Research shows that psychological treatments are effective in managing mental health disorders.
A review of current research shows that psychological treatments are:
- effective at treating common mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression,
- often more effective than medication over the long term, because people receiving medication only are more likely to relapse after they stop, and
- effective and cost efficient.
What can our programs do for you?
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Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a short-term form of psychotherapy directed at present-time issues and based on the idea that the way an individual thinks and feels affects the way that he or she behaves. The focus is on problem solving, and the goal is to change clients' thought patterns in order to change their responses to difficult situations. A CBT approach can be applied to a wide range of mental health issues and conditions.
CBT has been found to be highly or moderately effective in the treatment of depression, generalised anxiety disorder, childhood anxiety and depressive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, general stress, anger issues, panic disorders, agoraphobia, social phobia, eating disorders, marital difficulties, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. CBT may also be effective as an intervention for chronic pain conditions and associated distress.
CBT has been found to be highly or moderately effective in the treatment of depression, generalised anxiety disorder, childhood anxiety and depressive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, general stress, anger issues, panic disorders, agoraphobia, social phobia, eating disorders, marital difficulties, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. CBT may also be effective as an intervention for chronic pain conditions and associated distress.
Coaching
Psychological coaching focuses on the positive aspects of the human condition, much like positive counselling; it does not focus on the negative, irrational, and pathological aspects of life. Coaching is specific and goal-oriented. Like sports coaching, psychological coaching concentrates on individual or group strengths and abilities that can be used in new and different ways to enhance performance, feel better about the self, ensure smooth life transitions, deal with challenges, achieve goals, become more successful, and improve the overall quality of one’s personal and professional life.
There are several different types of coaches, such as executive coaches, health coaches, and personal life coaches. Coaching is used in schools, business organizations, performance venues, and individual counselling programs. For instance, a health coach at a worksite wellness program may provide individual and group weight control counselling to employees and provide them with the skills and motivation they need to improve their health and set goals to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Coaching makes use of positive resources, such as hope, resilience, and optimism, all of which improve job satisfaction, performance, and dedication in the workplace.
There are several different types of coaches, such as executive coaches, health coaches, and personal life coaches. Coaching is used in schools, business organizations, performance venues, and individual counselling programs. For instance, a health coach at a worksite wellness program may provide individual and group weight control counselling to employees and provide them with the skills and motivation they need to improve their health and set goals to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Coaching makes use of positive resources, such as hope, resilience, and optimism, all of which improve job satisfaction, performance, and dedication in the workplace.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an action-oriented approach to psychotherapy that stems from traditional behaviour therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. It helps clients behave more consistently with their values and apply mindfulness and acceptance skills in their responses to uncontrollable experiences. Clients learn to stop avoiding, denying, and struggling with their inner emotions and, instead, accept that these deeper feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations that should not prevent them from moving forward in their lives. With this understanding, clients begin to accept their issues and hardships and commit to making necessary changes in their behaviour, regardless of what is going on in their lives, and how they feel about it.
ACT has been used effectively to help treat workplace stress, test anxiety, social anxiety disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and psychosis. It has also been used to help treat medical conditions such as chronic pain, substance abuse, and diabetes.
ACT has been used effectively to help treat workplace stress, test anxiety, social anxiety disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and psychosis. It has also been used to help treat medical conditions such as chronic pain, substance abuse, and diabetes.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) provides clients with new skills to manage painful emotions and decrease conflict in relationships. It is a form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy that focuses on validating a person’s experiences in order to assist with personal acceptance despite life’s challenges. It has four approaches that work together to help individuals manage everyday life. First, mindfulness focuses on improving an individual's ability to accept and be present in the current moment. Second, distress tolerance is geared toward increasing a person’s tolerance of negative emotion, rather than trying to escape from it. Third, emotion regulation covers strategies to manage and change intense emotions that are causing problems in a person’s life. Fourth, interpersonal effectiveness consists of techniques that allow a person to communicate with others in a way that is assertive, maintains self-respect, and strengthens relationships.
