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DBT team

 This group is designed to support psychologists with their practice in the public and/or private sector who encounter challenging and complex clients with diagnoses of personality disorders.

This open group for registered psychologists will be held weekly every Tuesday for 90 mins, and is free of charge.

Prior to attending the group for the first time, it is expected that you read, complete and sign the Registration Form and the Supervision Agreement.

‘First come first served’: Because the group is open you need to confirm your attendance to ensure a place. The maximum number per group is six participants.

All enquires can be put to the group facilitator: Rada Semec, Senior Psychologist, Spectrum. Contact via email: Radmila.Semec@easternhealth.org.au or mobile: 0402 970 935.

Times: Tuesdays: 5.30pm to 7.00pm

1st group is on Tuesday the 5th February 2019.

 

INTRODUCTION

Spectrum Personality Disorder Service for Victoria is the Statewide Centre of Clinical Excellence for Personality Disorders. It was established by the Victorian Health Department in 1999 and is managed by Eastern Health.

Personality disorders are recognized to account for a disproportionally high use of clinical resources and services (clinician’s time, ED and hospital admissions etc) and pose a significant burden on caregivers frequently leading to burn-out and suboptimal treatment provision (Zanarini & Frankenburg , 2010).

Psychologists play a significant role in providing treatment for consumers with high and complex presentations often driven by personality disorders. Spectrum recognizes the benefits of specialized supervision for personality disorders as an adjunct to training in working with personality disorders.

The primary goal of supervision is to ensure the welfare of clients and the quality of services they receive. With that in mind this group will aim to support psychologists to reflect on aspects of their work that are typically challenging when working with people with personality disorders: gaining trust, managing expectations of the therapeutic relationships, setting boundaries, managing transitions and endings, developing treatment plans, assessing , treating and managing risk of self-harm and suicide.

How does group supervision work? The primary focus is on the group working together to develop a shared understanding of a clinical issue and then reflecting on it together, rather than on an individual presenting a perfect case study to the group. All participants come to sessions with a possible client or dilemma in mind for presentation and reflection and the group decides together who will present.

Once the presenter has been identified, that person begins by telling the group why they wish to talk about this particular client or issue and what they hope to gain from the group discussion. This helps with setting a framework for discussion. Throughout this, the group actively listens, takes notes as they wish and asks the presenter questions, as they occur to group members. The client presentation segment is co-created. The presentation segment usually takes around ten minutes, with the bulk of the session used for group discussion and reflection. Towards the end group members may share their own vulnerabilities and reflect on their own learnings from taking part in the session.