Swinburne Psychology Clinic's Free E-Newsletter

Help is on the way: Support for individuals, couples and families in the community

The Swinburne Psychology Clinic’s electronic newsletter is designed to keep the general community, health professionals, past and present clients and counsellors informed about the Clinic’s upcoming events and activities. Over 700 community members, students and health professionals have already subscribed to receive this free service. If you would also like to subscribe, please send an email to the Project Officer at abrydon@swin.edu.au.

The June-July edition of our newsletter can be read below and can be downloaded in PDF format by clicking here.

June-July Edition
This edition of the newsletter profiles some of the research being conducted at the Psychology Clinic. This includes research trials into the effectiveness of psychological treatment programs for irritable bowel syndrome and compulsive hoarding. The newsletter also profiles questionnaire based research being conducted by counsellors that can be completed online. As usual, the Psychology Clinic E-newsletter also aims to keep you up-to-date with news events at the Clinic.

Treatment for Compulsive Hoarding
In August, the Psychology Clinic, the Swin-PsyCHE Research Unit and clinical psychologist Dr Christopher Morgan will work in collaboration to deliver a group treatment program for compulsive hoarding to the public. Compulsive hoarding involves the acquiring and failing to discard a number of possessions that appear to be useless or are of limited value. These items clutter the homes of compulsive hoarders so significantly that living spaces can no longer be used for the purpose they were designed for. Hoarding causes significant distress and can impair social and occupational functioning. The compulsive acquiring of possessions can also be detrimental to a person's financial situation.

The compulsive hoarding group will be open to six participants and will be run on a low-cost basis. Medicare rebates may be available for those who would like to participate. If you would like to find out more or register your interest in this group, please contact Aisha Brydon on (03) 9214 5528 or send an email to abrydon@swin.edu.au

Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gut disorder associated with significant impairment to quality of life. Currently there are only a limited number of effective treatment options available.The Psychology Clinic and the Bio-Psychology Research Group are currently seeking patients diagnosed IBS to participant in a cognitive-behavioural intervention program for the treatment of IBS.Participants will undergo eight-structured cognitive-behaviour therapy sessions aimed at improving IBS related symptoms at the Swinburne Psychology Clinic.

This study aims to evaluate the psychological and physiological factors associated with IBS and the impact CBT has on these factors. Throughout the intervention period, participants will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires and provide biological samples, specifically, saliva and faecal samples. These samples will be used to measure changes in cortisol, sIgA and lactic acid bacteria over the course of the treatment.

This treatment program aims to equip individuals with skills to manage and reduce IBS symptoms; collect evidence to better understand the biological mechanisms underpinning IBS; and assist the development of integrated biological and psychological treatment programs for IBS.

The IBS treatment program is delivered by a provisional or registered psychologist and it have been made available to the public on a low-cost basis at the rate of $20 a session/$160 for the duration of the study. If you, or someone you know, would like to participate in this treatment program please contact Simon Knowles on sknowles@swin.edu.au or (03) 9214 8206.

Research Focus
The Swinburne Psychology Clinic is staffed by Masters and Doctoral Students completing degrees in Clinical and Counselling Psychology. As part of their degrees, postgraduate students conduct research to develop their expertise and contribute knowledge to the scientific community. Participating in research can be enjoyable, and can provide an opportunity for personal reflection.This month, the newsletter is promoting research being conducted by Jenny Neale, Diana Cornish and Celeste Benetti. These researchers have all previously worked as counsellors at the Clinic.

Women and Depression
Jenny is seeking women in their 50s and 60s, who have recovered from depression, to share with her their experience of recovery. She is particularly interested in how mature women restore wellbeing and create meaning and purpose in their lives. It is hoped that the findings of Jenny's research contribute to developing better treatments for women living with depression.

