Treatment for Young Adults

Inpatient treatment

The Central Coast Clinic has an extensive team of psychiatrists and experienced staff to look after the needs of young adults. We offer inpatient and day patient education programs to our young adult patients. 

The goals for caring for our Young Adults are to:

• Facilitate a sense of safety and security. Our team will assist you with your safety goals and the development of a workable management plan. This is essential to our working unit and your inability to comply with this may mean that you are, at this stage, unable to work within our model of care
• Assist and support you whilst working on past abuse and trauma issues
• Encourage a sense of empowerment through the recognition and development of internal resources
• Promote skill building which enables you to plan effectively for the future, enhance existing social and work functioning and deal constructively with daily functioning

There is a consistent emphasis in the program on approaches focused on personal responsibility, consideration of others and patients’ active involvement in their treatment.

Expectations regarding such issues are addressed prior to, and throughout admission.

Program Outline

Our 21 day inpatient program encourages a more focused approach to your specific treatment goals. It has three essential components:

Group Program

This  group ensures a therapeutic environment with creative discussion and expression.  Each week, patients are allocated to a group and a theme or topic will be discussed. Program topics may include:

• Self Compassion
• Distress Tolerance
• Emotional regulation
• Acceptance
• Effective communication
• Core beliefs, or how we see ourselves, other people, the world and the future

Consultations with Psychiatrists

You will be seen by your Psychiatrist at regular intervals during your inpatient stay. The frequency of these sessions will be individually negotiated between yourself and your Psychiatrist.

For interstate patients, it is important you understand that your allocated Psychiatrist will oversee your care as an inpatient only. They are not your primary Therapist.

Individual Work

Ours is a working unit and as such, we expect you to have realistic goals. If this is your first admission, your goal is to establish rapport with our clinical team and work within our model of care. Other goals may include developing safety strategies, working on a specific memory or learning coping skills. There is also a strong focus on developing and maintaining healthy boundaries and self-management. These skills will assist your transition from the unit to your home.

Day programs

Dialectal Behaviour Therapy Skills (DBT) Program

This program is skill-based and assists individuals experiencing emotional distress, manifesting in unstable mood states and unstable relationships. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Skills Day Program (DBT) has a strong commitment to individualising therapy to meet the individual needs and to teach lifestyle enhancing skills. DBT combines standard cognitive behavioural techniques for emotional regulation and reality testing with concepts of mindful awareness, distress tolerance and acceptance.   

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Program

This program is based upon the principle of accepting what is out of one's personal control and committing to take action to enrich one's life and make it more meaningful. The program assists patients to manage painful thoughts and feelings to have less impact and influence (mindfulness skills), whilst clarifying what is truly important and meaningful (clarify skills).