Adolescent Growth Support Group
Emphatically equipping adolescents to stand in society strong, healthy and happy.
Adolescent Growth Support Group
Emphatically equipping adolescents to stand in society strong, healthy and happy.
Adolescent Out-Patient Programme
Being a teenager in today’s society is not easy.
Often the teen gets ignored or regarded as difficult. Parents, siblings, loved ones and even teachers often do not have the insight or skills to handle the teen in their life in a healthy manner. It is also an unfortunate fact that there are very limited facilities in South Africa that specifically facilitates the teen or offer support or rehabilitation.
WE see you – we see your inner struggle and phase of morphing into your own – and you are not alone. You are actually in the most painful yet beautiful part of your life.
Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It is about how you drive, not where you are going.
– Noam Shancer –
Is this group for you?
The teenage years are between 13 and 19 years, and are the most crucial time in your life. Without a foundation of good self-esteem, positive body image and self-confidence, a teenager has been shown to be at risk of teen pregnancy, substance abuse, eating disorders, self-harm and mental health challenges.
The aim of this programme is to give each client a toolbox in order to navigate their way through difficult emotions, challenges, struggles and times.
We believe that prevention is better than cure. These skills are also vital for a teen navigating such a demanding world filled with growing technology, social media and many societal challenges. Their toolbox will assist them with inner strength and a greater voice for the wider world they are quickly approaching.
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We also believe that Covid has played a big role in creating a gap and delay of many social skills these teens have needed and in a way they are acting out in self sabotaging ways in order to cope with “what’s next” in order to feel safe and secure.
How it works
The Adolescent Out-patient Programme has been designed to fit into a 6 week framework. An initial consultation will take place with both client and parents, guardians or caregivers before the group takes place.
This is for the intake of background information as well as current relevant information and any referrals that may need to take place to assist with the process, such as a psychiatrist. It is also vital to work holistically hence us using the CRAFT* model.
The format of this programme is a group format consisting of no more than 8 people at a time. It is a closed group.
A Tuesday evening (6pm – 7h30pm) group will take place in person where DBT** skills are used to psycho-educate clients on various topics. Homework will be given after each group to be brought to the next group in the following week.
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These groups will be run by both a registered counselling psychologist and a registered occupational therapist who is also qualified as a high school Life Orientation teacher that designs student specific curriculum based lessons for the needs of the students.
Clients will also receive a one on one (either in person or via video call) 45 minute consultation in that same week but on a different day that suits both client and therapist.
A psycho-educational group which will take place on an alternative evening is also offered to parents, guardians or caregivers.
A feedback session will be held with the client and the relevant parties to discuss the process, progress and a plan of action upon exiting the group.
If a family mediation is needed – one will be put in place, which will take place on a different day.The client must commit to each group and individual session in order for them to get the absolute best out of the programme.Commitment is key.is also needed from the parent/s guardian’s/s or caregivers.
The benefits to others involved.
We firmly believe that a holistic approach works best and is the most sustainable way forward in recovery. The inner community or circle of the loved one is in a sense part of this 6 week program too.
The CRAFT, Community Reinforcement and Family Training model, is used in conjunction with the Adolescent Out-patient Program because we believe that the community and inner circle need psycho-education and support as well.
What is the CRAFT approach?
Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) is intended to help family members with adolescents with mental health challenges and addiction learn how to steer their loved one away from various triggers, self sabotaging behaviours and substances. It is a great method for someone that’s refusing treatment or refusing to admit they are no longer in control of their struggles and that their lives have become unmanageable (roles: the family, social life, school and personal self care).
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Instead of an old school intervention where the family and friends get together and ask the person to enrol in a rehabilitation programme our outpatient program, the CRAFT method encourages close significant others (which the program calls CSOs) to reward their loved one when they choose sobriety or show control or progress.
The CRAFT method is much more scientific (than old intervention techniques) . It’s based on the idea that you reinforce good behaviour and that you don’t reinforce bad behaviour.
JOHN C. UMHAU, MD ADDICTION SPECIALIST
Another critical aspect of this method is that it encourages families to step back and allow bad consequences to happen when the person consumes or acts out.
While the goal is to get the person dealing with certain behaviours or addiction in your life to admit they have a problem and get help, the CRAFT method also helps the loved ones prioritise their mental health and improve their happiness.
Group Facilitators
Christiaan Stroebel
Registered Counsellor (SACAP)
PR: 1097342
HPCSA: PRC0041939
Cell: 082 976 0806
Email: Christiaanstroebel@gmail.com
Kim Harley
Kim Harley B.Sc OT (UWC)
PR: 0446122 OT: 0078956
Cell: 078 511 6505
Email: kim.stroebel@cedarhouse.co.za
Our Group Facilitators
Christiaan Stroebel
Registered psychologist (SACAP)
PR: 1097342
HPCSA: PRC0041939
Cell: 082 976 0806
Email: Christiaanstroebel@gmail.com
Kim Harley
Kim Harley B.Sc OT (UWC)
PR: 0446122 OT: 0078956
Cell: 078 511 6505
Email: kim.stroebel2021@gmail.com
Why adolescent groups?
What makes us different. Why we do this.
We are true empaths who have walked this journey and feel we have more than your best interests at heart to care for you, and about you, in a manner that places you and your family at the centre of everything we do (CRAFT*).
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Encouraging healthy, constructive, positive changes for you and your family using a holistic framework. We recognize that you are an individual with unique needs and expectations. We recognize the importance of your family and loved ones in your healing process. We are here to ensure that we provide you with the best and safest care, when you need it and in the way that we would wish for our own loved ones.
