Sage Older Adults Psychology Skills Group

SAGE is a psychological therapy group for older adults who are experiencing difficulties with anxiety and /or depression and are interested in applying a psychological approach to their difficulties. The group is adapted from psychological theories about emotional regulation and emotional over-control (Linehan, 1993; Lynch et al, 2016), and how these can underpin certain recurrent mental health problems. The format is skills based, with eight skills taught twice over 16 sessions, which address problems of emotional regulation, interpersonal aloofness, emotional loneliness, and cognitive and behavioural rigidity.

This is the first year that outcomes for the SAGE programme have been reported. The group started in 2015, and was in its 5th cycle at the end of 2016. The programme is staffed by two psychologists and an assistant psychologist.