Group Therapy Programs
Our group programs usually run once or twice a year, depending on the number of people who express interest. Each program has a minimum number of participants to ensure a supportive group experience, so registering your interest early helps us confirm your spot and bring the group together. If there aren’t enough participants at one time, we’ll keep your details on our waitlist and let you know as soon as the next program is scheduled.
To participate in these programs, please register your interest here: Group Program Expression of Interest Form. Assessments will be conducted before the start of each program at our Hawthorn campus. A therapist will arrange an interview with interested participants.
The Psychology Clinic offers a number of group therapy programs for the community. These programs have been developed in line of best current research evidence. They have been shown to be effective in increasing life satisfaction and teaching individuals the psychological skills needed to reduce their symptoms.
Group therapy provides individuals with an opportunity to target a specific issue and work in a structured manner, to be supported by other people who understand their experiences and to learn from them during their treatment. We have also found that group therapy helps participants stay motivated and committed to improving their mental health.
Joining a Group Therapy Program
There are several steps involved in joining one of the Psychology Clinic’s group therapy programs. This process includes completing an assessment to ensure the program you are interested in is the best fit for your individual needs.
Step 1 – Register Your Interest
To register, please complete the expression of interest form. You will then be placed on the assessment waitlist for your chosen program.
Step 2 – Program Scheduling
Our group programs usually run once or twice a year, depending on the number of people who express interest. Each program has a minimum number of participants to ensure a supportive group experience. If there aren’t enough participants for a particular intake, the group may be postponed. In that case, we’ll keep your details on our waitlist and contact you as soon as the next program is scheduled.
Step 3 – Pre-Group Contact
A group facilitator will contact you around 4–6 weeks before the program begins. This is an opportunity to ask questions about the program and arrange your pre-group assessment at the clinic or online.
Step 4 – Pre-Group Assessment
Assessments allow you to meet with the group facilitators before starting the program. They also help facilitators confirm that the group setting is the most suitable treatment for your needs. If the assessment indicates that the program is not the most appropriate option for you, the facilitators will discuss alternative recommendations.
Step 5 – Program Offer & Payment
After the assessment, you may be offered a place in the program. Payment is due at the first group session and can be made by cash or credit card. Instalment payment options may be available upon request.
What are the benefits of group therapy?
In the Psychology Clinic's group therapy programs, people with similar feelings, thoughts and problems work together to develop new ways of managing psychological difficulties. Group members benefit from receiving support from others who share their experience and by being able to practice new skills within the context of the group. Over the course of a group, participants learn practical skills, gain insight into areas of difficulty and often experience a sense of acceptance and belonging within the group.
I have social anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder - can I complete the groups for both these disorders?
Some of the people who complete the Psychology Clinic's group programs meet criteria for two psychological disorders. This is called co-morbidity. Having a second psychological difficulty does not preclude a person from completing a group therapy program. A pre-group assessment will determine whether a group program will meet a person's needs, and if they are interested in completing two groups, the assessment will determine which they should complete first.
I have participated in a group previously and I would like to do some more work. What would you recommend?
After finishing a group program, many people wish to continue counselling. One way to do this is through individual therapy, which the clinic provides at low cost. Some people may wish to repeat a group program, which can be discussed with the clinic individually. To put in an expression of interest in a group, please use the Group Therapy Expression of Interest Form.
How often do the groups run?
We receive a high number of enquiries for each of the group therapy programs. However, we can only run these groups on demand if we have the right number of eligible participants.
Can I make enquiries on behalf of someone?
Yes, you may enquire on behalf of a client or relative, but we are only able to contact them if they have directly given us permission to do so. We do not give out referral forms for the groups.
I was previously assessed as not eligible for a group therapy. Can I still apply in future?
Yes, you may re-apply if you think your situation has changed. A new assessment will be done to determine your eligibility.
The Carers Hoarding Support Group has been developed to assist people who care for someone who experiences Hoarding Disorder. The program aims to provide information about the causes and treatment of hoarding and to develop strategies to assist you with living with hoarding.
