The ACAP Psychology Clinic is currently recruiting participants for all groups.

Aim/Purpose

We all have an inner critic within ourselves that points out our shortcomings and flaws. The Building Self-Compassion Group will help you be less critical and instead guide you on the journey of being kinder and understanding towards yourself.

The group has been developed from evidence based psychological practice, primarily Compassion Focused Therapy, which is an extension and adjunct to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) strategies. Participants will be provided with psychoeducation on self-compassion, ways to develop cognitive and behavioural skills and strategies to help discover and apply self-compassion techniques in stressful situations, and practice maintaining the behaviours. This is strength based approach and is not intended for persons with complex mental health problem or at significant risk.

Participants and Group Membership

Eligible participants will also need to demonstrate:

• Capacity to participate in a group setting
• Commitment to attend 2 weekend sessions

Access to web browser on device with video and audio capacity.

Participants will engage in an individual assessment prior to starting the group to ensure group participation is matched to therapeutic needs. The group will have between 8 and 10 members.

Objectives

• Understand how self-compassion works
• Develop insight into thinking, feeling and behavioural aspects of self-compassion
• Learn ways to manage unhelpful thinking styles and unhelpful behaviours
• Practice helpful skills and behaviours in a supported way through group interaction and practice tasks in between sessions

Format and Interventions

When the group commences, membership will be closed and no new members will be admitted. The group is conducted via Telehealth in an experiential workshop format, with provision of information, discussion, skill development/feedback and homework practice.

Schedule and Location

The group runs for 2 non-consecutive weekends, from 10am to 4pm hours each day at the ACAP Psychology Clinic.

Facilitators

Group will be facilitated by General or Provisionally Registered Psychologists under the supervision of an endorsed Clinical Psychologist.

Costs to Participants

There is an enrolment fee of $50 covering the participant workbook, materials and refreshments payable at the time of enrolment. Group sessions are free of charge. Please bring your own lunch.

Please note: In response to impact of COVID-19, the Clinic is currently waiving the cost of treatment.

Referral Procedure

If you are interested in joining the group, you can contact us directly. We also accept referrals from doctors or agencies. To find out more, contact the ACAP Psychology Clinic on 02 8236 8070, or email [email protected].

Evaluation

The Building Self-Compassion Group therapy will be evaluated through individual clinical interviews; self-report questionnaires; and feedback on the group content and presentation.