not intended as a means of offering medical advice. If medical advice is required, you need to look for expert medical assistance. We also advise that this site contains links to other sites, psychologists, practitioners and therapists who offer health-related materials, treatment, options and therapies. Be aware that the content and materials, treatment, options and therapies provided by these third party sites, psychologists, practitioners and therapists, are merely offered as links. They are neither the work of the authors of this site, nor are they the responsibility of the authors of this site.