the eight stage healing
process
The Eight Stages
Having a family member with a psychiatric
illness can be difficult at times. Families often request
more information and opportunities to develop ways of
supporting their relative, while also maintaining their
own activities and a less stressful lifestyle.
The Eight Stage Programme is one way
that family members can learn strategies to achieve these
goals and also improve their lifestyle and self worth.
Purpose
This 25 hour, 10 week programme is designed
to assist relatives of people with a mental illness to
learn life enhancing skills as caregivers.
Stage One - Awareness:
To explore the ways in which the relationship/family has
affected your life
Stage Two - Validation:
To identify your feelings about the relationship and share
those feelings with others.
Stage Three - Acceptance:
To learn to accept that you canno control any other person's
behavior and that you are ultimately responsible for your
own emotional well being.
Stage Four - Challenge: To
examine your expectations of yourself and others, and
make a commitment to challenge any negative expectations
(silent agreements)
Stage Five – Releasing
Guilt: To recognise mental illness as a disease
and release the attitude of blame.
Stage Six – Forgiveness:
To forgive yourself for any mistakes you have made, and
forgive and release those who have harmed you.
Stage Seven – Self-esteem:
To return the focus of your life to yourself and appreciate
your own self-worth, despite what may be going on around
you.
Stage Eight – Growth:
To reaffirm your accomplishments and set daily, monthly
and yearly goals.
Would you like to participate?
Contact ARAFMI on:
Support ph: 02 4961 6717
Admin ph : 02 4961 2842
Next Tuesday 13th of October, runs for
10 weeks 2 hours a week 10am till 12pm.till the 15th of
December 2009
We will let you know when the next course
will be held and provide further information.
The cost of the entire ten week course
is $50 ($25 concession) . This may be paid in total or
weekly instalments of $5 ($2.50 concession)
Recommended Text
It is recommended that participants
read Julie Tallard Johnson's insightful “Hidden
Victims/Hidden Healers: An Eight Stage healing process
for families and friends of people with mental illness
“(1998)
