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In Partnership with:

The Day Care Programme

The Day Care programme combines a variety of groups, sessions and activities, all of which can play a part in achieving a desired change. The main focus of the work at 9 Oxford Road Alcohol Project is on group work rather than individual therapy (we are unable to offer long-term individual counselling). However, when particular circumstances demand it individual sessions can be arranged. Client's individual programmes are mutually agreed at the time of assessment and will be reviewed on a regular basis thereafter.

Regular/ On-going Groups

Structured Groups

These appear on the programme according to client need and are in the form of a course of around 4-6 sessions. To gain the maximum benefit all sessions should be attended and any homework assigned needs to be completed.

Wet Day

The Wednesday service is designed to support people who are not drinking to dependency level (therefore not requiring a detoxification) but who are drinking on a daily basis and would find it difficult to attend the project alcohol-free. Once assessed, individual advice and support sessions may be offered by appointment. These sessions aim to enable the client to reduce their intake sufficiently to be able to go for a 2 days without drinking. Once this is achieved the client will be offered support on the Day Care Programme.

At the time of taking the referral it will be determined how much the client is drinking and how often. A service cannot be offered to:

In these cases, clients will be referred to NEEDAS, with arrangements for them to contact 9 Oxford Road post-detox for aftercare.

For those clients who have already been assessed by NEEDAS and do require a detoxification, we run a Pre-Detox Group. This is delivered in conjunction with NEEDAS to help clients prepare for detoxification and the period following by explaining and discussing dependency, detoxification and aftercare.

Drop-In

Drop-In serves as an alcohol free, supportive environment, which can ease social isolation for those trying to change their alcohol use or maintain sobriety. Sessions are open to all users of the Project who have attended for assessment and have agreed to abide by the usual Conditions of Attendance. Tea and coffee making facilities are available as is the use of the garden, art room, relaxation room and the Resource Room where there is a wealth of alcohol related reading material, Internet access and a video & DVD library.

Active Drop-In

This group is open to all users and takes place as part of the Monday afternoon Drop-In. It is designed to create a relaxed and fun atmosphere and to encourage social interaction by participation in various activities, games, quizzes, arts & crafts, gardening or table tennis.

Support Groups – Tuesday, Thursday & Friday

These groups are an integral part of the therapeutic programme and provide a safe supportive space where members can talk honestly about their alcohol use and share ideas and feelings regarding their drinking goals.

Open to all service users, we expect all clients to use them at some stage of their attendance here.

Evening Support Group - Monday

For those people who are unable to attend the programme during the daytime due to work or other commitments we are able to offer a support group on Monday evenings between 6-7pm.

Relaxation Practice

This session takes the form of pre-recorded or spoken visualizations which incorporate breathing and muscle relaxing techniques. Working in small groups of not more than four people, the essions take place in a quiet, dedicated room specifically designed to promote a calm, relaxed atmosphere.

Women's Group

This group is open to all female users of the service and staffed by female Project Workers. Although the agenda and nature of the group may be similar to that of other support groups, members frequently feel generally more comfortable in addressing potentially sensitive subjects. We find issues surrounding relationships, children, abuse and women’s health are prominent in these sessions.

Men's Group

We are not being in any way discriminatory in not offering a Men’s Group as part of the ongoing programme. We have made attempts in the past and have ‘trawled’ for interest but have received minimal response. We are, however, always happy to provide a group if there is demonstrated demand.

Art Therapy

Participation in this group needs to be discussed with the Art Therapist and Key Worker.

* This is a regular on-going session, but in order to preserve the safety needed in this particular group, we ask people to make a regular commitment to attending all sessions during their period of participation.

Sessions will last for two hours; the first hour to use either paint, clay, collage, plasticine, etc and the second (following a tea of coffee break) to talk. This part of the programme is open to anyone interested (usual conditions of attendance apply), either with or without previous experience of his type of therapy.

"For a person to engage in Art Therapy it is very important to realise an ability in Art is not a requirement. An Art Therapy group is a place where we can look at the issues that face us in a different form, bearing in mind that words are often lacking for our emotional and spiritual lives. A colour or shape may describe in a more accurate way our "irrational" nature.

Many people have found that, by using only words to explore and describe themselves, they have remained stuck in old patterns. The experience of visual expression may thus prove liberating and emotionally fulfilling."

Ilona Northall (Art Therapist)

Anxiety Management

A series of interconnected sessions emphasises the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour in understanding and managing anxiety. The nature and causes of anxiety are discussed with an ongoing emphasis on the relationship between anxiety and alcohol misuse. Participants are introduced to techniques such as problem solving, breathing and relaxation.

Anger Management

This course is intended to help individuals understand the causes and consequences of their anger. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences of anger and identify ways in which they want to change destructive, impulsive, unhelpful or self-harming behaviour. The relationship between anger and excessive drinking is explored and clients are helped to understand the wider context of their anger.

Assertiveness Training

This course is designed as a brief and easily understood introduction to effective and practical assertiveness. The course delivers a range of ideas and methods that will help participants make positive choices in their lives and in their relationships with others. The core principles of assertiveness are explained and a number of activities take place that allow participants to familiarize themselves with these concepts. Over several sessions, clients are taught various techniques that will equip them with the skills to say ‘no’; give and receive criticism; compromise and negotiate; make requests, give up (or no longer give in to) emotional blackmail and assert their rights.

Relapse Awareness

In these sessions we look at the part relapse may play in the recovery process. We encourage participants to identify their individual high risk situations in order to begin to develop coping skills and strategies to deal with those in a more constructive way. To get the maximum benefit from the course it is important that all sessions are attended and homework assignments completed.

Personal History Group

This course is specifically aimed at those wishing to explore their personal history in order to become more aware of possible links or patterns which could have contributed to dependence on alcohol. The focus of some sessions will be on early family dynamics/relationships, which will be traced through the use of exercises and group discussion.
In order to maintain a sense of group safety, a commitment to attend all 6 sessions is essential.