The Group Programme

Remedial sessions aim to assist the patient in experiencing mood-enhancing activities, positive emotions, relaxation practices, healthy social interaction and a stronger sense of self. Coming into contact with these aspects helps alleviate psychiatric symptoms and initiates the process of progressing from the acute suffering of a mental health disorder. Personal growth, relaxation, creative skills, drumming, meditation, yoga, TRE, film club and feel-good sessions during the life skills series form the remedial component of the programme.

In order to assist patients in understanding their disorders and behaviours and fulfilling the rehabilitation aspect of the programme, psycho-education sessions are presented. These sessions focus on creating both intellectual and emotional insight to support the patient from contemplating change to becoming ready for change and finally implementing change in their lives. The content of sessions often includes practical techniques on how to effectively apply life skills. Currently, the psycho-educational sessions include series on depression and anxiety as well as informative DVDs on a variety of mental health disorders.

Life skills sessions aim to support the acquisition of skills and techniques to maintain health and balance in different areas of life such as relationships, the workplace, leisure time and socialisation. The life skills series includes assertiveness, stress management and self-esteem sessions, while relationship sessions consist of love languages, boundaries, healthy communication, managing toxic and dysfunctional relationships as well as understanding emotions relating to relationships. Special sessions include a series on everyday addictions and is presented by an addiction counsellor to support individuals who have begun engaging in negative coping skills. A debt counsellor presents a session on budgeting and finance management. Recovery and relapse prevention sessions support patients in planning for their discharge and returning to life outside the facility.

Sessions are also presented to assist the patient in understanding and overcoming emotional trauma. This includes sessions that explore the inner child concept, understanding the process of grief and conceptualising letting go. Emotional intelligence, shame and how to overcome it, resilience and taking responsibility, and regulating emotions will help the individual process the more difficult parts of their life and situations. Special and safe processing groups are also held to help patients work through complex therapeutic processes they might be experiencing. These are smaller groups of patients who meet while supported by a therapist to debrief and process their stay in the clinic.

Processing circles are sessions that add to the patient’s personal recovery through a deeper sense of growth and understanding of themselves. Patients have reached a stage in their therapeutic process where they can benefit from group processing are selected and divided into smaller groups, each with their own therapist.

The groups have basic themes but are guided by the process of the group members themselves. The focus of the groups is on spontaneous sharing and speaking openly. Sharing is not compulsory and patients are not forced to share any personal stories. Patients are encouraged to share what feels natural, comfortable and appropriate to them. These sessions also include projective and expressive work to guide the group process, based on the needs expressed in the group. The group further encourages 'doing' and will encourage group members to look forward to their next steps. Patients are placed in a specific group according to their therapeutic aims and needs. The sessions include weekly goal-setting sessions and a collective space of reflection to consolidate each week’s new learning and growth.

Patients are encouraged to join this valuable process of self-exploration and growth, which is an active step towards dealing with their admission and life in a responsible manner.

We offer an information session hosted for friends, family and colleagues of our current inpatients. This session provides an overview of mental illness and insight into the treatment and recovery process, as well as what loved ones can do to support family members with mental health issues.

We strive to introduce various engaging, educational and experiential sessions to ensure our patients have a wide range of therapeutic options. We offer sensory profiling that helps the individual live a sensory, intelligent life. The Enneagram is a multidimensional personality assessment that focuses on core motivations and fears and can be done during your admission. We often facilitate feel-good fun days or specific retreat-like workshops and sessions based on the needs of the group.

Our programme is available and accessible to any individual with a mental health disorder or current life issue. The topics covered in the programme are relevant to the recovery of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders and individuals who have experienced trauma or any other acute stressor that has an impact on mental wellbeing. We also offer a specialised programme for young adults that focuses on the particular life challenges at the stage of earlier adulthood.

​Please do not hesitate to contact or meet with us so that we can develop a treatment plan for you that will be helpful and healing.