Duration: 9 weeks, 10 sessions
Frequency: 2 – 3 times per year

MBSR is a patient-centred psycho-educational group which has over 40 years of research that consistently demonstrates statistically significant reductions in symptoms for various physical and behavioral health conditions including anxiety, depression and chronic pain, along with positive changes in risk factors that may lead to more serious chronic ailments.

Those suitable for MBSR: Patients with a history of low mood or anxiety, +/- other existing medical health concerns.

This group is designed to provide participants with intensive and systematic training in mindfulness meditation and movement practices and integrating into one’s daily life. A referral from a physician is required.

Exclusion Criteria:

• No current history of active use of substances
• No history of psychosis
• No current active suicidal ideation
• No active history of trauma
• No history of personality disorders

Note: This group is only open to patients of the Mental Health Program at WCH. Referrals can be made through Epic. 

MBSR Group – Meditation Resource

Duration: 4 weeks, 1 session per week

Frequency: 2 times per year

MTER is a trauma-informed mindfulness-based group emphasizing psychoeducation and skills-based interventions. This program is an alternative to a longer, more intense program like Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). It provides accessible and brief mindfulness practices. A significant focus is on psychoeducation of safety and affect regulation strategies that are an essential prerequisite for potential future intensive mindfulness training.

A referral from a physician or nurse practitioner is required.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Psychosis
• Untreated or unstable bipolar disorder
• Active suicidal ideation
• Acute crisis requiring supportive measures
• Personality disorders that may interfere with the group dynamics

Note: This group is open to patients of the Mental Health Program and across WCH. Referrals can be made through Epic. 

Duration: 8 weekly sessions
Frequency: Offered 3 to 4 times per year

Based on the work of Aaron Beck, this evidence-based treatment emphasizes the relationship between our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. The CBT group helps individuals increase their skill and self-awareness regarding thoughts and behaviors and provides opportunities to practice the tools of CBT in a supportive group setting.

If there is a trauma history or alcohol/drug dependence/abuse history it is important that the patient has a solid support foundation and care/relapse prevention strategy in place​.

Patient must have a regular treating physician to follow them while they are in the group.​

Note: This group is only open to patients of the Mental Health Program at WCH and is currently offered in a virtual format only. Referrals can be made through Epic. 

Duration: 13 weekly sessions
Frequency: Offered 2 to 3 times per year. No waitlist is held for this group.​

Based on the work of Dr. Lisa Najavits, PhD, this treatment is designed for people with substance abuse and trauma experience and emphasizes the relationship between the two. ​

This group will assist individuals to develop strategies to manage previously overwhelming situations thereby increasing their self-awareness and reducing their symptoms. ​

Participants will be encouraged and provided with opportunities to develop a practice of using safe coping strategies and tools in a supportive virtual group setting. ​

Patients must have a history of relational trauma and symptoms of PTSD and be deemed appropriate for the group milieu. ​

Note: This group is open to internal and external referrals​. Internal referrals can be made through Epic.

Duration: 12 weekly sessions
Frequency: Offered 2 – 3 times per year

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan and consists of 4 components; emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness. It is an effective treatment for people who struggle with intense emotions. ​

Participants learn skills that will assist in understanding and reducing problematic behaviors (i.e. self-harm, substance use, impulsive behavior), enhance emotion regulation and build coping skills. ​

For eligibility, we require that participants are not in a mental health crisis and have additional formal or informal supports that can be accessed during the program.​ The facilitators will not be available to support patients outside of the group​.

Referrals must be completed by a physician to register for an intake assessment.

Note: This group is open to patients of Women’s College Hospital with priority given to patients of the Mental Health Program. The group is currently offered in a virtual format only.

Day Treatment Program (DTP) is an in person and virtual program aimed at helping individuals suffering with mood and anxiety disorders to move forward towards more valued living.

Using the Acceptance Commitment Therapy framework, psychoeducational groups, movement and breathwork, our objective is to support clients in lowering symptoms, increasing self-awareness and commitment to act towards their defined life values with more ease.

Day Treatment Program follows this format:

• Orientation Group (virtual): The 3rd Tuesday of the month prior to your start date (10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.)
• Rolling Admission Program (in-person): Twice a week for 8 weeks (Mondays 9:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. and Wednesdays 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
• Follow up component (TBD): monthly for 3 months

This program runs year-round, and is open to both internal and external referrals.

Duration: 9 weeks, 10 sessions
Frequency: 2 – 3 times per year

MBSR is a patient-centred psycho-educational group which has over 40 years of research that consistently demonstrates statistically significant reductions in symptoms for various physical and behavioral health conditions including anxiety, depression and chronic pain, along with positive changes in risk factors that may lead to more serious chronic ailments.

Those suitable for MBSR: Patients with a history of low mood or anxiety, +/- other existing medical health concerns.

