What to expect in therapy?
You and your therapist will work collaboratively towards resolving the problems that you may be facing. Your first session will be an assessment session where your therapist will find out a lot about your current problems and identify any mental health conditions (i.e., diagnoses) that may be contributing to your current situation.
Your therapist will be able to recommend and take you through an evidence-based treatment plan that will empower you with skills and strategies to perform at home to manage better, decrease symptoms and improve your life.
As you feel that things are improving and you’re managing better it is normal to start have less sessions and eventually stop treatment altogether. Your therapist will always be willing to assist you in ending your treatment - with the knowledge that you are always welcome to return if you require additional assistance in the future.
What about children & teens?
Your therapist will adapt their treatment style to suit the individual. For children we try and make therapy fun, with kids earning prizes and playing games as they learn new skills and practice them at home. For teenagers we have a more conversational approach based on interests, trying to connect on their level and speak their language to impart therapy skills.
Treatment styles
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a goal-oriented therapeutic approach that focuses on changing patterns of thinking and behaviour to help people manage the problems that are affecting their mental health. Treatment focuses on the relationships between your thoughts, feelings and actions and developing more helpful habits and coping techniques.
Strategies and skills may include identifying and changing negative thinking patterns, exposure therapy to decrease distress and fear, or calming strategies for decreasing the body’s response to stress.
Behavioural Parent Training (BPT)
AKA Parent Management Training (PMT)
Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) is a structured approach designed to empower parents with effective techniques for managing their child's behavior while also nurturing the parent-child bond. By emphasising a proactive approach to parenting (instead of reactive) BPT assists in promoting desired behaviours, reducing challenging behaviours and strengthening the emotional connection between parents & children
Strategies and skills may include emotion coaching, positive reinforcement, clear communication, and consistent consequences.
Find out more about behavioural parent training (or parent management training) for promoting positive parenting and reducing challenging behaviours)