The Counselling and Wellness Centre at MDABC

Transcription

1 The Counselling and Wellness Centre at MDABC Winter 2016 Program Guide Learn to improve your MOOD and live a more BALANCED LIFE. The non-profit Counselling and Wellness Centre at MDABC offers private counselling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for individuals, couples, and families. In addition, we offer structured courses in CBT, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Art Therapy for people seeking to play a proactive role in improving quality of life. The Counseling and Wellness Centre at MDABC Suite West Pender St. Vancouver BC, V6C 1H2 P F wellnesscentre@mdabc.net

2 About The Counselling and Wellness Centre at MDABC: Our Mission: The Counselling and Wellness Centre at MDABC exists to inspire and support people who wish to cultivate a calm mind, a resilient spirit, and a renewed sense of wellbeing. No matter what is troubling you, our compassionate, highly-trained counselors and staff are here to work with you to find solutions and bring meaningful change to your own life. Our Wellness Community: When you come to the Counselling and Wellness Centre at MDABC, you will be welcomed into a caring community where others like you are seeking to be empowered by therapeutic learning and sharing. The team at the Centre also work closely with the psychiatrists of the MDABC Psychiatric Program with the goal of offering the most innovative and effective programming in the field of mental health. We all work together to meet the needs of the whole person which includes physical, emotional, social and creative dimensions. About Our Counselling Services: We all desire a balanced, healthy, happy life but sometimes we get too caught up in just surviving to remember that self-care takes time and patience. Participating in guided therapy is an effective form of self-care that can help you to feel better about yourself and your relationship to the world. Whether you choose individual, couple or family counseling, you will collaborate with your counsellor to acquire the most effective tools and techniques to cope with the unique challenges that you are facing. The tools that you will learn in therapy will not only help you in your present circumstances but will help you build emotional resilience that will serve you well in the future. All of our Certified therapists have a minimum of a Master s degree in Counselling Psychology and are current members of a Professional Association. Our counsellors use many different types of therapies. They have training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Process-oriented therapy, Solution Focused therapy (SFT), Positive Psychology and Mindfulness-based approaches. About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is an evidence-based psychological intervention shown to significantly reduce emotionally distressing symptoms. CBT is educative and clients are taught cognitive, behavioral, and emotional-regulation skills so that that they can, in essence, become their own therapists. All of our counsellors and group therapy leaders use CBT in their practice so that you will have the opportunity to learn the skills and techniques needed to improve mood and resilience. Group therapy or private counselling? How to decide: Only you will know what is right for you at this point in your life. Participating in either individual counselling or group therapy will significantly help you to develop the sense of

3 wellbeing that we all seek. Sometimes, it can be helpful to combine the two options in order to reinforce and strengthen your resolve to make the necessary changes to get the life you want. Why consider therapy? You do not have to wait until you have a serious problem or feel like you can no longer cope to start seeing a professional counsellor. In fact, it is much better to take a proactive approach to your own wellbeing and seek out help before things get out of control. A counsellor can collaborate with you to bring about the meaningful change that you desire and help you to move on from your current difficulties much more quickly than you can do on your own. How to register for Courses: All of the courses in this program are open to the public. The first step to register is to submit a selfreferral form available here we review the selfreferral form, we will contact you to complete the registration. The fees for the winter 2016 courses range from $30 to $300. All fees are listed in the course descriptions. To make the payment: In person: Just present yourself at the front desk at either of the MDABC offices -Wellness and Counseling at MDABC West Pender St. or The MDABC head office Robson St.) We can accept cash, cheque, or credit at the front desk. By phone: If you would like to pay by credit card, call and select option 2 Cancellation Policy for 8-Week Courses: Cancellations where full credit is applied to another group must be received by the MDABC office no later than 72 hours before the start of the first session of the program. If you find that the course is not suitable for you after the first session, you may receive a full credit towards another program if you withdraw no late than 72 hours before the second session. No Refunds Cancellation Policy for Weekend Warrior Courses: Cancellations where full credit is applied to another group must be received by the MDABC office no later than 72 hours before the start of the first session of the program. No refunds. Cancellation Policy for Art Therapy Courses: No credit or refund will be issued. For all other enquiries, please contact The Counselling and Wellness Centre at MDABC at wellnesscentre@mdabc.net or phone Rates and Appointment booking for Private Counselling: Individual Therapy Registered Therapist, $85 per session Couples Therapy Registered Therapist, $95 per session Family Therapy Registered Therapist, $95 per session Individual Therapy Adler University Graduate Intern, $50 per session All fees are payable on a session by session basis. Please submit an intake form which can be found at Once we review the intake form, we will contact you to schedule an appointment. For all other enquiries, please contact The Counselling and Wellness Centre at MDABC at wellnesscentre@mdabc.net or phone

