Brief psychotherapy is a specific type of therapy. It is focused and time-limited. It deals with particular problems or issues that you decide you want to work on. To accomplish this, you will need to be able to set aside time each week to devote to therapy, for four to five months duration.

To begin, you will work collaboratively with your therapist to set goals that you both will work toward and evaluate over the course of the therapy. You and your therapist will look for patterns developed earlier in life to see how they may be affecting your current relationships, ways of coping with problems, sense of self and self-esteem. In therapy, you will also work toward making changes and identifying existing strengths.

Your therapist will work with you to better understand how social, economic, racial, cultural, political and other factors affect your life as a woman. Together you will pay special attention to the pressures you face in different aspects of your life - as a partner, worker, mother, daughter and friend. How these roles affect your well-being and physical health will also be examined.

The goal of brief psychotherapy is to support women in understanding and resolving their own problems. Psychotherapy takes work, so you should be ready to make the necessary commitment of effort and time when you come. Also, therapy can raise intense feelings so it is helpful to have friends or family who can provide emotional support during this time.

Accountability

A community advisory committee, comprised of former clients and community representatives provides important feedback to the Brief Psychotherapy Centre. An ongoing evaluation of services is conducted by centre staff.