Shared Medical Appointments

SMA with Dr Ivana Matic-Stancin

Dr Ivana offers group appointments on Saturdays to women experiencing symptoms of perimenopausal transition. Dr Ivana is a fellow of the Australasian Lifestyle Medicine Society and a member of the Australasian Menopause Society.

SHARD MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS (sma):

SMA are group appointments between Dr Ivana and 5-10 perimenopausal women. These are called shared medical appointments (SMA). SMA is a private clinic.

SMA complies with Medicare requirements and requires all participants to sign and adhere to a confidentiality agreement. It is an excellent opportunity to spend 60-90 minutes with a health professional and a few other women experiencing similar menopausal symptoms. These sessions are very educational and consultative.

SMA offers a different approach to learning and understanding more about the physiology of menopause and the ways one can improve one's health and alleviate symptoms during this natural hormonal transition, which can sometimes be very challenging. SMA is delivered through the 6-week CBT SMA Course.

6-WEEK cbt sma cOURSE:

The six-week CBT program is based on the most commonly used psychological tool, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The CBT translates into ordinary language to how we think and feel about body sensations and how to find the connection and understanding between thinking and feeling. That connection means that once we understand our body, we can regain better control over our thinking and behaviour, ultimately alleviating symptoms. CBT is a good tool for developing/ increasing emotional awareness and regulation.

This program is an evidence-based, proven, non-pharmacological intervention for effectively managing hot flashes, mood swings and night sweats for perimenopausal women. The British Menopause Society endorses the program.

This program is delivered three to four times a year in a small group setting. It runs on six consecutive Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m.

For exact dates, please ring the clinic.

Please express your interest by calling our clinic and putting your name on the list. The groups are small, and places are limited. Any woman can enrol in the program, even if she is not a regular Maxwell Medical Group patient.