Our therapists can
be there every step of the way

Psychotherapy is a process that addresses presenting issues, mental health, and emotional difficulties. It helps individuals to better understand their own processes that underlie much of their difficulties, identify patterns within their behaviors, set and meet goals, and to process difficult events in order to move forward. Psychotherapy can help to identify areas of strength and weakness, and create plans to achieve better balance in life.

Many psychotherapy services are covered under private insurance plans. Please speak with your insurance provider to gain more information.

At the Amicus Group, we believe in service that is client-directed and client-focused. This means that we do not use cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approaches to therapy. We look at the presenting issues, goals, and preferences of the client and determine in consultation with the client the best course of therapy.

Psychotherapy is not a magic solution. You will have to put in the work required for positive change. Our therapists can be there every step of the way to help guide and support this process.

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is perhaps the best-known form of psychotherapy. It is evidence-based practice in increasing positive affect, overall fulfillment, motivation, and in lessening symptoms of depression and anxiety. We offer Anxiety Therapy to help individuals manage and overcome anxiety. Through personalized treatment plans, clients can explore the root causes of their anxiety and develop effective coping strategies, leading to improved mental well-being and a more balanced life.

This therapy works from the understanding that our negative patterns of thinking can lead to dysfunctional emotions or behaviours. Rather than working to change the behaviour itself, CBT first focuses on the thinking patterns that determine behaviour. By changing the thoughts, we can change how we feel and what we do.

CBT can:

  • Help to identify negative automatic thoughts and patterns
  • Identify the impact of these thoughts on belief systems and explore how these beliefs are reinforced in your day-to-day life
  • Develop new, positive strategies to balanced thinking
  • Provide the insight and skills needed for psychological wellness

What you should know before treatment:

  • Some problematic thinking patterns must be confronted head-on. This means that you might feel overwhelmed or distressed for a short period of time. This is a normal part of therapy that arises from confronting some of our more negative patterns, and is an important part of the process
  • CBT is most effective when you are committed to the process. This means actively engaging in sessions, completing the homework given to you, and striving for weekly sessions whenever possible

What you can expect in treatment:

  • Sessions that are somewhat structured
  • In-depth exploration of patterns, behaviours, and emotions
  • Positive challenging of problematic thinking patterns
  • Homework, to assist in ongoing evaluation and monitoring of thinking patterns

Family/Couples Counselling

This is a process that is used for couples or families to confront issues impacting their relationships. This can involve looking at problematic behaviours, barriers in communication, and gaining more insight/perspective. We can help to identify the areas of need, provide an unbiased perspective, and serve as a mediator to these important conversations.

Family/couples therapy can:

  • Address a specific problem being faced by the family/couple
  • Focus on communication within this system and create positive communication strategies
  • Provide a safe and neutral space for all parties to share their viewpoints without fear of judgment
  • Help to navigate through complex issues in positive, constructive ways
  • Allow you to see things from different perspectives

What you should know before treatment:

  • It is not the role of the therapist to chose sides or to determine “right” or “wrong”; rather, it is the therapist’s job to help open the lines of communication and assist all parties in seeing things from the other’s perspective
  • It is crucial for all parties participating in the treatment to be aware and open to participating. Blindsiding a person to participate in therapy generally ends negatively

What you can expect in treatment:

  • The family/couple is generally seen together for each session. This means that you should be prepared to be open and honest not just to your therapist, but to your partner/family member(s) as well
  • The therapist will make an effort to ensure that each person has an equal opportunity to share and participate. This means that you may be called upon to provide your perspective. Actively engaging is an important part of the process

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a process designed to allow you to increase self-awareness, and explore the relationship between past events to current functioning. It is exploratory in nature, allowing you to speak freely about your thoughts and feelings and allow for an exploration of unconscious patterns of behaviour. The goal is to explore thoughts, feelings, memories, and emotions that you may or may not be aware of, that influence your current functioning, behaviour, and feelings. Positive personal change is the ultimate goal.

What you should know before treatment:

  • This process involves uncovering and exploring difficult thoughts, emotions, and memories, which can be somewhat distressing
  • We work to connect you with the right therapist, and the therapist will work hard to build a solid, emphatic connection

What you can expect in treatment:

  • Sessions are unstructured, and can sometimes jump from topic to topic, or explore different chronological themes
  • You will be encouraged to guide the treatment by talking freely about what is impacting you

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) was originally designed to treat those suffering from suicidal thoughts; however, it has since expanded as an evidence-based practice for those suffering from personality disorders. With many personality disorders, individuals are characterized by unstable moods, emotional reactivity, extreme reactions, rapidly fluctuating moods, and/or fears of abandonment. DBT works to build methods and strategies for coping with these behaviours, as well as the development or enhancement of interpersonal skills.

What you should know before treatment:

  • The experience of therapy will require you to confront negative behavioural patterns before moving on to new, positive methods. This can be a distressing experience, but your therapist will be there see you through it
  • You do not have to be diagnosed with a personality disorder for this therapy to be useful for you. DBT can be helpful for anyone experiencing emotional reactivity, rapid mood changes, feelings of emptiness, or unstable moods

What you can expect in treatment:

  • Sessions will be structured to focus on exploring patterns and problem-solving
  • Skills building is another important component of this treatment, and might include participating in role-playing or acting out scenarios
  • You will most likely be given “homework” so that you can continuously evaluate and monitor your patterns and progress

Emotion Focussed Therapy

Emotion Focussed Therapy (EFT) is a therapy that works on the belief that emotions can be a source of healing. It works to help individuals to resolve their unpleasant emotions by working through them, rather than suppressing them. Essentially, EFT works on the idea that it is not the unpleasant emotions themselves that pose a problem; it is how those emotions are managed that is problematic.

What you should know before treatment:

  • EFT is useful for a number of issues (including depression, anxiety, attachment issues, eating disorders, and more), and has been widely accepted as a useful technique for challenges that have proved resistant to other therapies

What you can expect in treatment:

  • The interventions used will help you accept, express, regulate, make sense of, and transform emotions
  • You may be asked to revisit emotions that you have pushed away or disconnected from
  • This therapy will involve more than just learning about emotions; you will have to experience them. This is done within a safe space where your therapist can help you manage the process

Attachment/Interpersonal Therapy

This therapy is based on attachment theory, which proposes that early relationships between children and their caregivers are of the utmost importance for interpersonal relationship. Early attachment to neglectful, abusive, or absent caregivers can affect interpersonal relationships throughout a person’s life. Attachment/interpersonal therapy works to address these patterns in efforts to heal unconscious psychological processes, to recognize behavioural patterns related to these early experiences, and to develop new ways of relating to others.

What you should know before treatment:

  • This type of therapy is not just useful for treating interpersonal issues; it’s been found to be effective in dealing with depression, anxiety, and any other issue that also impacts on interpersonal relationships

What you can expect in treatment:

  • There is an initial assessment phase in which your therapist will work with you to identify key problem areas and your goals
  • Treatment is task-oriented and may include role-playing and scenarios to work on building interpersonal skills. Other topics might include building of healthy assertiveness and boundaries
  • You will be asked to reflect on your early attachment relationships, which may uncover some difficult memories. Your therapist is trained to help you through this process.

Treatments and Services

At the Amicus Group, we are skilled and able to treat a growing number of concerns. This is not an exhaustive list so please contact us if you are looking for assistance with an issue not listed here.

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