Day Patient Programs

Programs

Hirondelle Private Hospital offers a range of treatment programs. 

Please contact Reception to confirm current program schedule times.

Dealing with Distress DBT

Monday 9:30am – 3:00pm. Light lunch included.

Dealing with Distress DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) is a 12-week full day program running on Mondays. Sessions are offered on a rolling basis and will cover 12 sessions of content. The program is based on the four core modules of DBT: Core Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness, and aims to provide a structured skills-building program for individuals looking to improve coping, reduce behavioural symptom, and improve overall mental health and wellbeing. This program is suitable for individuals needing support with mood, anxiety, addictions, and difficulties with emotional regulation. Patients can be admitted into the group every six weeks, pending available spots.

Managing ADHD

Monday 5:15pm – 9:15pm. Light meal provided.

Managing ADHD is a 10-week program, on Monday evenings, designed to help you manage symptoms, build self-esteem, and thrive in daily life. This program covers essential topics like the neuroscience of ADHD, emotional regulation, goal setting, procrastination, time-management, mindfulness, and self-acceptance. Led by an expert therapist, you’ll receive personalised guidance in a supportive environment alongside others who understand your journey. Take control of your ADHD and create lasting, positive change. Patients can be admitted at the beginning of each cycle, pending available spots.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Tuesday 9:30am – 3:00pm. Light lunch included.

ACT is an 8-week program that runs on Tuesdays. You can automatically enter this program on discharge (with a referral from your admitting psychiatrist) if you have mood, anxiety, and other mental health difficulties. The program is based on tenants of ACT and focuses on building an enriching and meaningful life through supporting individuals to learn how to handle committed action towards their goals. This program helps navigate difficult emotions, rather than fighting them, and aims to accept reality as it is while building healthier coping mechanisms.

Maintaining Wellness (CBT for Mood and Anxiety)

Wednesday 9:30am – 3:00pm. Light lunch included.

Maintaining Wellness is a 8-week program offered on a rolling basis, covering 6 sessions of content over 6 weeks on Wednesdays. This program is ideal to maintain wellness or prepare to transition into the ACT or DBT programs. The program is based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies and concepts, and aims to provide a structured support program for individuals looking to maintain gains and skill fullness, with a focus on longer-term integration of skills, techniques, and changes in thinking styles and patterns to improve overall mental health and wellbeing.

Addictions First Steps

 Friday 9:30am – 12:30pm. Light lunch included.

Addictions First Steps run for a half-day on Fridays, offered on a rolling basis covering 8 sessions of content. You can attend for a shorter or longer period depending on your needs and psychiatrist’s recommendation.  and you can automatically enter on discharge, with a referral from your admitting psychiatrist. The program takes an abstinence-based approach to recovery and is suitable for those with difficulties with substance use or addictions and associated mental health difficulties. It provides a space to reflect on week-by-week experiences, identify factors reinforcing addictive behaviours and develop healthier, value-driven ways of living. The program draws on evidence-based approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness practices, offering practical tools to support lasting change and personal growth.

Program FAQ’s

How is the program funded?

Usually, day programs are funded through your private health insurer, Workcover, DVA/Defence, or other funding bodies. Our admin team will run a funding check to ensure you are covered for the program and will discuss this with you.

What is required of me?

First and foremost, a genuine commitment to attend the program is necessary. There will be some paperwork and administrative tasks for you to complete at the beginning, middle (mid-way review) and discharge. Before you discharge, you will be required to attend an appointment with your treating psychiatrist at Hirondelle Private Hospital. and as regularly as needed throughout the program. This may incur a gap fee and will need to be booked in advance of your discharge.

The day program therapist will also support you to complete a collaborative care plan, which is a document that focusses on your goals for the program and will be reviewed with you around halfway. Importantly, you must let the therapist know if you're intending to discharge or are going away/not able to commit, because there are rules about compliance that we need to address. Please also let us know of any dietary requirements or restrictions you may have so the kitchen staff can be notified.

What if I can't attend due to illness, misadventure, or a medical appointment?

If you cannot attend due to illness or misadventure, you must let the hospital know as soon as possible, so that the kitchen and administrative teams can be notified. If we do not hear from you, we will try to contact you during the day. If we can't contact you, your next of kin will be contacted. If you miss more than 2-3 sessions in a row, the therapist will have a discussion with you about your attendance. If you cannot commit to attendance, you will be discharged, and other suitable support options will be offered through your care coordinator.

Where are the sessions held?

Day program sessions are all held onsite at iMH Hirondelle Private Hospital. You can enter through the main reception, sign in, and then attend the group room which will be shown to you either while you are an inpatient, or on your first day of the day program.