Anxiety Disorders Aftercare

After care groups are available to all who have completed one full cycle on the Anxiety Disorders Programme. The groups provide advice, problem solving and mutual support and are based on CBT principles.

These groups are held for 1.5 hours between 10:00-11:30a.m. on either the first or second Friday of every month at the Hospital's Dean Clinic Capel depending on the category of anxiety disorder. The charge per group will be €75 payable on the day of attendance.

The Dean Clinic is easily accessible from the hospital via the Luas. Find Dean Capel or download a printable map

The groups are facilitated by Dr. Michael McDonough, Consultant Psychiatrist. The aim of the groups will be to help those of you that have completed the Anxiety Programme to meet the challenges involved in staying on top of a long term anxiety problem. We are very much aware that you may suffer moments of crisis from time to time or have ongoing issues relating to your anxiety problem that you would like help to resolve. The group will, in a systematic way, aim to address these problems using cognitive behavioural principles. The emphasis will therefore be on mutual support and expert problem solving in a lively and engaging atmosphere.

Should anyone attending the group have a major relapse of their anxiety disorder then we are available to arrange more intensive treatment if need be. The group is therefore one component of several forms of support and treatment available to you including outpatient, day patient and inpatient care. The group will not, by and large, focus on individual drug treatment issues - these queries will instead be referred to the general psychiatric outpatient clinic that you attend or to your GP. However we will endeavour to put you on the right track with drug treatment queries.

The groups will alternate between sufferers with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (and OCD like conditions such as body dysmorphic disorder and health anxiety) and non-OCD conditions such as social anxiety, panic, generalised anxiety (uncontrolled worrying) and specific phobias. The Friday morning sessions are split depending on the category of anxiety disorder as follows:

Non-OCD/Anxiety groups: 1st Friday of every month OCD Groups: 2nd Friday of every month

Melissa is available on (01-249 3364) to take bookings for these groups. Please indicate to her which group would be appropriate for you. We will be flexible with regard to attendance at the group and some of you may want to attend for only 2 sessions with the option of returning again at a later time. Others may want to make an on-going commitment to attend every month for several months. We will attempt to meet all requests and needs in a flexible way but may further refine the system depending on the needs of those attending or wishing to attend.