CURRENT GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPIES

Referral from your FAMILY PHYSICIAN or PSYCHIATRIST is required.

Please check back often as this list is updated frequently with our current services that are open to referrals. A group offered in the past or in progress, but is not currently listed as open for referrals, may be offered again in the future pending schedules of the clinicians involved. Please contact us to inquire.

MINDFULNESS-BASED PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR PARENTS

Parenting young children can be very stressful particularly when parents or children have emotional, psychiatric, or behavioural concerns. The purpose of the group is to bring together parents to learn mindfulness-based strategies to cope with stress including parenting-related stress in a supportive environment. This mindfulness-based group psychotherapy incorporates the mindful parenting work of Jon and Myla Kabat-Zinn and the evidence-based model by Susan Bögels and Kathleen Restifo.

Being mindful is paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, with awareness, acceptance and non-judgement. Parents will learn more adaptive ways of relating to stress and conflict, to observe their own selves and their children, to respond more effectively (less automatically) and empathetically, and to foster self-compassion, and self-care. Sharing of experiences and regular mindfulness practice outside the sessions are key components of this group.

This is an OHIP-covered closed group led by Dr. Anna Chen and/or Dr. Cara Brown.

It is open to mothers, fathers, and regular caregivers of children older than 12 months up to age 12.

NOW ACCEPTING REFERRALS FOR THE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 GROUP.

GROUP DETAILS:

Start Date: TBD
Date/Time: 12:45 PM - 2:30 PM
# of Sessions: 8 (Weekly)
# of Participants: ~16 people
Location: Virtual

Please be aware you will be waitlisted for future groups if this particular session is full.

We welcome all parents in all their diversity, including birth, adoptive, step and foster parents and cis, non-binary and transgender individuals. Children do not attend the sessions. Each parent will have a pre-group psychiatric/group suitability assessment.

CBT SKILLS FOR ADHD IN PARENTS

ADHD is a condition that can cause significant difficulties with daily life and most often starts in childhood. Adults with ongoing ADHD have usually developed many strengths and coping strategies throughout their life, and yet may find that parenthood further challenges them and/or makes previous strategies difficult to use due to the additional demands of child-rearing and family organization. This group seeks to bring together parents who have ADHD to support each other and learn or re-learn strategies to help with attention and organization in their current life context. Skills to help with attention, organization, and time management will be taught. The connection between emotions, thoughts, and behaviours and how they impact ADHD will also be discussed. Peer support will be a large component of this group.

This is an OHIP-covered closed group led by Dr. Anna Chen and/or Dr. Cara Brown.

It is open to mothers, fathers and regular caregivers who have previously been diagnosed with ADHD and/or have significant ADHD symptoms that impair daily functioning and have children older than 12 months up to age 12.

NOW ACCEPTING REFERRALS FOR THE SEPTEMBER 2023 GROUP.

GROUP DETAILS:

Start Date: September 18, 2023
Date/Time: Mondays from 12:00 PM - 1:45 PM
# of Sessions: 12 (Weekly)
# of Participants: ~12-16 people
Location: Virtual

Please be aware you will be waitlisted for future groups if this particular session is full.

CBT FOR PMDD (PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER)

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a distressing condition that causes significant changes in mood and ability to function during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. This is a 8-week group for adults who have diagnosed PMDD or have clinically significant symptoms (including exacerbations of underlying mood and/or anxiety disorders during the luteal phase of their cycle). Topics covered will be psychoeducation, lifestyle factors, and the learning of cognitive-behavioural therapy skills to address the symptoms of PMDD. Peer support will be a large component of this group.

This is an OHIP-covered closed group led by Dr. Anna Chen and/or Dr. Cara Brown.

We welcome all adults (age 18 and above) who menstruate or have cyclical hormonal changes that lead to PMDD symptoms.

PLEASE NOTE: The June 2023 group is FULL.

NOW ACCEPTING REFERRALS FOR THE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 GROUP.

GROUP DETAILS:

Start Date: TBD
Date/Time: 12:45 PM - 2:30 PM
# of Sessions: 8 (Weekly)
# of Participants: 12-16 people
Location: Virtual

Each participant will have a pre-group psychiatric/group suitability assessment.

INTERPERSONAL PSYCHOTHERAPY (IPT) GROUP FOR MOTHERS

Parenting can put strain on mental health and relationships. Interpersonal therapy is an evidence-based treatment for depression including postpartum depression. Interpersonal therapy works by emphasizing the development of strategies to cope with major life changes (role transitions), process grief, improve communication and key relationships, and strengthen social support. With support of the group leader and other group participants, the group members learn to identify helpful and unhelpful patterns in their relationships, express their feelings, and explore effective solutions. The group offers opportunity to safety experiment with new ways of relating to others and resolving conflicts. Group members are expected to actively work on their relationship issues outside of group sessions.

This is an OHIP-covered closed group led by Dr. Anna Chen and/or Dr. Cara Brown.

PLEASE NOTE: The September 2023 group is FULL. Future participants will be waitlisted.

GROUP DETAILS:

Start Date: September 21, 2023
Date/Time: Thursdays from 12:45 PM - 2:30 PM
# of Sessions: 12 (Weekly)
# of Participants: ~8-12 people
Location: Virtual

We welcome all mothers in all their diversity, including birth, adoptive, step and foster parents and cis, non-binary and transgender individuals.

Each parent will have a pre-group psychiatric/group suitability assessment.

EMOTIONAL REGULATION GROUP FOR PARENTS

The purpose of this group is to learn to be more present, focused and better manage difficult emotions using select skills from the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) model. Skills will be taught from each of the four DBT areas: emotional regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.

This group is for individuals with mood and/or anxiety disorders who struggle with the regulation of difficult emotions as part of their overall mental health journey. It is NOT a full DBT program, nor does it provide individual therapy support, hence it is not recommended for individuals with moderate to severe borderline personality disorder. The group is also not appropriate for individuals currently struggling with significant self-harm, suicidality, or safety issues.

As with any other learning, the amount you will benefit from the skills is directly correlated to the amount of homework and practice you do outside of the group.

This is an OHIP-covered closed group led by Dr. Anna Chen and/or Dr. Cara Brown.

Confirmed participants will be instructed as to the specific workbook that needs to be purchased before the group.

It is open to parents that have children older than 12 months up to age 12.

PLEASE NOTE: The September 2023 group is FULL. Future participants will be waitlisted.

GROUP DETAILS:

Start Date: September 19, 2023
Date/Time: Tuesdays from 12:45 PM - 2:30 PM
# of Sessions: 12 (Weekly)
# of Participants: 12-16 people
Location: Virtual

We welcome all parents in all their diversity, including birth, adoptive, step and foster parents and cis, non-binary and transgender individuals. Children do not attend the sessions. Each participant will have a pre-group psychiatric/group suitability assessment.

Groups: Services