The group is for the relatives and carers of people suffering from hoarding and will provide information and support to people who care for individuals with hoarding disorder, as well as provide an opportunity to discuss the challenges that can come with supporting a person who hoards.
Fees
This is a free group program facilitated by registered and provisional psychologists with Dr Maja Nedeljkovic, who oversees the clinic’s Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring Group.
How to apply
To register your interest for this group, please email psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au or fill out the Group Therapy Registration form.
The Compassion Focused Therapy Group for Trauma Recovery and Disordered Eating is a ten-session group-based program designed to assist people who are currently affected by eating difficulties and who have previously experienced trauma. The program will incorporate a range of skills to cultivate compassion, including grounding, breathing and mindfulness in order to develop more positive ways of relating to oneself and others. The program may be completed either alongside individual therapy or as a standalone treatment.
Fees
The group therapy program is low-cost. It is $700 ($70 per session), and Medicare rebates are available for people with a referral from their medical practitioner. This fee is payable prior to the commencement of the group and is non-refundable.
Eligibility
Adults over 18 years who have a history of trauma and are currently experiencing eating difficulties are able to apply for the program. Participants do not need to have a formal mental health diagnosis in order to participate. Prior to commencing the group, you will meet with the facilitators to assess whether the group is suitable for your needs, and this assessment carries a one-off fee of $25.
How to apply
To register your interest for this group, please email psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au or fill out the Group Therapy Registration form.
Compulsive hoarding and acquiring involves the acquisition of and inability to discard a vast number of possessions. Compulsive hoarding is distinguished from collecting or from normal household clutter in three ways:
- The items collected appear to be useless or of limited value
- Rooms in the household of someone living with compulsive hoarding are so significantly cluttered that they can no longer be used for the purpose they were designed for
- The impact of a person’s hoarding behaviour causes significant distress or impairs their ability to function in everyday life.
Items that are commonly hoarded include old newspapers and magazines, junk mail, receipts, food wrappers, lists and containers.
The homes of people living with hoarding are hazardous; the clutter serves as a fire hazard; individuals are at increased risk of falling, or having items fall onto them and collected waste can lead to unsanitary conditions. Consequently, people with compulsive hoarding are often too embarrassed to have people visit their homes, and as a consequence, have limited social interactions.
Hoarding behaviour has a strong relationship with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and it is estimated that 25-30 per cent of individuals diagnosed with OCD have symptoms of compulsive hoarding. It is estimated that OCD affects 1-3 per cent of Australians.
Details
The Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring Group is a ten-session program that uses cognitive behavioural therapy to address the thoughts and behaviours that lead to and maintain hoarding behaviour. The program targets decision making deficits, emotional connection to items hoarded, the avoidance of storing items appropriately and the avoidance of discarding items. The program challenges the beliefs that participants have about the nature of their possessions.
Eligibility
To be a part of the Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring Group, individuals are required to complete a three-hour assessment with a counsellor at the Psychology Clinic and obtain a referral and mental health care plan from their doctor.
Dates
Groups are run a number of times throughout the year. Due to limited places, waiting lists may apply. For more information on program dates, please contact the Psychology Clinic at psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au.
Fees
There is a A$25 fee to be assessed for the Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring Group. An upfront fee of A$700 is required for the group, for which you may be eligible to receive a Medicare rebate. If you are unable to pay the program fee in one lump sum, please contact the Project Officer to discuss alternate arrangements.
How to apply
To register your interest for this group, please email psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au or fill out the Group Therapy Registration form.
The Men's Anger Management Group is a low-cost program for people experiencing difficulties in regulating or managing anger across a variety of situations, including work, sport, driving, social settings and at home.
In situations where anger arises, people with anger management problems experience a range of physical, emotional and psychological symptoms and are at risk of engaging in verbal and physical intimidation or abuse of others.
The Men's Anger Management Group's program caters for people suffering from mild to serious anger and is suitable for people who wish to better understand and manage their anger within a small, supportive group environment.
