Our team of qualified and experienced professionals has extensive experience in providing treatment and/or assessments for a variety of needs for both adults and youth.
We also provide services for a range of special populations and needs that require specialized information and experience.
General clinical services include:
- Depression, Anxiety
- Traumatic Stress
- Workplace Stress and/or difficulties
- WSIB approved cases
- Accident related injury – MVA
- Catastrophic Evaluations
- Adjusting to or coping with life stressors and changes
- Relationship difficulties
- Problematic Sexual Behaviours
- Anger and emotional regulation difficulties
- Parenting Capacity Assessments
ANTI-BLACK RACISM & ANTI-OPPRESSIVE SERVICES
We recognize the profound impact that systemic oppression can have on individuals, communities, and society as a whole.
We are committed to providing anti-oppressive and anti-black racism services that aim to create a safe and supportive environment for all clients, regardless of their background or experiences.
Our team of mental health professionals has extensive training and experience in working with clients who have been impacted by systemic oppression, and we use evidence-based approaches to support their healing and growth.
Here are some of the ways we can help:
- Culturally-informed assessments to identify areas of need and develop treatment plans that are responsive to clients' unique experiences and identities.
- Trauma-informed therapy to support clients in processing and healing from the impacts of racism and oppression, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress.
- Support for navigating systemic barriers and accessing resources to support overall health and well-being.
- Consultations and training for organizations and professionals seeking to create more inclusive and equitable environments.
- Advocacy and community outreach to address systemic oppression and promote social justice.
WSIB & MVA
Our WSIB and MVA assessments can help you get back on track by providing a comprehensive evaluation that considers your accident’s physical, emotional, and psychological impact. Our assessments can also provide recommendations for treatment or support that can help you manage your symptoms and regain control of your life.
Here are some common pain points that we can help address with our WSIB and MVA assessments:
- Anxiety or depression following a work-related or motor vehicle accident
- Difficulty returning to work or other activities due to physical or emotional barriers
- Fear or anxiety related to returning to work after a work-related or motor vehicle accident
Here are five common assessment services that we offer related to workplace and motor vehicle accidents:
- Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE)
- Work Hardening Programs
- Ergonomic Assessments
- Cognitive Assessments
- Psycho-Vocational Assessments
First Responder Services
Individual Responder Services
First responders deal with stress from multiple sources, operationally, organizationally, and increasingly from social expectations and views. It is difficult to be the best you can be and meet all the work, social and personal demands in life. We encourage first responders to take a pro-active approach to their mental health, using professionals not only to address problems and difficulties but to be part of a more comprehensive self-growth and mental health strategy.
Common issues we would deal with:
- Learning to manage the daily stressors of the job – self-development.
- Balancing and managing work and home life.
- Personal issues are impacting work performance.
- Operational and organizational stressors
- Noticing changes in mood, sleep, relationships
- Cumulative stress
- WSIB claims
- Support returning to work after an absence.
Our goal is to ensure you are:
- Functioning at an optimal mental and emotional level,
- Building self-awareness and insight - what is your mental fitness plan?
- Developing critical skills that assist coping in chronically high stress environments. Helping you manage negativity in the work
- Building and/or maintaining healthy relationships at home.
Agency Services
APS has extensive experience conducting pre-employment assessments for high-risk positions including Police, Firefighters, Nuclear Security and Specialized Military Units.
The goal of mental health checks or ‘safeguarding” to assist in ensuring a new position is a good fit for an individual; provide support and assist in self-monitoring while in high stress job roles; help identify problems early in order to lower long term negative consequences.
A psychological FFDE is a formal, specialized examination. The central purpose of an FFDE is to determine whether the employee is able to safely and effectively perform their essential job functions. With many high-risk positions, this may include questions of having access to use-of-force weapons. Part of our assessment is to consider what is in the best interest of the service, the client and the public.
Forensic Psychology & HIGH-RISK BEHAVIOURAL Services
Our practice has experience working with the criminal justice system, child protection services, professional regulators, police, and employer/employee related conflicts. We assess, treat and consult with agencies and individual with the aim to reduce and mitigate the risk of ongoing problematic behaviours.
Services may be sought by individuals, legal representatives or agencies.
Services provided include but are not limited to:
- Psychological Evaluations for various legal purposes
- Risk Assessments for court/legal purposes.
- Treatment aimed at addressing specific high risk behavoiural concerns.
- Treatment for legal matters.
- