Innovation or Common Sense in Addiction Recovery? The Banyans Interdisciplinary Collaborative Care Model (BiCOC)
Tracks
Springbrook Room
| Tuesday, May 13, 2025 |
| 1:40 PM - 2:10 PM |
Overview
Dr Ruth Crowther & Ms Tammy Spiller, The Banyans
Speaker
Dr Ruth Crowther
Clinical Psychologist / Therapies Lead
The Banyans
Innovation or Common Sense in Addiction Recovery? The Banyans Interdisciplinary Collaborative Care Model (BiCOC)
Abstract
The Banyans consists of a 10-bed and 4-bed private residential rehabilitation facility providing individualised care for people with mental health conditions. Typical presentations include substance misuse and addiction, burnout, personality disorders, depression and anxiety, eating disorders and trauma. Most commonly presentations are complex and include addiction to Depressants (alcohol and benzopdiazepines), Stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine and ice) Dissociatives (Nitrous Oxide), Cannabinoids and Opiods. Polypharmacy is common. Typically guests are either privately funded, NDIS supported, or Veterans supported by DVA.
The Banyans team utilise a (Banyans) Interdisciplinary Collaborative Care (BiCOC) approach to treatment and recovery from addiction. The BiCOC healthcare team is interdisciplinary in that it integrates knowledge and methods across the different disciplines, consistently synthesising approaches to ensure best outcomes for residents. The team includes general practitioners, psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, dieticians, nutritionists, sleep specialists, exercise physiologists, music therapists, art therapists, equine therapists, yoga therapists and wellness coaches (who play a key role in covering the frontline of the facility).
In addition to healthcare practitioners’, other components of the model include case management, patient (and family) education and systematic follow-up of guests via a comprehensive (up to) two-year aftercare program. The Banyans also has strategic partnerships with hospitals and community-based supports to support seamless transitions into and out of the residences.
This presentation will outline the unique model of the care that The Banyans provides, utilising case studies to illustrate the patient journey from admission to program completion, discharge and aftercare. Within this, key components of the program itself will be highlighted, including evidence of the interdisciplinarity of the program and examples of how nature, biofeedback and social connectivity all combine with evidence based practice to support positive outcomes. The effectiveness of the BICoC model will be illustrated using aggregated outcomes measures collected at key points of the patient journey.
The Banyans team utilise a (Banyans) Interdisciplinary Collaborative Care (BiCOC) approach to treatment and recovery from addiction. The BiCOC healthcare team is interdisciplinary in that it integrates knowledge and methods across the different disciplines, consistently synthesising approaches to ensure best outcomes for residents. The team includes general practitioners, psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, dieticians, nutritionists, sleep specialists, exercise physiologists, music therapists, art therapists, equine therapists, yoga therapists and wellness coaches (who play a key role in covering the frontline of the facility).
In addition to healthcare practitioners’, other components of the model include case management, patient (and family) education and systematic follow-up of guests via a comprehensive (up to) two-year aftercare program. The Banyans also has strategic partnerships with hospitals and community-based supports to support seamless transitions into and out of the residences.
This presentation will outline the unique model of the care that The Banyans provides, utilising case studies to illustrate the patient journey from admission to program completion, discharge and aftercare. Within this, key components of the program itself will be highlighted, including evidence of the interdisciplinarity of the program and examples of how nature, biofeedback and social connectivity all combine with evidence based practice to support positive outcomes. The effectiveness of the BICoC model will be illustrated using aggregated outcomes measures collected at key points of the patient journey.
Biography
Ruth is a Clinical Psychologist/Therapies Lead at The Banyans Health and Wellness Residence alongside running her own Private Practice. Ruth and her (AAT accredited) therapy dog Keeva work within an interdisciplinary/ transdisciplinary team, utilising evidence-based practices to support guests in their recovery from mental health issues, including both substance/behavioural dependencies. Ruth has completed training in Schema Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and has a special interest in the integration of nature and biofeedback into recovery programs. Ruth is also leading the development, implementation and evaluation of the Banyans Integrated Collaborative Care Model (BiCOC).