Details
The Men's Anger Management Group is a 12-week program that runs for two hours and 15 minutes once a week. Programs often run in the evenings. Participation in the program involves attending all sessions in addition to an initial interview.
The group consists of a structured cognitive therapy program that teaches people about the causes, consequences and outcomes of anger, including behavioural, physiological and cognitive components. The program also focuses on each participant’s individual experience of anger and provides practical strategies to overcome situations in which anger may be aroused.
Follow-up individual counselling after the program is available if required. Alternatively, if you would prefer individual counselling to the group program, this can also be arranged by contacting the Psychology Clinic’s Project Officer on 9214 5528 or email psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au.
The program is conducted by two provisionally registered psychologists undertaking graduate studies in psychology at Swinburne University of Technology. The program is also overseen by a registered psychologist.
Eligibility
To be a part of the Men's Anger Management Group, program participants need to be assessed to determine the type and extent of their problems with anger. This is a two-hour assessment that occurs prior to program commencement.
Dates
Due to limited places, waiting lists may apply. For more information on program dates or to be placed on the assessment list for an upcoming group, please contact the Psychology Clinic at psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au.
Fees
The cost of the Men's Anger Management Group's program includes an assessment fee of A$25, plus a program fee of A$430.
This fee is payable prior to the commencement of the group and is non-refundable. If you are unable to pay the program fee in one lump sum, please contact the Project Officer to discuss alternate arrangements.
How to apply
To register your interest for this group, please email psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au or fill out the Group Therapy Registration form.
This is a group treatment program for Panic Disorder that combines Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with a trained therapy dog. There is also the opportunity to participate in the research study associated with this program.
Eligibility
- Participants are required to:
- Attend a 2-hour pre-treatment assessment session to determine final eligibility
- If eligible, attend six weekly, 90-minute evidence-based group treatment sessions with a trained therapy dog present
- Complete two post-treatment surveys
Cost
The cost of the pre-treatment assessment is $25. The cost of the treatment program is $60 (paid upfront). treatmentsurveys
People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are besieged by intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images or impulses (obsessions), and are compelled to perform behavioural and mental rituals (compulsions).
Obsessions and compulsions are distressing, exhausting and time consuming, and cause significant interference in the sufferer’s family and social relationships, daily routines, and their capacity to fulfil their goals in employment and education.
The Obsessive Compulsive, Anxiety & Related Disorders (OCARD) Treatment and Research Program conducts treatment and research into disorders, including OCD and related disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, compulsive hoarding and compulsive buying.
We are also investigating anxiety and depression in people suffering from a chronic medical illness. The program undertakes research into factors that make individuals vulnerable to these disorders, and treatments for these disorders.
Details
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been found to be an effective treatment of OCD. It helps the sufferer identify the ideas, beliefs and behaviours associated with OCD, and ways of modifying them.
The Swinburne Psychology Clinic offers a 10-week group CBT program for the treatment of OCD. The program is called Systematic Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Phenomena (STOP) therapy. It focuses on providing participants with information about OCD, practical strategies on managing OCD symptoms, general anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and provides strategies for preventing or managing future relapses.
STOP therapy has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of OCD over 10 weeks, and that these improvements are maintained in the six months following treatment. The treatment is offered as 10 1.5-hour weekly sessions at the Psychology Clinic at Swinburne.
Eligibility
To be a part of the OCD STOP therapy program, participants are required to complete a two-hour assessment with a counsellor at the clinic and obtain a referral and mental health care plan from their doctor.
Dates
The OCD STOP program is run a number of times throughout the year. For more information about when the next group is being held, please contact the Psychology Clinic at psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au.
Fees
The cost of the program is A$600. Medicare rebates are available for up to 10 sessions and there is an assessment fee of A$25 which cannot be rebated through Medicare. If you are unable to pay the program fee in one lump sum, please contact the Project Officer to discuss alternate arrangements.
How to apply
To register your interest for this group, please email psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au or fill out the Group Therapy Registration form.
People with social anxiety often feel that they will be criticised by other people or feel that they will say or do something that will humiliate or embarrass themselves.
