We operate on an outpatient basis with a multidisciplinary team that incorporates both medical and psychological approaches to treatment. In order to accommodate the unique needs of patient, clinic staff work to develop individualized treatment programs involving psychological and/or pharmacological therapies.

Of all psychological treatment approaches, cognitive behavioural therapy has been shown to be the most effective in treatment of anxiety disorders. Basically, it involves learning to identify and change thinking patterns, as well as confronting the feared situation in a gradual way, while using various strategies to cope with the anxiety. By breaking the fear avoidance loop, the patient “unlearns” the association of a feeling of fear with a particular situation. The patient might work individually with a therapist or in a group setting. Many patients who come to our clinic have been taking anti-anxiety medication over prolonged periods of time. The treatments we offer can include exploration of this issue for those individuals interested in reducing their medication.

Our cognitive behavioural therapy groups are an effective alternative to one-on-one treatment. Group sessions are 2 hours long and are held once per week for 16 weeks. In addition to providing a supportive setting to discuss and learn about anxiety disorders, the groups involve: therapist accompanied exposure tasks, exposure to anxiety symptoms, training on cognitive restructuring techniques, and the designation of individual homework tasks and long term goals. Although the treatment occurs within a cohesive group framework, we emphasize that each member assumes responsibility for his or her treatment by working regularly and independently when outside of the group (i.e. homework). Ultimately, it is our goal to eliminate anxiety problems and equip the patient with the skills necessary to prevent/minimize relapse in the future.

We also offer pharmacological options for treatment of mood and anxiety disorders. Our Psychiatrist consults with patients and finds the most appropriate medication with the aim of tolerance and effectiveness. The goal of pharmacological treatments is to effectively minimize the symptoms of mood and/or anxiety disorders so people can improve their quality of life.