Minds & Hearts’ group therapy programs are designed to help individuals build social-emotional skills, enhance relationships, and manage challenges related to neurodivergence. These evidence-based programs cater to children, adolescents, and adults. Our groups are organised and run based on demand and expressions of interest throughout the year. On occasion some clients may wish to start the program delivered in an individual format when this is clinically indicated. Please be aware that our groups may be eligible for funding via your NDIS Plan or a GP Mental Health Care Plan for Group Therapy (10-sessions per calendar year).
Groups that Minds & Hearts are offering:
We are currently offering certain programs individually, with the potential to provide them as group programs based on expressions of interest. Reach out to us today to express your interest.
Westmead Feeling Program
The Westmead Feelings Programs targets emotional understanding and regulation skills, helping children improve their ability to identify, understand, and express emotions appropriately. Programs 1 and 2 can be suitable for children across a wide range from 6-14 years, particularly those on the autism spectrum with co-occurring emotional difficulties and average cognitive abilities or mild intellectual impairment. For more details about the program, visit the Westmead Feelings Program page, and for questions about accessing the program in a group or individual format, complete the M&H Contact Form here.
Secret Agent Society
The Secret Agent Society Program is designed to teach children social and emotional skills through engaging, spy-themed activities. It is targeted at children aged 8-12 years, especially those with social challenges or on the autism spectrum. For more details about the program, visit the Secret Agent Society Program page, and for questions about accessing the program in a group or individual format, complete the M&H Contact Form here.
Circle of Security Parenting
The Circle of Security Parenting Program focuses on enhancing the parent-child relationship by helping parents better understand their child’s emotional needs and behaviour. This program is designed for parents and carers of children aged 0-5 years. For more details about the program, visit the Circle of Security Parenting Program page, and for questions about accessing the program in a group or individual format, complete the M&H Contact Form here.
Upcoming Groups to M&H in 2025
The M&H Recover & Rebuild Program for Recurrent Burnout Cycles
Register your Interest Today for Term 1 and Term 2
The M&H Recover & Rebuild (R&R Group) is a group that aims to support autistic adults who experience recurrent cycles of burnout and have the physical capacity to attend group sessions or follow a self-managed module-based format from home. In both formats, the R&R face-to-face group and the R&R self-paced versions are recommended as an adjunct to support individual therapy for additional psychoeducation, skills, and support tailored to this multifaceted problem of recurrent cycles of neurodivergent burnout. The face-to-face group offers a real-time therapeutic space to explore strategies for recovery, take risks in discovery, and express more authentic sides of oneself, with the aim to reduce the chances of future and more severe burnout cycles. The therapy content is prepared and facilitated by Clinic Directors Dr Hugh Walker and Dr David Zimmerman who have several years of experience in supporting individuals through this impairing syndrome and utilises evidence-based approaches such as Schema-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Attachment Theory, and Mindfulness, delivered in modules. The group emphasises understanding the unique challenges of autism, addressing sensory and emotional overload, and building self-compassion. Its novelty relative to other groups on this topic is the emphasis on the individual’s self-organisation of parts in maintaining the probability of future burnout cycles.
Eligible clients will have a diagnosis of autism and are aged 21 years or older. The group plans to meet on a fortnightly basis for 2 hours, with breaks and comfortable seating. A telehealth group may be considered depending on the number of participants who express interest from local and regional areas at least 15 km from M&H Clinic. The start date is late January to early February 2025. The cost is $165/session with Medicare rebates available for eligible clients. Check with your Plan Manager for NDIS eligibility. For more questions about accessing the group or individual support for this issue, please complete the M&H Contact Form here.
PEERS Social Skills Group
Register your Interest Today for Term 1 and Term 2
The PEERS Adolescents program helps teenagers develop critical social skills, including making and keeping friends, managing peer pressure, and handling conflict. It is ideal for adolescents aged 13-18 years who may struggle with social interactions. For more details about the program, visit the PEERS Adolescents Program page, and for questions about accessing the program in a group or individual format, complete the M&H Contact Form here.
To learn more about our group programs at Minds and Hearts please visit our website. If you would like enquire about any of our groups please reach out to us.