The Social Anxiety Group is a low-cost group program for people experiencing difficulties in social situations such as public speaking, initiating or maintaining conversations, speaking to authority figures, attending parties, eating in public and many other scenarios. In these situations, some people with social anxiety also experience physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, trembling, confused thoughts, muscular tension, stomach problems and even panic attacks.
The Social Anxiety Group's program caters for people suffering from mild to serious anxiety and is suitable for those who wish to better understand and control their fears within a small, supportive group environment.
Details
The Social Anxiety Group is a 12-week program that runs for three hours once a week. Programs tend to run in the evening from 6-9pm. Participation in the program involves attending all sessions, as well as an initial interview.
The Social Anxiety Group is a structured cognitive therapy program that centres on the relationship between faulty cognitions, the physiological symptoms of arousal and subsequent avoidant behaviour.
The program aims to teach people about the causes and symptoms of social anxiety, including its behavioural, physiological and cognitive components. It also focuses on each participant’s individual concerns and provides practical strategies to overcome situations in which anxiety may be aroused.
Follow-up individual counselling after the program is available if required. Alternatively, if you would prefer individual counselling to the group program, this can also be arranged by contacting the Psychology Clinic’s Project Officer on 9214 5528 or email psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au.
The program is conducted by two provisional psychologists, who are undertaking graduate studies in psychology at Swinburne University of Technology. The program is also overseen by Professor Glen Bates, a senior lecturer in psychology and a member of the Psychology Clinic’s executive committee.
Eligibility
To be a part of the program, participants need to be assessed to determine the extent of their social anxiety. This is a two-hour assessment that occurs prior to program commencement.
Dates
Programs run a number of times throughout the year. For more information, please contact the Psychology Clinic at psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au.
Fees
The cost of the program includes an assessment fee of A$25, plus a program fee of $A445. This fee is payable prior to the commencement of the group and is non-refundable. If you are unable to pay the program fee in one lump sum, please contact the Project Officer discuss alternate arrangements.
How to apply
Our Social Anxiety Group runs multiple times throughout the year. To find out how you can register to participate in these groups, please contact the Psychology Clinic at psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au.
Details
The social anxiety group is a low-cost group program for people experiencing difficulties in social situations, such as public speaking, initiating or maintaining conversations, speaking to authority figures, attending parties, eating in public and many other scenarios.
The social anxiety group is a 12-week program that runs for 3 hours once a week. Participation in the program involves attending all sessions, as well as an initial interview.The social anxiety group is a structured cognitive therapy program that centres on the relationship between faulty cognitions, the physiological symptoms of arousal and subsequent avoidant behaviour.
Eligibility
To be a part of the social anxiety program, participants should be aged 18 or above and will be assessed to determine the nature and extent of their social anxiety. This involves attending an assessment that can last anywhere from 2- 3 hours before program commencement.
Dates
Programs run a number of times throughout the year. For more information, please contact the Psychology Clinic at psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au.
Fees
The cost of the social anxiety program includes a $25 assessment fee, plus a program fee of $700, which is paid up-front. Medicare rebates are available for the program fee.
How to apply
To register your interest for this group, please email psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au or fill out the Group Therapy Registration form.
The Trauma Recovery Program is a specialised trauma treatment that is designed for women who have experienced interpersonal trauma, such as sexual, physical or emotional abuse or domestic violence.
The program offers an opportunity to connect with others while learning skills that help with coping with trauma-related symptoms.
Fees
The cost of the group therapy program is A$700, with Medicare rebates available for people with a referral from their medical practitioner.
This fee is payable prior to the commencement of the group and is non-refundable.
If you are unable to pay the program fee in one lump sum, please contact the Project Officer to discuss alternative arrangements.
How to apply
To register your interest for this group, please email psychprojects@swinburne.edu.au or fill out the Group Therapy Registration form.
Have a question?
For more information about the Swinburne Psychology Clinic, please call +61 3 9214 8653 (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm) or email psychclinic@swinburne.edu.au.