Living Well with Long-term Conditions

What is the Living Well with Long-term Conditions Course?

The Living Well with Long Term conditions course has been put together to support those who are experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety linked to living with a long-term physical health condition.

The course consists of 8 weekly sessions and an individual review following completion. The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy approach is utilised during the course. The course aims to provide clients with new skills allowing more flexible responses to suffering in orderly to live a rich, full, and enjoyable life even in the presence of physical illness. The course is not designed to treat the physical symptoms of illness.

The course is run by two Cognitive Behavioural Therapists who have additional experience in a form of therapy called ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).

The course will be run remotely so access to a device capable of making video calls (a mobile phone, laptop, tablet, desktop computer with camera) and an internet connection will be required. Resources will be available online and you will be asked to complete a weekly set of questionnaires to help you monitor progress, so access to the internet and a work email address will also be required. 

Course Overview

Session 1: Introduction to the course and the therapy approach.. Understanding the link between physical and emotional health.

Session 2: Principles of using the ACT approach. Exploring helpfulness of current coping solutions.

Session 3: Living with purpose. Identifying values and finding ways forward.

Session 4: Taking notice, doing what matters most and identifying barriers.

Session 5: Overcoming barriers – part 1.

Session 6: Overcoming barriers – part 2.

Session 7: Bringing it all together – the bigger picture.

Session 8: Staying on course, maintaining progress and the future

There will also be optional and anonymous opportunities to talk/share your experiences, as well as, a number of experiential exercises and tasks throughout the course.