To empower our clients to create healthy habits, appropriate changes in their lives, and improve their current level of functioning. We do not expect a drastic change, abstinence or a complete change in lifestyle but more so a tailor-made program within a group setting for each individual client and their inner community. We do not see you as a number but as a unique individual – with purpose and to emphasise that you are human and that you will make mistakes along this path and be accepted and not judged. The big difference is that you will walk out with a toolbox in hand, and an inner community that understands and supports you. ( “I lost my teens and 20’s due to chaos but mostly, not having guidance or understanding towards my struggles. More so, many a time, I could not articulate what I was thinking in a valuable and meaningful way for some people to understand, and at other times was misunderstood and can only wish now, in hindsight, that I had the tools then that I have now.” Kim Harley OT). Here we offer guidance with a concrete toolbox that is practical for a lifelong approach.
View some of the topics we tackle in the group & protocols we utilise during the course curriculum.
The umbrella purpose of these groups is mental health but these are the topics and areas that will be focused on in our group sessions using the DBT* method.
Self-harm ◉ Anxiety
Depression ◉ Mood disorders
Substance use disorder
Burnout ◉ Eating disorders
Social skills ◉ Anger management
Trauma ◉ PTSD ◉ Relationships
Communication skills ◉ Self care and self love ◉ Gender identity
Depending on the needs of the clients each group will be client and group specific.
View some of the topics we tackle in the group & protocols we utilise during the course curriculum.
The umbrella purpose of these groups is mental health but these are the topics and areas that will be focused on in our group sessions using the DBT* method.
Self-harm
◉
Anxiety
◉
Depression
◉
Mood disorders
◉
Substance use disorder
◉
Burnout
◉
Eating disorders
◉
Social skills
◉
Anger management
◉
Trauma
◉
PTSD
◉
Relationships
◉
Communication skills
◉
Self care and self love
◉
Gender identity
Depending on the needs of the clients each group will be client and group specific.
The 4 Stages & Modules covered over the period.
Stage 01:
Stabilising and controlling behaviours that are harmful, dangerous or therapy disruptive.
Stage 02:
Stage 03:
Solving the problems of daily living.
Stage 04:
Modules:
This is done through 4 core DBT modules, each one of which has teachable skills that will be used in our groups over the 6 week time frame:
01:
Mindfulness
02:
Distress Tolerance
03:
Emotional Regulation
04:
Interpersonal Effectiveness
The following Group Therapy Methods that will be used over the 6 week period.
DBT** Skills Group
Support Groups
Psychoeducational Management Groups
Craft and Creativity Groups
Yoga Mindfulness and Breathing Technique Groups
Family/Caregiver Psychoeducational Groups
More important details into DBT** and how it is applied in our therapy groups.
Insight into DBT which is our main framework for each group
What is DBT:
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) was developed from a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT), but with a far greater emphasis on emotions. It was developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan in order to help treat intense emotional swings, impulsivity, identity confusion, relationship difficulties, and suicidal and self-harming behaviours. Importantly, DBT is a teachable and practical treatment, making it easy to learn and apply to your own life.
What is the traditional structure of DBT:
Traditional DBT consists of individual therapy that focuses on the most significant and most personal problems. It also uses group therapy sessions to focus on skills development and peer learning. The process of DBT is most effective over a period of time hence the 6 week group time frame. This allows you to learn the skills and practise them in your everyday life with “real-time” situations.
DBT can be adapted to meet several different people’s needs, different setting needs and different treatment phases. Adapted evidence-based applications of DBT have been effective in treating substance use, eating disorders, anger-related problems, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and personality disorders.
We use adapted DBT techniques within the group process to ensure that all our clients are equipped with skills to assist in building a life that is worth living.We also use the DBT framework to assist the family/caregivers in best supporting, understanding and assisting their loved one.
The last session of the 6 week group is to work on a discharge plan that is realistic, effective and sustainable to both the client and family, guardians or caregivers.
Additional skills and/or expertise the therapists hold
EMDR – Eye movement desensitisation and rationalisation
EMI – Eye movement integration
CRAFT – Community reinforcement and family training
Harm reduction education ◉ Cognitive behavioural therapy
Dialectical behavioural therapy ◉ Couples counselling
Family systems ◉ Stages of human developmental
Solution focused brief therapy ◉ Person centred therapy
RET – Rational emotive behaviour therapy ◉Gestalt Therapy
Additional skills and/or expertise the therapists hold
EMDR – Eye movement desensitisation and rationalisation
◉
EMI – Eye movement integration
◉
CRAFT – Community reinforcement and family training
◉
Harm reduction education
◉
Cognitive behavioural therapy
◉
Dialectical behavioural therapy
◉
Couples counselling
◉
Family systems
◉
Stages of human developmental
◉
Solution focused brief therapy
◉
Person centred therapy
◉
RET – Rational emotive behaviour therapy
◉
Gestalt Therapy
Cost of Group Participation
R8,500 per person for six group sessions & six 1-on-1 45 minute sessions.
All materials included.
We are a cash based practice. Once payment is made and a paid invoice is provided to you – you may claim from medical aid.
Cost of Group Participation
R8,500 per person for six group sessions & six 1-on-1 45 minute sessions.
All materials included.
We are a cash based practice. Once payment is made and a paid invoice is provided to you – you may claim from medical aid.
*CRAFT: Community Reinforcement and family training
**DBT : Dialectical Behavioural Therapy