This group is designed to provide participants with intensive and systematic training in mindfulness meditation and movement practices and integrating into one’s daily life. A referral from a physician is required.

Exclusion Criteria:

• No current history of active use of substances
• No history of psychosis
• No current active suicidal ideation
• No active history of trauma
• No history of personality disorders

Note: This group is only open to patients of the Mental Health Program at WCH. Referrals can be made through Epic. 

MBSR Group – Meditation Resource

Duration: 4 weeks, 1 session per week

Frequency: 2 times per year

MTER is a trauma-informed mindfulness-based group emphasizing psychoeducation and skills-based interventions. This program is an alternative to a longer, more intense program like Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). It provides accessible and brief mindfulness practices. A significant focus is on psychoeducation of safety and affect regulation strategies that are an essential prerequisite for potential future intensive mindfulness training.

A referral from a physician or nurse practitioner is required.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Psychosis
• Untreated or unstable bipolar disorder
• Active suicidal ideation
• Acute crisis requiring supportive measures
• Personality disorders that may interfere with the group dynamics

Note: This group is open to patients of the Mental Health Program and across WCH. Referrals can be made through Epic. 

Duration: 8 weekly sessions
Frequency: Offered 3 to 4 times per year

Based on the work of Aaron Beck, this evidence-based treatment emphasizes the relationship between our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. The CBT group helps individuals increase their skill and self-awareness regarding thoughts and behaviors and provides opportunities to practice the tools of CBT in a supportive group setting.

If there is a trauma history or alcohol/drug dependence/abuse history it is important that the patient has a solid support foundation and care/relapse prevention strategy in place​.

Patient must have a regular treating physician to follow them while they are in the group.​

Note: This group is only open to patients of the Mental Health Program at WCH and is currently offered in a virtual format only. Referrals can be made through Epic. 

Duration: 13 weekly sessions
Frequency: Offered 2 to 3 times per year. No waitlist is held for this group.​

Based on the work of Dr. Lisa Najavits, PhD, this treatment is designed for people with substance abuse and trauma experience and emphasizes the relationship between the two. ​

This group will assist individuals to develop strategies to manage previously overwhelming situations thereby increasing their self-awareness and reducing their symptoms. ​

Participants will be encouraged and provided with opportunities to develop a practice of using safe coping strategies and tools in a supportive virtual group setting. ​

Patients must have a history of relational trauma and symptoms of PTSD and be deemed appropriate for the group milieu. ​

Note: This group is open to internal and external referrals​. Internal referrals can be made through Epic.

Duration: 12 weekly sessions
Frequency: Offered 2 – 3 times per year

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan and consists of 4 components; emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness. It is an effective treatment for people who struggle with intense emotions. ​

Participants learn skills that will assist in understanding and reducing problematic behaviors (i.e. self-harm, substance use, impulsive behavior), enhance emotion regulation and build coping skills. ​

For eligibility, we require that participants are not in a mental health crisis and have additional formal or informal supports that can be accessed during the program.​ The facilitators will not be available to support patients outside of the group​.

Referrals must be completed by a physician to register for an intake assessment.

Note: This group is open to patients of Women’s College Hospital with priority given to patients of the Mental Health Program. The group is currently offered in a virtual format only.

Day Treatment Program (DTP) is an in person and virtual program aimed at helping individuals suffering with mood and anxiety disorders to move forward towards more valued living.

Using the Acceptance Commitment Therapy framework, psychoeducational groups, movement and breathwork, our objective is to support clients in lowering symptoms, increasing self-awareness and commitment to act towards their defined life values with more ease.

Day Treatment Program follows this format:

• Orientation Group (virtual): The 3rd Tuesday of the month prior to your start date (10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.)
• Rolling Admission Program (in-person): Twice a week for 8 weeks (Mondays 9:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. and Wednesdays 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
• Follow up component (TBD): monthly for 3 months

This program runs year-round, and is open to both internal and external referrals.

Individual time-limited psychotherapy services may be offered to patients as part of their treatment plan. This will be determined collaboratively between the patient and psychiatrist.

Mental health therapists assess and determine the most effective intervention to assist each patient one-on-one. Treatment may consist of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) as well as supportive and integrative therapies.

Length of treatment varies depending on the intervention used.

Note: In person and virtual appointments are available.

The overall goal for Case Management services is to link patients to supports and services, which will aid in the wellness and recovery of patients in the General Psychiatry program. The case manager and patient will collectively set goals and develop a plan that uses inherent strengths of client to link patient to supports which will reduce social isolation and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Case Management supports are short term, goal-oriented services with a maximum of 6-8 sessions.

Referrals for Case Management Services are completed by psychiatrists within the General Psychiatry Program.

Note: Case Management services are offered in person or virtual.