Young at Heart Program
About Young at Heart Program
This 8-session program is designed to meet the needs of mature aged patients experiencing adjustment difficulties, anxiety and/or depression. The program is based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and other strength-based therapies. It allows patients to review their life, both past and present, in a positive and supportive environment.
This program may be suitable for you if:
- You are going through a change in your life and are having difficulty adjusting to those changes.
- You are having difficulty accepting the ageing process.
- You have been feeling an increasing sense of fear, tension or stress lately.
- The way you feel makes it hard for you to feel any enjoyment during your usual activities.
- You are ready and willing to learn new skills to change the way you feel.
Program content
- Aging Gracefully
- Self-Compassion
- Memory and Neurobics
- Managing Thoughts
- Managing Emotions and Actions
- Improving Physical Wellbeing
- Mindfulness
- Strengths, Gratitude and Forgiveness
What you will experience
Throughout this program you will participate in group sessions lead by a qualified Allied Health Professional. You discuss issues that are most important to you, participate in activities providing a sense of enjoyment and achievement, Sessions include reminiscing, validation, generating meaning, dignity, positive appraisal and reframing daily experience. You will practice applying new skills in your own day-to-day life before the next session.
Treatment objectives
Objective 1
Understand and accept the aging process by learning what you can and cannot control or change. Learn and developing new strategies to change your attitude to aging.
Objective 2
Learn to be more compassionate towards yourself by increasing self-compassion within daily routine, improving overall wellbeing.
Objective 3
Learn to recognise the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Start to challenge different thought processes and use behaviour experiments to test beliefs.
Objective 4
Gain an understanding of emotions and recognise their functions in order to learn coping strategies to manage fluctuations.
Objective 5
Learn to develop techniques that foster your strengths and focus on gratitude and forgiveness.
What's included
Education
To develop or refine new skills and strategies.
Workbooks
To guide you though education, reflection and exercises designed to tackle your symptoms.
Action Plans
Step-by-step activities to help you put new skills into practice.
Progress Tracking
Questionnaires to help you monitor your symptoms and/or progress.
Extra Resources
Tools to help you overcome common challenges.
Check-ins
Support between treatments to help keep things on track.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will find this program helpful?
People over 50 years of age who are experiencing adjustment difficulties, anxiety and/or depression related to the aging process and stressors in their life.
How much dose it cost?
Participants are admitted as a day patient and as such, can claim their attendance via their health fund. Privately paying is also an option. We ask that patients confirm any applicable out-of-pocket excess or gap costs directly with Mackay Private Hospital by calling 07 4852 3900
