Focus
This session uses a collaborative approach in which both patient and counsellor work actively together towards helping to explore, manage and affiliate personal issues, i.e. anxieties surrounding change, expectations, family systems and identifying needs around encumbrance and addiction. The supportive setting allows patients to share experiences and feelings to work through personal issues and to:
• Gain greater self-awareness.
• Help patients recognise the resources they possess for approaching difficulties.
• Improve self-esteem and self-empowerment.
• Identifying patient’s possible potentials, emotionally, spiritually and creatively.
Anger Management
The aim of the session is to help individuals deal with anger more effectively. The session educates patients about the cause, nature and effect of anger. Patients are encouraged to participate through discussion and role-play. Individuals will develop skills using cognitive restructuring, problem solving and social skills training.
Stress Management
Stress is an everyday fact of life. It becomes a problem when we experience too much of it and it interferes with our daily lives. The stress management session aims to educate patients about the causes, nature and effect of stress and to identify and teach individuals appropriate management skills. It is largely educative, but patients are encouraged to participate through discussion, audio and visual lectures, handouts, self-relating scales. Homework tasks may be used in these sessions. The anxiety management sessions focus on more specific features of anxieties, akin to patients with substance misuse and/or alcoholism.
Communication Skills
Patients are encouraged to identify difficulties in communicating. This session will provide education and include skill-based activities. All aspects of communication will be explored.
Relaxation
The session enables clients to respond to directions from the facilitating therapist, by which method they choose, i.e. active or passive muscle relaxation and sometimes-creative visualisation may be incorporated into this session.
Living Skills
Patients can access family conferences facilitated by their relevant counsellor. This may include spouse, partners, employers, social services, parents or any genuinely concerned parties.
Confidentiality
DCS has a commitment to confidentiality. All patients attending program sessions will be expected to abide by the codes of responsibility and conduct.
