What the ‘Centre of Wisdom Program’ can do for you?

Initial 10 individual sessions with a therapist to explore the problem, difficulties and treatment and implement the change strategies necessary to correct the persons habits, behaviours and attitudes that that have been part of the problem in their life. This is done on an individual basis to so that the appropriate identification, explorations and treatment of the issue(s) can be achieved. It provides the individual attend to establish and reinforce what needs to be changes, as well as what practical techniques and strategies need to be adopted to challenges the attitudes, habits and behaviours to achieve the required change.

This means over the 10 weekly individual sessions the client will be supported to make the changes and instructed how to go about implementing the necessary changes to correct the problem and lifestyle.

Once the client has completed the first individual ten sessions, the client will then be required to join a social support group. At all times, clients should be encouraged to participate in the group session as their next option.

The basis of encouraging clients to participate in the group session is because the group tends to contain element that enable a simulation of the family, community and interpersonal relationships and experiences. In this context, a participant can address issues of family of origin, and work through past barriers in order to find release from old patterns of being which may originate in their past relationships and experiences.

For the reason, it will be best to encourage client to complete the group session prior to taking on further individual sessions.

However, if there is a need for a continuation of the individual sessions the client should be advised of so, and of the following options should be discussed with them. These include:

1. Under the Mental Health Plan a further 6 sessions could be applied from, under the category of “Exceptional Circumstances”. This is achieved by the client making an appointment with their GP, with an accompanying report from their therapist providing the reason for the request.
2. Client is offered is made aware of the full fee policy per session, and their financial circumstance should be taken into consideration, namely, their capacity to pay. A block package of 10 further should be made available to clients.

If capacity to pay is an issue, in consultation with the clients GP other funding programs should be explored, i.e. ATAPs.

Client then joins and participates in 10 weekly group sessions that will focus on ten different weekly topics addressing issues on health, wellness, lifestyle and dealing interpersonal relationships.

The group will provide a Safe environment that enable members to explore their issues and concerns, through the process of giving and getting feedback in interactive manner with other members. It also provides an opportunity to explore new behaviours and responses in a social context.

The purpose of the group is to increase participant’s self-awareness, increase social comfort, allow exploration of new behaviours, provide support , develop skills , and promote more genuine and authentic interactions with others.

The groups also allow for members to provide support to each other both in the form of understanding and empathy as well as support around challenging negative behaviour and thinking. This challenging allows members to experience conflict in a positive manner, as well as seeing themselves through the eyes of others.

The cost of the each groups session is $39.00, $19.00 of that is rebatable, and will be bulk bill, and the remainder of $20.00 will be met by the client.

Following the conclusion of the Group session a residential weekend camp will be offered to clients. This is a more intensive program that focuses on grounding some of the strategies learn both in the group and individual sessions. It is an extension and enhancement of the concepts of developing:

• Improving your communication skills and learning mindful ways of reducing distress
• Authentic relationships on an interpersonal level
• Improving participants Self-awareness and management
• Creating a context for living a life is more self-fulfilling
• Making adjustment and correction to your health and wellness