Help is on the way: Support for individuals, couples and families in the community
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that affects more than 450,000 Australians. People with 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. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been found to be an effective treatment of OCD and this treatment approach is used the the group therapy program offered by the Psychology Clinic and the SwinPsyCHE Research Unit.
Program Details
Systematic Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Phenomena - or STOP Therapy, for short is a 12-week Group CBT program for the treatment of OCD. 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 12-weeks, and that these gains are maintained in the 6 months following treatment. The treatment is offered as twelve 1.5-hour weekly sessions at the Psychology Clinic at Swinburne University, for which you may be eligible to receive Medicare rebates.
Program Fees
The program fees for the STOP therapy program will be revised in 2009.
Medicare Information
Medicare rebates are only available for sessions attended
A Mental Health Care Plan and a GP referral for psychological group therapy are needed to obtain a Medicare rebate for the cost of the group. Click here for more information about Medicare referrals for STOP.
Join the Group
The next STOP therapy program is planned to commence in April-June 2009. To find out how you can register to participate in this group click here.
Email: psychclinic@swin.edu.au Call: (03) 9214 8653 Visit: Level 3, TD Building, Hawthorn Campus
