Depression Recovery

Embracing Recovery 

The Programme

 The Depression Recovery Programme has been developed by the Multidisciplinary Team specifically for people who are being treated for a primary diagnosis of depression. It is a three week programme consisting of  five groups each week. The programme timetable incorporates these groups in conjunction with the Activities Programme run by the Occupational Therapy Department and the Twilight Club which runs each evening. All participants are encouraged to attend their group and to choose at least two additional activities each day. The programme is strongly influenced by health promotion, cognitive psychotherapy and recovery literature.

Embracing Recovery Mission
The mission is to promote healthy living
To inspire hope and a vision of recovery
To facilitate the participants journey towards recovery from depression
To prevent potential relapse
Prevent suicide and advocate for people who experience depression.

The overall aims of the Depression Recovery Programme- Embracing Recovery are to: 

• Provide a Therapeutic environment
• Reduce isolation and Enhance Peer support and identification
• Promote a Recovery Ethos
• Encourage/ Facilitate therapeutic change
• Enhance self awareness
• Educate
• Encourage participants to identify and challenge personal factors that maintain the depressive cycle.
• Encourage participants to take an active role in maintaining their health.
• Encourage the development of the Compassionate Mind
• Encourage participants to embrace and sustain recovery.

Content of Programme 

Goal Setting and Discussion
This group is facilitated on a weekly basis each Monday by Vanessa Dowling (CNS).

Health Education
This group is facilitated on a weekly basis by Charlotte Kennedy (RPN). The central themes of this group are around dealing with symptoms of depression and stress, exploring personal lifestyle and discovering personal wellness tools. 

Occupational Therapy Group- Stress Management:
This workshop style group is facilitated on a weekly basis (Wednesday) by a Senior Occupational Therapist - Sarah Carter.

Unraveling Depression
Unraveling Depression is facilitated weekly by Vanessa Dowling. These are workshop style groups that introduce the concepts of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression.

Keys to Wellbeing
This is a discussion group that is facilitated by Dr. Martina Corry Consultant Psychiatrist on Friday afternoon. The topics for discussion have been generated from issues that have been raised by previous attendees. Topics for discussion may change if a specific question is raised by the existing group.

The Multidisciplinary Team

Programme Director
Dr. Martina Corry is a Consultant Psychiatrist with a special interest in Mood Disorders.

Programme Co-Ordinator
Vanessa Dowling is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse and has completed a Bachelor in Nursing Studies (Hons) at Trinity College Dublin. She has a special interest in Health promotion having completed a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion at Thames Valley University. She has also completed an MSc in Cognitive Pschotherapy at Trinity College Dublin. Vanessa is registered as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Affective Disorders with The National Council of Nursing and Midwifery.

Charlotte Kennedy
Charlotte has been involved with the Depresion Recovery Programme since it was launched in 2003. She is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse. Charlotte has a wealth of experience in acute psychiatry. She has also completed a training course in group facilitation.

Sarah Carter
Sarah is a Senior Occupational Therapist. She has completed a BSc and an MSc in Occupational Therapy at Trinity College Dublin.