Therapies at Ramsay Clinic Gold Coast

Ramsay Mental Health programs are grounded in evidence and supported by our expert teams of psychiatrists and psychologists. Below are therapies regularly performed and available at Ramsay Clinic Gold Coast.

Neurostimulation services

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

ECT is a form of neurostimulation that is used to treat severe depression and mania. It is a medical procedure that is performed under general anaesthesia, meaning the patient is asleep while they receive the treatment.

During the procedure, brief controlled electrical currents are used to induce a seizure in the brain. The seizure releases certain chemicals which can provide relief from severe depression. ECT is a safe and effective procedure that often works when other treatments have been unsuccessful.

Lead by Dr Sandra Fang, in partnership with Coast Anaesthesia, our specialised team of nurses and doctors treats patients in our dedicated ECT suite.

The newly fitted suite has been designed to create a private space for our patients, during their treatment and recovery.

A holistic approach gives patients the best quality of care and greatest chance at a positive health outcome, and each program is developed and tailored to treat the individual patient.

Currently, ECT is available three days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) on an inpatient and outpatient basis.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

TMS is a non-invasive form of neurostimulation that is used to treat severe psychiatric conditions. TMS does not require anaesthesia or medication and is effective for people of all ages.

It uses magnetic fields to briefly stimulate targeted areas of the brain that are involved in controlling mood.

TMS is a safe and well-tolerated procedure, that can be effective for adults with depression and other psychiatric conditions.

Is neurostimulation right for me?

Neurostimulation may be an appropriate treatment option for patients with clinical psychiatric conditions who have failed to achieve a satisfactory response from other treatment, such as medications and psychological therapy.

Your psychiatrist or doctor will consult with you to decide whether a referral for neurostimulation services may benefit you.

Psychological therapies

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) 

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is based on the idea that the way we think and behave will affect the way we feel.

CBT teaches people to monitor their mood in order to notice the early signs of becoming unwell and the factors that trigger their mental health conditions.

It helps people to change unhelpful behaviours and thoughts, and establish more realistic ways of thinking, as well as stress-management and self-care skills.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is centred on learning how to live a meaningful life despite symptoms, rather than trying to “get rid of” symptoms.

It involves clarifying what is most important and meaningful to you, using these values to drive your actions, and learning acceptance and mindfulness skills so that thoughts and feelings have less impact on you.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy focuses on helping people learn new skills and ways to manage their emotions. 

DBT involves education on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a therapy that involves approaching the world in a different way.

It involves trying to move away from judging things as right or wrong and instead trying to focus on accepting the world as it is and making it work for you.

It also involves trying to live life in the present moment instead of living on autopilot.

Diversional Therapy

Diversional therapy is a very different style of therapy to the other therapies offered at Ramsay Clinic Gold Coast.

Diversional therapy includes any structured activity such as group walks, mandalas (intricate patterns designed for colouring in), trivia, watching movies, going for coffee, and arts and crafts.

Rather than tackling issues head on, diversional therapy is about taking a step back from problems by engaging in a distracting, positive activity.

Many people find that their life often lacks structured activity, and sometimes by stepping away from problems we can come back to them later with a fresh perspective.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

IPT aims to understand how your symptoms came about and how they relate to your current social and personal life.

IPT focuses on helping you express and accept feelings, identify communication patterns and resolve conflicts.

Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy focuses on deeper personality change, rather than rapid symptom relief. It is run in intensive weekly sessions.

During these sessions, patients are assisted to identify and address unhelpful patterns of thought, feelings and behaviours at the core of their difficulties.

Art Therapy

Art therapy involves the use of art making for self-expression and reflection. It aims to help people change and grow on a personal level through the use of art materials in a safe facilitating environment.

Art therapy is an excellent option for anyone experiencing distress and is especially effective for those who find it difficult to verbalise or acknowledge their feelings.

Are psychological therapies right for me?

Psychological therapies are an important component of treatment for any mental health condition. It is likely that you may benefit from psychological therapies that are tailored to meet your specific needs.

You can speak with your GP or psychiatrist about accessing psychological therapies. Or you can contact Ramsay Psychology directly to make an appointment to speak with one of our experienced psychologists.