DVA Admissions

The Trauma Recovery Program (TRP) sessions provide skills and techniques to manage PTSD more effectively, understand its impact on oneself and others, as well as fostering a support network for participants. This program also offers individual therapy sessions alongside the group program. *Please note this group is for ADF/ DVA or First Responders only*

This program may be useful for people diagnosed with PTSD or who have experienced trauma in their life and would like to gain a deeper understanding of this issue and find skills and strategies to cope better in life. This program is for those who do not meet the criteria for the Trauma Recovery Program (TRP) i.e they are not ADF/DVA or first responders. *Please Note* The PCL5 is required in addition to the referral form for this program.

The Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Veterans Program is suitable for Veterans or current serving Defence members of the Australian Defence Force, and who are struggling with managing intense emotions or moods, display impulsive behaviours, or who are having difficulties in their relationships.

The Cognitive Behaviour Therapy program aims to give participants the opportunity to look at various aspects of their lives that they may find challenging. It is designed for people who want to identify, understand, and change unhelpful patterns of thinking which may by negatively affecting their day-to-day life.

This program is skills based and assists participants to tolerate intense feelings and learn to manage impulsive or unhelpful behaviours. It is based on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) principles and combines standard Cognitive Behavioural and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques and for emotion regulation and reality testing with concepts of mindful awareness, distress tolerance, effective communication, and the process of acceptance.

Improving diet with a solid nutritional foundation can be part of an individual’s mental health wellness toolbox. The Mood & Food program provides the knowledge, skills and support to assist patients to move towards healthier food choices. It may be useful for individuals diagnosed with mood disorder and who would like to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of food and nutrition on their mental health and looking for ways to improve their nutrition. They will experience learning modules, check your knowledge activities, reflective practice activities, goal setting, meal planning, and recipe selection as well as scheduled homework practice to enhance their learning. 

Alcohol and substance use disorders are frequently associated with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, trauma, medical health problems and social problems. This program is designed to assist people who misuse alcohol, drugs or prescription medications and / or have issues with dependency or problematic behaviours as a result of their usage. 

The ACT program is based on the principle of accepting what is out of your personal control while committing to taking values-based action to enrich your life and make it more meaningful. The aim of the group is for individuals to learn to handle painful thoughts and feelings in such a way that they have less impact and influence (mindfulness skills), and to clarify what is truly important and meaningful (clarify values). It teaches participants to use this knowledge to guide, inspire and motivate themselves to set goals and take action that enriches their life.