Treatment programs and workshops

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Making the transition from military to civilian life can be a big change for you and your family. Stepping Out is a free, two-day group program designed to increase the awareness of important wellbeing, personal and social adjustment factors and to support ADF members and partners as they are transitioning, or who have transitioned, from the military to civilian life.

Current and former serving ADF members and their partners may attend (together or separately) as transition affects the whole family.

There are no time restrictions for veterans and partners to attend Stepping Out.

The program focuses on such things as:

• how to successfully adapt to change
• the differences between military and civilian culture
• planning ahead and managing expectations
• understanding motivation and self-care
• maintaining relationships and seeking support

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Free Online Support for Veteran Families & Carers 

• Open Arms has engaged Grand Pacific Health to deliver the “Stronger We Stand” online workshops.
• Free, online workshops are designed to help families and carers who support veterans experiencing suicidal distress or those bereaved by suicide.
• Can be accessed as a series of three 90-minute sessions, as a one-off, three-hour session, or as a two-hour session, depending on your needs. If you need additional support, a one-off telehealth session is available for up to two months after your last group workshop. 
• Delivered by lived experience Peer Workers, alongside qualified Mental Health Clinicians such as psychologists and social workers.

Who can attend: Veteran Families & Carers

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A program to help you understand anger and aggression

• Manage thoughts and feelings that contribute to anger.
• Learn how problematic anger develops and how to prevent aggressive behaviours.
• Understand the warning signs of anger.
• Develop skills to reduce heightened physical responses and anger.
• Manage unhelpful thinking and develop skills to communicate more effectively to improve relationships.

Who can attend: Current and ex-serving ADF members, partners, adult children.

Offered as

• Short online introduction (2 x 90 minute sessions)
• 2 days or 6 x 90 minute sessions weekly

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A program that teaches you strategies and skills for managing anxiety

• Understand the impact of military training and experiences on anxiety.
• Learn strategies to challenge/change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
• Discover lifestyle factors for managing anxiety.
• Develop a Relapse Prevention Plan.

Who can attend: Current and ex-serving ADF members, partners, adult children.

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A program to help understand and manage the impact of trauma on you and your family

• Identify and reduce heightened physical responses to trauma.
• Manage avoidance behaviours and develop a strategy to safely confront fearful situations.
• Learn how to modify unhelpful thinking.
• Develop skills to improve relationships and meet healthy lifestyle goals.

Who can attend: Current and ex-serving ADF members, partners, adult children.

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Practical skills that can be used in everyday life to de-stress

• Discover mindfulness as a practice to shift focus from ‘what has happened in the past’ and ‘what may happen in the future’ to ‘what is happening right now’.
• Learn strategies to alleviate a variety of conditions, including pain, stress and mild depression.

Who can attend: Current and ex-serving ADF members, partners, adult children.

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A program to help you learn about effective pain management strategies

• Understand the link between physical and psychological aspects of pain.
• Learn strategies to challenge/change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
• Discover important lifestyle factors for managing pain.
• Develop a Personal Pain Plan.

Who can attend: Current and ex-serving ADF members, partners, adult children.

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A program to help you rediscover what's important in your relationship and to rebuild a relationship with your partner

• Focus on what works well to strengthen your relationship.
• Enhance the resilience of individual partners and the relationship.
• Create shared meaning through values and rituals of connection.
• Understand the emotions behind your partner's life dreams.
• Manage conflict positively and adopt a positive perspective.

Who can attend: Current and ex-serving ADF members and their partners. Adult children and their partners.

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A program to help you understand and manage depression

• Understand the signs and symptoms, situations and thinking patterns that contribute to depression.
• Challenge unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours.
• Learn techniques to manage stress and depressed moods.

Who can attend: Current and ex-serving ADF members, partners, adult children.

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A program to help you manage disturbed sleep

• Develop an understanding of the sleep process and factors impacting on sleep.
• Learn ways to reduce or eliminate factors detrimental to sleep and to introduce or enhance those beneficial to sleep.
• Explore and understand the impact of sleep disturbances on mood, behaviour and relationships.

Who can attend: Current and ex-serving ADF members, partners, adult children.