4 Weekend Warrior Course for Stress and Anxiety 2-day Program, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday, Jan. 9 th and Sunday, Jan. 10 th, 2016 Tuition: $175 If you are feeling overwhelmed or stuck in your life, MDABC s innovative Weekend Warrior Course is here to help you get back on track. This weekend s approach will draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, and Art Therapy principles to give you a chance to try different strategies and see what works for you. Join Certified Counsellor, Rose Record and expert guest speakers for two full days of learning, sharing, and group activities. Through creative exploration, learning activities, and guided discussion, you will begin to look at how to bring meaningful change to your life. This program will offer diverse opportunities to begin developing the skills you need to nurture and heal your body, mind and relationships. Our goal is that you leave this weekend with a variety of tools and skills to help you cope with anxiety concerns as well as a better sense of how you can continue to build up your feelings of wellbeing, self-confidence and emotional resilience. *Please note This program is suitable for individuals experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety/stress. No previous experience with CBT, Mindfulness or Art Therapy is required. We do ask that you are comfortable and able to participate in short excursions into downtown Vancouver. Weekend Warrior Course for Low Mood/Depression 2-day Program, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday, Jan. 23 rd and Sunday, Jan. 24 th, 2016 Tuition: $175 If you are feeling overwhelmed or stuck in your life, MDABC s innovative Weekend Warrior Course is here to help you get back on track. This weekend s approach will draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, and Art Therapy principles to give you a chance to try different strategies and see what works for you. Join Certified Counsellor, Rose Record and expert guest speakers for two full days of learning, sharing, and group activities. Through creative exploration, learning activities, and guided discussion, you will begin to look at how to bring meaningful change to your life. This program will offer diverse opportunities to begin developing the skills you need to nurture and heal your body, mind and relationships. Our goal is that you leave this weekend with a variety of tools and skills to help you cope with depression concerns as well as a better sense of how you can continue to build up your feelings of well-being, self-confidence and emotional resilience. *Please note This program is suitable for individuals experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of low mood/depression. No previous experience with CBT, Mindfulness or Art Therapy is required. We do ask that you are comfortable and able to participate in short excursions into downtown Vancouver.

5 Art Materials and Emotional Regulation: An Arts- Based Skills Group Co-Facilitated by: Adler University Master of Counselling Psychology: Art Therapy Students 6 Wednesdays, 5:30 pm to 7:30pm Jan. 13 th to Feb. 17 th, 2016 OR 6 Wednesdays, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Jan. 27 th to Mar. 2 nd, 2016 Maximum Participants: 6 Fee: $30 There is no tuition fee as this course is a pilot project in partnership with the Adler University Art Therapy Master s Degree Program. The MDABC is charging a nonrefundable deposit of $30 to help cover some of the administrative costs associated with the program. All art materials have been donated and we would like to thank everyone who gave to make this program happen. A six-week experiential art therapy group for individuals wanting to learn how to regulate their emotions by working b with art materials. In a small group format, you will learn how to work with line, shape, color and art medium to create control of movement through the range of human emotions. Participants will learn about color and emotions; the continuum of emotions; continuum of control inherent in art materials; work with focus through form; containment of big feelings with art medium; art reviews; appreciation; and working with imagination to lean into desired feeling states. Suitability: This group is suitable for adults who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety and/or depression and who wish to have better selfregulation over their emotional states. No experience with art is required. A formal diagnosis of depression and/or anxiety is not required. CBT for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Valentina Chichiniova, MA, CCC 8 Thursdays, 5:30 pm to 7:30pm Jan. 28 th to Mar. 17 th, 2016 This class is for individuals who are struggling with generalized anxiety in their everyday lives and who wish to begin learning how to gain more control over their distress. The CBT approach emphasizes client strengths and motivation to change by requiring that individuals practice and use the skills learned in class. You will be provided with an introduction to stress management and coping skills, including problem solving, relaxation, and mindfulness techniques. This class will be of the most benefit to you if you are open to collaborating with other group members and sharing your experiences with anxiety and your challenges and successes in coping with it. Suitability: This group is suitable for individuals who constantly have worry thoughts running through their minds, feel like the anxiety is getting out of control, feel unable to tolerate uncertainty, feel like need to know what's going to happen in the future; or feel a pervasive apprehension or dread. A formal diagnosis of GAD is not required. This group is not suitable for individuals who do not already have some basic skills in dealing with distress (e.g. relaxation exercises), are experiencing frequent panic attacks, have a diagnoses of PTSD or have been through a traumatic experience and are currently experiencing intense feelings and intrusive images/memories related to the trauma. If you are experiencing any of the above, individual therapy is a better option for you.

