EmpowerMentalHealth.ca

My mental health groups and workshops focus on increasing knowledge and skill building to increase people’s capacity to care for themselves. 
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There are some situations where participating in a group may not be suitable or sufficient for an individual’s needs. And some situations where participating in a group instead of accessing more personalized, intensive or immediate support can result in increased distress and/or harm. 
 
The following are some examples of when group therapy may not be right for you: 
 

• If you are suicidal and need immediate support to keep you safe

• If you are at risk of harming someone else 

• If you are experiencing psychosis - hallucinations, delusions, or paranoia

• If you are struggling to care for your basic needs - some mental health issues make it too difficult to use coping tools on your own and require the help of medications and/or specialized therapy 

 
If you have been referred to a specialist for a mental health or health issue, group therapy may be beneficial to support you in the event of a long waiting time. If you decide to participate in a group to help you cope while you wait, please follow through with any existing referrals to ensure that you receive the support you need. 
 
We all need specialized help sometimes - when we break our arm we see a medical doctor to get an X-Ray and a cast; when we are struggling with our mental health, we need to seek out the specialized care that we need - whether it means going to the hospital, seeking out a therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or taking medication. There is no shame in needing help. 
 
Limits to my practice:
I am registered with the Ontario College of Social Work and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) #820307. My PhD and masters are in the field of education, and I have a bachelors in psychology, and one in social work. My experience is in social work and counselling with people experiencing mental health and substance abuse issues - providing counselling, education, and coping skills. 
 
My education and qualifications do not give me the capacity or authority to diagnose mental health or health issues. I cannot prescribe medications or make referrals to specialized services. 
 
In order to ensure the safety of all participants I reserve the right to discontinue an individual’s participation in a group or individual counselling if I believe that a person’s ongoing participation either negatively impacts other participants (in group sessions), is negatively impacting their own wellbeing, or their needs are beyond my professional capacity. In the event that I discontinue services, I will provide my rationale and recommend appropriate services to the best of my ability.
 
Resources: 
 
Suicide Prevention of Montreal : https://cpsmontreal.ca/en/ 
1-866-277-3553 / suicide.ca / text: 535353
 
Suicide Crisis Helpline (Canada wide) : 988.ca 
Call or text: 988
 
Psychiatric Emergency (Montreal) : https://douglas.qc.ca/en/cliniques/psychiatric-emergency/ 
6875, boul LaSalle
Montréal (Verdun), QC H4H 1R3
 
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger to themselves or others, please call 911.