MOOD MANAGEMENT GROUP MOOD MANAGEMENT GROUP FOR TERTIARY STUDENTSFOR TERTIARY STUDENTS

Presenters:

Sean Murray

Charmaine Cameron

RationalRational

IACS AccreditationIACS Accreditation Provide an alternative to individual Provide an alternative to individual

counselling for students with long counselling for students with long standing anxiety and depression standing anxiety and depression issuesissues

Mood Management Group ProgramMood Management Group Program

Group program delivered by Group program delivered by counsellors at the University counsellors at the University Counselling Services at Curtin Counselling Services at Curtin University, Perth, Western AustraliaUniversity, Perth, Western Australia

10 week structured CBT program 10 week structured CBT program developed by Centre for Clinical developed by Centre for Clinical Interventions (Interventions (Nathan, P., Smith, L., Rees, C., Nathan, P., Smith, L., Rees, C., Correia, H., Juniper, U., Kingsep, P., & Lim, L. (2004) Correia, H., Juniper, U., Kingsep, P., & Lim, L. (2004)

with follow-up session after 4 weeks with follow-up session after 4 weeks

Who will run the group?Who will run the group? How many in the group?How many in the group? Referral processReferral process Assessment – Inclusion and Exclusion criteriaAssessment – Inclusion and Exclusion criteria

Before Starting the Group…Before Starting the Group…

Information Sheet for Information Sheet for CounsellorsCounsellors

This semester, there will be a 10 week Mood Management Group for This semester, there will be a 10 week Mood Management Group for students run by Sean and Charmaine. The aim of the group is to provide students run by Sean and Charmaine. The aim of the group is to provide an alternative to individual therapy for clients (students only) with long an alternative to individual therapy for clients (students only) with long standing anxiety and depression issues. The group is a structured CBT standing anxiety and depression issues. The group is a structured CBT program designed by CCI. program designed by CCI.

It will run on Wednesdays from 4-6pm, starting on It will run on Wednesdays from 4-6pm, starting on 21st March 21st March and ending and ending on on 23rd May23rd May. A follow up session will be scheduled for 1st August. It is . A follow up session will be scheduled for 1st August. It is anticipated that the group will run with about 12 participants but 15 will anticipated that the group will run with about 12 participants but 15 will be registered and a further few waitlisted. Registrations will close on be registered and a further few waitlisted. Registrations will close on Wed 7th March, two weeks prior to the start of group. Counsellors will Wed 7th March, two weeks prior to the start of group. Counsellors will need to facilitate the registration process for clients, the details of which need to facilitate the registration process for clients, the details of which will be held at reception. There will be a $5.00 charge for materials used will be held at reception. There will be a $5.00 charge for materials used in the program.in the program.

The group will not be publicised and will be through counsellor referral The group will not be publicised and will be through counsellor referral only. Students will need to be assessed by counsellors as per our regular only. Students will need to be assessed by counsellors as per our regular assessment processes. Use of specific measures such as the BDI is not assessment processes. Use of specific measures such as the BDI is not required. Assessment criteria is based on the DSM-IV criteria for anxiety required. Assessment criteria is based on the DSM-IV criteria for anxiety and depression, being mindful that the group is designed for dealing with and depression, being mindful that the group is designed for dealing with long standing issues and not situational dependent or reactive mood long standing issues and not situational dependent or reactive mood disturbance. disturbance.

Clients with primary presenting issues that include eating disorders, Clients with primary presenting issues that include eating disorders, substance abuse, personality disorders, or psychotic disorders are substance abuse, personality disorders, or psychotic disorders are not not suitablesuitable for this type of group. Clients will need to be made aware that for this type of group. Clients will need to be made aware that participation in the group will use up their session entitlements and they participation in the group will use up their session entitlements and they will not be offered individual counselling in addition to the group will not be offered individual counselling in addition to the group program. program.

The manual for the course is currently circulating among counsellors. Any The manual for the course is currently circulating among counsellors. Any queries about the group can be directed to Charmaine. queries about the group can be directed to Charmaine.

TimingTiming Expectations for therapyExpectations for therapy Pre and post evaluation Pre and post evaluation Ongoing assessment – progress evaluated Ongoing assessment – progress evaluated

through regular homework monitoringthrough regular homework monitoring

Before Starting the Group…Before Starting the Group…

Manual based programManual based program Therapist notes providedTherapist notes provided Weekly session outlineWeekly session outline Handouts and worksheets for clientsHandouts and worksheets for clients Weekly homeworkWeekly homework

The ProgramThe Program

Expectations about changeExpectations about change Psychoeducation about anxiety and depressionPsychoeducation about anxiety and depression Symptoms – physiological, cognitive, and Symptoms – physiological, cognitive, and

behaviouralbehavioural Feedback loops - maintaining factorsFeedback loops - maintaining factors Goal settingGoal setting Session summary and home work assignmentSession summary and home work assignment Preview of next sessionPreview of next session

Program ContentProgram Content

Understanding the change process Understanding the change process Behavioural activation Behavioural activation Graded exposureGraded exposure Understanding the thinking-feeling connectionUnderstanding the thinking-feeling connection Learning to challenge beliefsLearning to challenge beliefs Recognising unhelpful thinking stylesRecognising unhelpful thinking styles Relaxation training – calming breath technique Relaxation training – calming breath technique

and progressive muscle relaxationand progressive muscle relaxation

Strategies and TechniquesStrategies and Techniques

Mid way program review sessionMid way program review session Action planningAction planning Preparation for setbacksPreparation for setbacks Emotion as trigger for mood changeEmotion as trigger for mood change Physiological sensation as trigger for changePhysiological sensation as trigger for change Active coping (problem solving)Active coping (problem solving) Use of flashcardsUse of flashcards Self-management planSelf-management plan

More Strategies and Techniques More Strategies and Techniques

Outcomes Outcomes

DASS used to evaluate DASS used to evaluate outcomes at 3 time outcomes at 3 time points: pre-, post-, and points: pre-, post-, and follow-up.follow-up.

Outcomes Outcomes

05

1015202530354045

Depression

Anxie

tyStres

s

Program Evaluation Program Evaluation

Some comments from feedback:Some comments from feedback:““Topics covered were relevant”Topics covered were relevant”

““Explanations and step-by-steps of topics were good”Explanations and step-by-steps of topics were good”

““Great course, it went by very quickly”Great course, it went by very quickly”

““It was a little intense at times as it identified some of my hot It was a little intense at times as it identified some of my hot thoughts/issues”thoughts/issues”

Areas of course that were most useful:Areas of course that were most useful:““Balanced thoughts, breaking the cycle”Balanced thoughts, breaking the cycle”

““Mood changes are normal for I used to think that feeling sad was Mood changes are normal for I used to think that feeling sad was a bad thing”a bad thing”

““Thought diaries and identifying hot thoughts”Thought diaries and identifying hot thoughts”

““Group discussion”Group discussion”

Counsellor evaluation Counsellor evaluation What we would do differently:What we would do differently:

Use only one therapistUse only one therapist Run one program overlapping both semestersRun one program overlapping both semesters Running self contained modulesRunning self contained modules Combine some modules – shorten programCombine some modules – shorten program