About EMDR Group Therapy for People with an ACC Sensitive Claim

Who would be suitable for this group?

The ACC EMDR groups suit people who are currently seeing an ACC therapist and may not have access to EMDR within their individual therapy. They may also be engaging in EMDR, but the group format could provide an option to process trauma memories in a more targeted way.

The group is suitable for people who:

• Can engage in self-care outside of sessions

• Can regulate distressing emotions and have tools to manage distressing feelings that might arise during and following these sessions

• Are regularly seeing an ACC therapist 

• Have trauma-related anxiety and mood symptoms

• Have had a good period of emotional stability

 

The group is not suitable for people who:

• Are currently experiencing psychosis (and may not be suitable if people have had psychotic symptoms historically)

• Are acutely suicidal or who have strong and frequent suicidal ideation

• Have been to the Emergency Department/Crisis Resolution for risk issues including suicide or self-harm within the last six months

• Have active substance use problems (including regular alcohol and cannabis use)

• Are being treated under the Mental Health Act

• Are struggling with dissociative symptoms and/or Dissociative Identity Disorder

• Have problems with anger and angry outbursts

• Have the potential to be a risk to others

 

See more on our pre-group meeting process here

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Our ACC Pre-Group Meetings

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Before the ACC EMDR group begins, potential group participants will meet with one of our group facilitators. This meeting will occur either online or in person to determine whether the group EMDR setting is going to be suitable at the time. If it isn't thought to be suitable at the time, other options will be discussed such as considering it in future and/or individual EMDR treatment.

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​For clients accepted to the EMDR group, they will be asked to complete questionnaires that will compare their symptom experiences on a range of wellbeing measures before and after participating in the EMDR group. These questionnaires contribute to research into the effectiveness of our groups.​​

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Steps to make a referral for ACC Group EMDR

If you have read through the information above and the group sounds like a good option, choose a preferred group time and as an ACC Sensitive Claim Therapist, follow the steps below. If you are a client wanting to be referred to the group, please speak with your ACC Clinician.

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1. Seek approval and a Purchase Order (PO) from ACC by:

   • Send an email to your client/kiritaki's ACC Recovery Partner or Assisted Recovery or include it in a Wellbeing Plan/Progress Report if you have one due to complete.

   • Request Group EMDR and provide a rationale that fits with the kiritaki's goals e.g., reduce PTSD/depressive symptoms, reduce frequency and intensity of distressing memories, promote social connection.

   • Hours to request: SCSGTT Triage for Group-based Therapy x 1 hour and SCSGTT Group-based Therapy x 10 hours

   • Supplier: Heathcote River Psychology Ltd

   • Supplier Number: G0N572

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2. Complete this link.

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3. We will then send out a kiritaki/client consent form and book a pre-group appointment (online or in person) to discuss what the group will involve in more detail and if it's a good fit. 

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4. Once the steps above are completed, and we have received a PO, we will confirm placement in the group.

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5. Complete a Safety Plan and send it through to us (an example copy can be found here).​

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Please note: there are up to 32 ACC group hours available to kiritaki each year (for all groups such as trauma sensitive yoga etc). Therefore, kiritaki can only take part in our group if they have enough annual hours available (please check with ACC if you are unsure how many hours may be available).

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