Southern Synergy

Training Activities

• The MAP Program
  
• Graduate Diploma in Community Mental Health
  
• Registrar Training
  
• South East Education and Training Cluster
  
• Textbook ‘Mental Health in Australia; Collaborative Community Practice’
  
• Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Training for Clinicians
  

School Certificate Course Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Course

A certificate course provided by the School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine. The course is convened on a weekly basis for eight weeks followed by an intensive training retreat. Participants can attend the eight week course in either Melbourne (in Dandenong) or Adelaide. The retreat is held in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria.

Course details

Adelaide:
Location: Nada, 1 Mary St, Hindmarsh, Adelaide
Dates: Tuesdays 5-7pm, 28 July – 15 September 2009.

Subject to demand, additional eight-week programs may be run in Melbourne and Adelaide. To register your interest please contact Bernadette O’Grady on 9554 1847 (Melbourne) or Dr Maura Kenny, maurak@adam.com.au (Adelaide).

Teacher Development Retreat
Location: Underbank Stud Bacchus Marsh Victoria
Dates: Thursday evening 12 November to Lunchtime Sunday 15 November 2009

Cost
The cost is $2195 including GST and meals and accommodation at the residential retreat.

Aim
This course is intended to train clinicians in the instruction of MBCT group therapy for the treatment of depression. MBCT is a manualised group skills-training program that integrates aspects of cognitive therapy with components of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. The program teaches skills in disengagement from habitual (automatic) dysfunctional cognitive routines, especially depression related ruminative thought patterns as a way to reduce risk of relapse and recurrence of depression. The proposed program follows the group format developed by Segal, Williams and Teasdale, in the treatment of depression using MBCT within a group program context. The aim is to provide comprehensive training in the instruction of MBCT group therapy in order to prepare clinicians to provide this therapy in the community.

Target Market
The course is designed primarily for experienced clinicians from relevant disciplines (e.g., psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, psychiatric nurses) who are trained in cognitive behavioural therapy and have a mindfulness practice or are committed to developing one. It is expected that applicants would be interested in adding to their skills base and ideally facilitate MBCT group therapy programs in the community, both in the public and private sector.

Contact Hours
The course will be offered over a semester and will be convened on a weekly basis for a period of eight weeks (2 hours per week), followed by an intensive three full day MBCT teacher development retreat. (Total 44 Hours).

The eight week course is a variation of the MBCT therapy group but adapted for the training situation, with some variation to the exercises so as to make them more suitable for experiential participation and learning by therapists rather than patients with depression. There are regular homework and diary keeping tasks amounting to about 45 minutes a day for the duration of the course. A period of one month is allowed between the end of the course and the residential retreat so that participants can consolidate their personal practice and associated learning from the eight sessions.

The intensive residential course emphasises personal practice as well as concentrated and closely coached practice in leading meditations, discussions and other aspects of the course.

Content
The therapeutic areas covered will include:

Selection Criteria
Successful applicants will be graduates of relevant disciplines who:  

• Have at least two years relevant post graduate clinical experience.  
• Demonstrate training and proficiency in the use of CBT.  
• Already have a mindfulness practice or are willing to commit to developing one.

Applications
To apply, please send an expression of interest which clearly addresses the selection criteria and a 1-2 page CV to Bernadette.OGrady@med.monash.edu.au.

Application closing date: 24 July 2009. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application shortly after the closing date.

Evaluation
Evaluation would be by attendance and satisfactory participation, including completion of weekly homework tasks. Satisfactory Completion certificate will be provided for those who have met the criteria (e.g., attendance of 7 out of 8 training sessions and the residential retreat).