DBT was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder. However, research shows that DBT has also been used successfully to treat people experiencing depression, bulimia, binge-eating, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic-stress disorder, and substance abuse. DBT skills are thought to have the capability of helping those who wish to improve their ability to regulate emotions, tolerate distress and negative emotion, be mindful and present in the given moment, and communicate and interact effectively with others.
DBT was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder. However, research shows that DBT has also been used successfully to treat people experiencing depression, bulimia, binge-eating, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic-stress disorder, and substance abuse. DBT skills are thought to have the capability of helping those who wish to improve their ability to regulate emotions, tolerate distress and negative emotion, be mindful and present in the given moment, and communicate and interact effectively with others.
Narrative Therapy
Often when individuals seek help, there is a stigma around being viewed as a “problematic person” as opposed to a “person with problems”. This approach can often lead to feelings of shame or disempowerment, both of which are unhelpful in a treatment setting. Narrative Therapy is based on the principle that reality is socially constructed and that our interpretation of events shapes the lives we live. It is a form of counselling that assists individuals in understanding their identity separately from their problems. It focuses on eliciting a person’s life story in order to understand their core values and the way they make meaning of their experiences.
In viewing problems as separate to the person, therapy assists the client in interpreting where their problems fit in with their story and how changes can be made to accommodate their concerns or construct an alternate narrative. Individuals, couples, and families can all benefit from narrative therapy. Those who define themselves by their problems, whose lives are dominated by such feelings as “I am a depressed person” or “I am an anxious person” can learn to see their problem as something they have but not something that identifies who they are.
In viewing problems as separate to the person, therapy assists the client in interpreting where their problems fit in with their story and how changes can be made to accommodate their concerns or construct an alternate narrative. Individuals, couples, and families can all benefit from narrative therapy. Those who define themselves by their problems, whose lives are dominated by such feelings as “I am a depressed person” or “I am an anxious person” can learn to see their problem as something they have but not something that identifies who they are.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy is an in-depth form of talk therapy that emphasises how certain life events and relationships, both past and present, affect a person’s current relationships, feelings, and behaviours. This form of therapy enables clients to explore the connection between the unconscious mind and actions. Its goal is to assist clients to gain insight into their behavioural patterns, defences, and inner struggles in order to make intentional changes to long-standing and unhelpful patterns. This form of therapy will encourage clients to speak openly about memories, experiences, or dreams to better understand themselves, resolve internal psychological conflicts, improve life experiences, self-esteem, and relationships.
Psychodynamic therapy is primarily used to treat depression and other serious psychological disorders, especially in those who have lost meaning in their lives and have difficulty forming or maintaining personal relationships. Research has found evidence to suggest that psychodynamic therapy also assists with addictions, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. It is considered a longer-term approach to mental health treatment in comparison to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other short-term interventions. However, results indicate that improved insight into patterns lead to enduring benefits.
Psychodynamic therapy is primarily used to treat depression and other serious psychological disorders, especially in those who have lost meaning in their lives and have difficulty forming or maintaining personal relationships. Research has found evidence to suggest that psychodynamic therapy also assists with addictions, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. It is considered a longer-term approach to mental health treatment in comparison to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other short-term interventions. However, results indicate that improved insight into patterns lead to enduring benefits.
Schema Therapy
Schema Therapy is considered an integrative approach that draws on elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Psychodynamic principles. In this form of therapy, the goal of treatment is to help identify maladaptive “schemas” – the deep unconditional beliefs about oneself, one’s relationship to others, and the environment, and the way one copes with schemas. There is a focus on healing schemas, changing entrenched patterns of behaviours, gaining an understanding on how to get emotional needs met, and learning to cope with the frustration and distress of not having one’s needs met. Schema Therapy is a moderate to long-term form of therapy and includes interpersonal, cognitive, emotion focused, and behavioural interventions.
Schema Therapy is primarily used to treat personality disorders and “treatment resistant” psychological disorders. It has also been effective for assisting individuals with depression and eating disorders.
Schema Therapy is primarily used to treat personality disorders and “treatment resistant” psychological disorders. It has also been effective for assisting individuals with depression and eating disorders.
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