Day Patient Programs

Our day programs are available to existing Marian Centre patients after their hospital stay (post-discharge), and patients new to our service. 

Offered programs

Our evidence-based programs are facilitated by experienced and accredited mental health professionals.

Programs run all year with and approximate wait time of 1-6 weeks, depending on the program. Queries about program start dates can be sent to: mrn.tlo@aurorahealth.com.au

Programs offered include:

• Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Adult ADHD Therapy Program
• 2 week Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Adolescent Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
• 10 week Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
• Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - (First Responders)
• Safe Trauma Recovery

Please contact our Admissions Team to confirm program availability. 

Program Summaries

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Program

Providing resources, education and clinical support to enhance your ability to change the way you think, feel and behave.

This program assists patients to clearly identify problem areas in their lives related to their values, and thereby set realistic and achievable goals by which to move forward. The program helps to develop a framework for understanding current difficulties and thereby learn techniques to better manage difficult and unpleasant situations and emotions.

Program duration

• 5x days per week: 2 week day closed program on weekdays from 9:00am until 2:45pm; or
• 1x day per week: 10 week evening open program comprising weekly from 5:00pm until 8:15pm

Dialectical Behavioural Informed Therapy (DBT) Program

Providing resources, education and clinical support to enhance your ability to change self-defeating thoughts and behaviour.

This program combines standard cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques for emotion regulation and reality testing with DBT concepts of mindful awareness, distress tolerance and acceptance. It is a skills-based program assisting patients to tolerate intense feelings, whilst learning to manage self-harming behaviour including suicide, alcohol and drug use.

Program duration

• 1x day per week: 12 week day closed program comprising weekly sessions from 9:00am until 12:15pm
• 2x day per week: 6 week day closed program running 9:00am until 12:15pm

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) Program

Providing resources, education and strategies to enhance your ability to change behaviours and thoughts that impact sleep.

This program utilises cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which is proven to be highly effective in treating insomnia, particularly for long-term improvements in sleep. This program assists people to change behaviours and thoughts that impact on their ability to sleep well.

Program duration

• Four week day program comprising four Saturdays from 9:00am until 12:15pm plus one follow up session.

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Program

An evidence-based and skills-focused program to help manage your mood, reduce worry and prevent relapse.

This program involves learning and practicing various mindfulness skills to increase clarity and steadiness of mind when encountering difficult thoughts, feelings, and body sensations. These skills then provide a platform for choosing wiser ways of responding in order to prevent the escalation of negative mood and emotion.

Program duration

• 6 session program comprising weekly from 5:00pm until 8:15pm; and one follow up session.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Program for First Responders

Skills-based program for defence personnel and first responders (police officers, firefighters, paramedics etc.) to assist in processing trauma in a safe environment, to better cope with day-to-day living.

This program is specifically designed and accredited in accordance to the guidelines set out by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). The program is facilitated by a multidisciplinary team who specialise and have the necessary understanding to assist those who have experienced trauma as part of their work role.

Program duration

• 5x sessions per week: 4 week program every weekday from 9:00am until 2:45pm; and 2 follow up sessions.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Program

This program has been designed to assist individuals to relate to painful thoughts and feelings in such a way that they have less impact and influence, while also taking action toward personal values and goals. ACT is an evidence-based therapy which utilises experiential interventions and metaphors to develop acceptance of what is out of personal control, while committing to action that improves and enriches life.

Program duration:

• 1x session per week: 6 week day closed program comprising weekly from 9:00am until 12:15pm OR 5:00pm until 8:15pm

Safe Trauma Recovery Program

Providing education, healing support and recovery within a supportive group setting.

Psychological trauma can occur as a result of a person experiencing severely distressing event or events. This program is specifically designed to help individuals understand and manage trauma symptoms to promote post traumatic growth and improve overall wellbeing.

Program duration

• 1x session per week: 10 week day program comprising weekly from 9:00am until 12:15pm

Program Information

When are they held?

Day patient programs are held regularly throughout the year. Please contact our Therapy Liaison Officer (TLO) for specific dates on mrn.tlo@aurorahealth.com.au

How do I join?

If you are interested in attending a day program you will need to discuss this with your treating Psychiatrist or General Practitioner, who will assess your suitability and if appropriate, provide a referral to mrn.tlo@aurorahealth.com.au

How much do day programs cost?

You will be admitted as a day patient and as such, can claim it via your health fund. All funds have different rules. Please check with our Therapy Liaison Officer, who will advise if any out-of-pocket excess or gap costs are applicable to you.