To participate in this research, women are required to have been recovered from depression for a minimum of 12 months. If you, or someone you know, would like to participate in this research, or if you would like more information about this study, please contact Jenny Neale by phone: 0414 744 072 or email: 5418208@student.swin.edu.au

Parental Perceptions of Problem Behaviour in Children (aged 5 - 12)
Diana Cornish is seeking mothers and fathers from a variety of different backgrounds to complete a survey on how parents perceive problem behaviours in primary school aged children aged between 5 and 12 years. The survey takes 30 minutes to complete and it can be accessed at: http://opinio.online.swin.edu.au/s?s=3890

Psychological functioning of new and expecting parents, and adults who have not had children.
Celeste Benetti is seeking males and females aged 18 to 45, who either;
- have not had children and are not currently expecting their first child;
- are currently expecting their first child; or
- have had their first child within the past 12 months

The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and can be accessed at: www.lookagain.com.au/CelesteResearch/

Swinburne's National e-Therapy Centre for Anxiety Disorders
Swinburne University's e-Therapy Unit has been awarded a $1.55 million grant from the Federal Department of Health and Ageing to establish the National e-Therapy Centre for Anxiety Disorders (NeTCAD).

NeTCAD will offer internet-based clinical treatment programs for anxiety disorders including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder. NeTCAD will also train postgraduate psychology students in the science and practice of e-therapy and will be used to develop online treatment programs for other psychological problems. These programs will become available in 2009.

Automated self-help programs designed to treat mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety will be make available to the Australian public at no-cost. Therapist assisted programs designed to treat individuals with severe symptoms will be made available on a low cost basis.

There is strong evidence for the effectiveness of e-therapy. Benefits of accessing treatment online include contact with a therapist at their own convenience, reduced cost, increased anonymity and increased accessibility for isolated or stigmatised groups.

Important Dates and Upcoming Groups
Alamein Depression and Anxiety Group
Friday 18 July
In 2009, the Clinic will again be working with the Alamein Neighbourhood & Learning Centre (ANLC) to run a five-week depression and anxiety support group for members of the Boroondara community. For more information about this group, please visit the ANLC's website: www.alameinnlc.org.au/ or contact Mim on anlc@bigpond.com or 9885 9401.

ACT and Mindfulness PD Workshop
Saturday 2 August
In August, the Psychology Clinic, in conjunction with Dr Russ Harris, will run an introductory workshop to using ACT and Mindfulness in therapeutic settings. The introductory workshop will be followed by a sequence of three development workshops and the training is open to all counselling and health professionals.

Russ's book, ‘The Happiness Trap', and his ‘Mindfulness Skills' cds will be available to purchase on the day of the introductory workshop.

More information about these workshops can be found at the following link of the Psychology Clinic's website: www.swinburne.edu.au/lss/psychology/pc/mindfulness_and_acceptance_and_commitment_therapy_pd.htm

Monthly Joke
We hope you have enjoyed this edition of our newsletter. This month we have selected to print the following joke which reflects the role of some compulsions and rituals in obsessive compulsive disorder. The joke has been collected from the internet.

A man sitting on a train became intrigued as he watched another passenger tear up bits of paper and throw them out of the window.

"What are you doing that for?" the man asked his fellow passenger?

"It's to keep the elephants away!" he responded.

The man was baffled by this response and pointed out, "But there are no elephants in Australia?"

To which his fellow passenger responded, "Effective, isn't it?"

If there is a seasonal or psychology-related joke that has made you smile, please share it with us by submitting it to abrydon@swin.edu.au. Entries of less than 200 words will be considered for publication in upcoming editions of this newsletter.

About the Newsletter
This E-Newsletter is an initiative of the Swinburne Psychology Clinic to provide you with up-to-date information about with the activities and services we provide. Currently, over 700 community members, students and health professionals subscribe to this newsletter. The newsletter is produced by Aisha Brydon.

We welcome any feedback and ideas you have about this publication. If there is a topic, query or segment you would like to see in future editions please send an email to: abrydon@swin.edu.au.

To subscribe, send an email to: abrydon@swin.edu.au.