Since its inception in 1988, the Brief Psychotherapy Centre for Women has developed, refined, practiced and researched a distinctive approach to therapy with women.  This therapy is based on a feminist mental health model designed to meet the unique needs and goals that each woman identifies for herself.  Our approach is:

• woman-centred
• time-limited
• relational-cultural
• collaborative
• non-medical
• community-based

Our philosophy emphasizes the empowerment of women. The Brief Psychotherapy Centre for Women is the only program of its kind in Canada.

Three full-time female psychotherapists, with extensive training and experience in providing psychotherapy, work at the centre.

Services Provided

Women can choose to refer themselves to one of the following options:

• individual psychotherapy consisting of 50-minute sessions each week for 16 weeks
• group psychotherapy consisting of 90-minute sessions each week for 20 weeks

Both options include:

• assessment sessions to determine suitability of the program
• two followup sessions approximately three months and a year after therapy has concluded
• provision of other mental health related resources, as needed

Find out more about how Brief Psychotherapy works.

The therapy offered at the Brief Psychotherapy Centre for Women is most useful for women who are having emotional difficulties with any of the following:

• self-esteem
• depression
• aging
• dealing with anger
• discrimination/cultural adjustment
• health problems/disabilities
• separation or divorce
• education
• anxiety
• body image
• loneliness
• parenting
• loss and/or bereavement
• relationship issues
• employment
• physical, emotional, verbal or financial abuse
• sexual abuse, sexual assault and/or sexual harassment
• stress related to poverty or employment

The program is not suited to women who are in crisis or require immediate help, have current, serious substance-abuse problems, or acute psychiatric difficulties.

Referrals and Waiting List

Any woman can refer herself to the Brief Psychotherapy Centre by simply calling us.

Even if you've been referred by a doctor or community agency, you must still call us yourself. When you call, you will receive information about the service (either by speaking to an assistant or by listening to a voice-recording.) This information will help you decide if you want to be placed on our waiting list.

If you let us know that you would like your name added to our waiting list, you and a therapist will have a telephone discussion some time later to determine whether our service will meet your needs. If it's determined that it will, you will remain on the waiting list until you come in for a more complete assessment.

Accessibility

We are wheelchair-accessible and make efforts to accommodate women with disabilities. Currently, we only offer service in English. We welcome clients from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.