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OPTIMA
RUSTENVREDE
ADMISSION TO OPTIMA
We endeavour to offer a comprehensive and holistic service; however, treatment involves many factors.
We need time to observe our patients thoroughly so that our treatment plan can proceed.
It is important to be patient and calm in the midst of one’s concerns and to have realistic expectations about an admission, which is not a miracle cure for all problems.
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There is no person without a family or social structure, therefore families and parents form an essential part of the treatment process.
Your stay at Optima@RustenVrede is a brief starting point in the journey and not a final solution.
However, we always endeavour to offer a constructive way forward.
"Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you, doesn't mean you can, should or need to do it alone"
Lisa Olivera
TREATMENT PROCESS
A psychiatrist will see you and/or your child during your stay. The team will also allocate a clinical psychologist to see the patient (for individual sessions and/or observations). Referring psychologists are welcome to continue a pre-established therapeutic process with patients, providing they can see the patient daily. Individual occupational therapy might also be indicated and will be arranged, as necessary.
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Apart for the group programmes and individual sessions the nursing staff also monitor patients, which forms part of the evaluation and treatment process. The entire clinical team have regular ward rounds to discuss each patient’s treatment plan and progress.
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We have to protect the therapeutic space for all our patients. As such, it might sometimes be that patients are not suitable for our treatment programmes or certain parts of our group programmes. We ask that patients respect and trust the clinical team’s recommendation on this, which might sometimes be that our facility is not suitable, or the best option for the specific presenting problem.
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In addition, it is important for parents to realise that we are not a facility catering for extreme behavioural problems, addictions, or forensic investigations. We only see patients and children after the forensic work has been finalised to protect the therapeutic space for the patient.
IN-PATIENT
PROGRAMME
We offer three different group programmes for in-patients, specifically tailored to the needs of our adults, teens, parents, and children.
The groups are therapeutic in nature with a focus on holistic wellbeing and movement, experiential learning through creative activities, psycho-education on various important topics and life skill development.
Groups are run daily by our psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and dietician. An occupational therapy group is run on a Saturday morning.
On Thursdays, we present parent therapy groups from 07:45 – 15:00, with different psychologists and therapists, to advise on therapy methods, coping mechanisms etc.
07:45 - 10:15
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Dr Lydia Dreyer
Attachment Workshop
10:30 - 12:00
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Dr Vanessa Marais
Boundaries
13:00 - 15:00
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OT
Sensory Intelligence