6 Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) For Depression and Anxiety Valentina Chichiniova, MA, CCC 8 Saturdays, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Jan. 30 th to Mar. 19 th, 2016 This group's objective is to give its participants skills to address anxiety and depression from a mindfulness perspective. The mind and the body are intimately connected, and by gaining the skills to allow us to pay attention to the signals our body gives us, healing can take place. Specific skills will include breath-work, tuning in to the body, relaxation techniques, and meditation (no experience required). What matters most in wellness is not the feeling we have, but the way we deal with those feelings. Mindfulness allows us to get comfortable with all of our feelings so that, in turn, we can gain control over our mental health sense of well-being. Suitability: This group is suitable for individuals who are experiencing persistent mood states such as feeling stressed, unhappy, depressed or anxious. A formal diagnosis of a depressive or anxiety disorder is not required. This group is not suitable for individuals with strong and repetitive thoughts of suicide, have a PTSD diagnoses, or have been through a traumatic experience and are currently experiencing intense feelings and intrusive images/memories related to the trauma. If you are experiencing any of the above, individual therapy is a better option for you. Emotion Management Group for Younger Adults (ages 18-30) 8 Thursdays, 10 am to 12 pm Feb. 4 th to Mar. 24 th, 2016 This group is designed for adults who are faced with emotion management concerns and would like to learn strategies to help manage distress, reduce negative emotions, build acceptance, and improve well-being. This course uses an integration of evidence-based strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical-Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness to help manage and reduce emotional concerns. This course will focus on building emotional awareness and understanding, increasing emotional regulation, and exploring relaxation/mindfulness skills. The goal of the group is to build life-long coping strategies, increase emotional acceptance, and increase overall emotional health. Suitability: This group is suitable for younger adults faced with mild to moderate emotion management concerns that would like to learn and build strategies in a safe space with others who are faced with similar concerns. Previous group therapy or counselling experience not required. This group is not suitable for individuals with strong and repetitive thoughts of suicide, have a PTSD diagnoses, or have been through a traumatic experience and are currently experiencing intense feelings and intrusive images/memories related to the trauma. If you are experiencing any of the above, individual therapy is a better option for you.

7 CBT for Social Anxiety 8 Saturdays, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Feb. 13 th to Apr. 16 th, 2016 (No class Mar. 26 th ) This group is designed for adults who are faced with social anxiety concerns and who would like to learn strategies to help manage symptoms and improve wellbeing. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment approach proven to be effective in helping to manage and reduce the impacts of social anxiety. This course will focus on learning about social anxiety and bringing awareness and understanding to the connection between thoughts, physical feelings, emotions and behaviours that contribute to your symptoms. Your group leader will help you develop coping strategies for the physical, emotional and cognitive symptoms of anxiety including building healthy habits, positive self-talk, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation and mindfulness. Behavioural strategies including gradual exposure, goal setting, and assertive communication will also be used to decrease avoidance behaviors and increase self-confidence. The goal of this course is to establish self-help tools to help you to manage and reduce the impacts social anxiety and increase well-being now, and in the future. Suitability: This group is suitable for adults who feel anxious and uncomfortable in social situations and would like to learn and build strategies in a safe space with other who are faced with similar concerns. A formal diagnosis of social anxiety is not required. CBT for Depression 8 Saturdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Feb. 13 th to Apr. 16 th, 2016 (No class Mar. 26 th ) This group is designed for adults who are faced with depression concerns and would like to learn strategies to help manage distress and improve well-being. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment approach proven to be effective in helping to manage and reduce the impacts of depression. This course will focus on bringing awareness to the connection between thoughts, physical feelings, emotions and behaviours with the goal of identifying and altering patterns of thinking and/or behaviours that contribute to your distress. Your group leader will help you develop coping strategies including positive self-talk, cognitive restructuring, relaxation and mindfulness, and goal setting. The goal of the group is to build greater selfawareness and understanding of your symptoms and tools for life-long management of depression. Suitability: This group is suitable for adults faced with mild to moderate depression concerns who would like to learn and build strategies in a safe space with others who are faced with similar concerns. A formal diagnosis of depression is not required.