Petition to save Ramsay Clinic Thirroul
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Personal Exprience
2026-02-03 06:36:22Hi,
My name is Ellen and below is my experience of the exceptional treatment provided at Ramsay Clinic Thirroul, a truly innovative and advanced mental health clinic, closing late this February. I believe this is a great loss and a step back in the treatment of mental health. Here is my story.
As someone who’s been in mental health treatment for over a decade and has explored multiple treatment modalities and facilities, I can wholeheartedly say that Ramsay Clinic Thirroul is where my journey of authentic healing truly began.
The clinic is not only in a peaceful setting, with a terrace that looks over the ocean and a bush trail nearby, but it was also built with a holistic approach in mind, including a pool and gym for physical therapy and an art studio for expressive therapy. Ramsay Clinic Thirroul, Australia's first woman-only, trauma-informed mental health clinic, provides truly advanced and unique treatment, and unlike larger mental health clinics, the smaller bed capacity allows for a more person-centered, holistic patient experience.
Group sessions cover various topics, offering opportunities for reflection and insight, as well as practical skills and resources to implement in everyday life. In past admissions to other clinics, group therapy often felt lecture-like. The skills taught were useful in theory, but their applications were not explored in a way that made them feel accessible. Ramsay Clinic Thirroul's group sessions are different; not only do they offer skills, but they explore and expand them in a way that makes them tangible. Group sessions are a therapeutic environment where patients and facilitators collaborate collectively towards growth and healing, with the belief that both the facilitator and the patients share a mutual role in the healing process. The nurturing, invitational structure of group therapy holds space for each patient to show up as they are and engage within their capacity, therefore creating authentic and sustainable healing. Patients are encouraged to meet their needs, which may look like bringing comfort items such as sensory objects, fidgets, weighted blankets, plush animals, and warm drinks, or using movement and stretching. The facilitators are compassionate and aware that there are topics that may evoke strong emotions, all of which are welcome in the room; however, they understand that patients may need to leave temporarily, in which case they’re gently encouraged to reach out to nursing staff for support and, if able to, regulate and return. They also acknowledge that returning to the group may not always be possible, and in that case, they will often check in later and offer support, asking if there is anything the patient needs.
Throughout the afternoons, evenings and weekends, guided therapeutic practices, such as art therapy, expressive and creative therapy, movement through dance, yoga, sound healing, and pet therapy, are offered. These trauma-informed spaces are optional and invitational, promoting autonomy while offering a safe space for patients to create, express, explore, and connect while honouring their individual needs—knowing they can come and go as needed.
The nursing staff is nothing short of remarkable, showing up every day with kindness and compassion—going above and beyond. They don’t just fulfil their duty to care; they foster a true connection and express a genuine desire to support you through your journey. They take time to get to know you, your story, and your experience, showing their dedication to wanting to understand how to best support you. The empathy shown by the nursing staff forms the foundation of the clinic's healing nature, alongside every team member who shows up and approaches their work with authenticity and intention, not to mention the cleaning staff and kitchen staff, who never fail to put a smile on your face, as well as everyone working behind the scenes and the nursing students.
On arrival, I experienced a sense of safety that other clinics had failed to provide, and throughout my stays, I have grown in ways I never thought possible. I’ve reconnected to parts of myself—beliefs, boundaries, and values—that I had lost touch with and was provided with the opportunity to gain insight and understanding into not only myself but also my experience, feelings, thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours. This clinic has offered a safe place to further my self-exploration, expression, and expansion. It is here that I learned that I am allowed to take up space; I am allowed to be seen, to be heard, and to have my needs met, both by myself and others. I am allowed to be.
I am now regaining my autonomy—regaining myself—and am finally on the path of healing from CPTSD and coexisting comorbidities. After living in a constant state of flight, fight, freeze, or fawn, I am now living in a state much more regulated. Inevitably, these states still get triggered, but I am now equipped with a toolkit of skills to reground myself.
I also want to give a special mention to the art therapy team, who have played a pivotal role in my journey and have inspired me to pursue my Bachelor of Arts Therapy.
Without the support of Ramsay Clinic Thirroul, I truly do not believe I would be here, sharing my experience with you today. They held me when I was unable to hold myself, and during the times I felt hopeless, they continued to hold that hope for me.
Ellen Pisto