Expression of Interests Now Open!
Westmead Feelings Program 2
What is Westmead Feelings Program 2
The Westmead Feelings Program is an evidence-based clinical intervention package designed to teach social and emotional skills to autistic children. Westmead Feelings Program is grounded in theory and has a strong evidence base to support its clinical effectiveness. Westmead Feelings Program teaches social and emotional skills in a coherent, developmentally oriented framework.
Westmead Feelings Program 2, for autistic children without accompanying intellectual impairment, was designed specifically to address the needs of autistic children. Westmead Feelings Program 1, available separately, caters to autistic children with co-occuring mild intellectual disability (ID). (See p. 6 for further details of age and ability levels).
Given evidence to suggest there may be a link between poorer social skills and increased mental health issues in autistic children (Ratcliffe, Wong, Dossetor, & Hayes, 2015), Westmead Feelings Program 2 has been designed so that it can also be utilised a mental health prevention and early intervention program for autistic children.
Enhancing social competence and emotional intelligence has been shown to improve child and parental mental health and social skills. Westmead Feelings Program 2 includes sessions for parents and teachers, so they can coach children in generalising the skills they learn in child sessions to their ‘real life’ home and school settings.
Westmead Feelings Program 2 aims to enhance the emotional awareness of autistic children by building on their knowledge of their own and others’ emotions, developing their skills in perspective taking and empathy, and enhancing their capacity to regulate their own emotions, in particular, to manage negative or unpleasant emotions.
Expression of Interests Now Open!
July 2022 Program now open for registration
If you're interested in registering your child for a place in our program, please use the form to provide your details.
Once you have submitted your details, we will contact you to discuss your child's suitability for the program.
Please note all information provided remains with our practice and will not be shared with any other organisations without your consent.
If you have any further questions that are not covered below in our frequently asked questions, please feel free to email us at: admin@atozpsychology.com.au and we will be in touch soon. or third party
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at admin@atozpsychology.com.au if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Add an answer to this item. The full cost of the program is $4,728.00 per child.
This includes face to face group sessions for all children and materials for children, parent and teachers.
Note: The intake assessment session with parents will be charged at usual consultation rates. Please contact us to discuss this fee.
Yes. As the full fee is due prior to the first session in July, there are payment plans available.
OpenPay is now available as a payment plan option. For more information on OpenPay, click here. Otherwise, please contact Dr Nicole Hess to discuss this option for you.
For all our payment options, please see our pricing page or contact us with any questions.
Yes. While all plans and private health covers are different, we recommend you review your current level of cover to see what may be available to you for this group session program.
Unfortunately if you are NDIA managed or agency managed you will not be able to use your NDIS funding.
Medicare do provide a small rebate for Mental Health Plans, however as full fee is due prior to commencement of the program, access to the rebate will need to be discussed with Dr Nicole Hess prior to commencement.
For 2022, the WFP will be available for 10-12years of age. Children must have previous diagnosis (or suspected diagnosis) of Autism and no intellectual disability, are able to read and write and able to pay attention for about 10-15 minutes at a time.
If there is a high interest for participants outside of this age group, then an additional program may be facilitated. Please contact us if you are interested in your child attending if they are not in this age group.
The group is small with only 6-7 children accepted. This gives each child the opportunity to participate in the activities.
The Westmead Feelings Program will commence at the beginning of Term 3 in July 2022.
The program usually runs on Monday afternoons for the duration of each QLD school term (excluding public holidays).
A list of all dates may be requested via our contact us page, or the above email address.
All sessions will be held at A to Z Psychology, Level 3, 349 Coronation Drive, Milton, QLD 4064
Prior to program commencement:
- New patients to A to Z Psychology: 1.25 hour initial appointment to determine suitability for the group (paid separately).
- Existing patients to A to Z Psychology: 1 hour pre-group assessment, eligibility and individual goals/planning session (paid separately).
During the program:
- A parent and teacher session via zoom is schedule at the beginning and end of each Module.
- Booster session is then available 6 months after the completion of the program. This will be scheduled towards the end of the program.
- Materials for teachers, parents, and children are provided throughout the program with a feedback report provided for each child at the end of the program.
Unfortunately your enrollment in the program/training fees are non-refundable for any reasons, including in the event of illness or if you drop out of the program. This is because you place in the program has been specifically set aside for your child and places cannot be filled by someone else once the program begins.
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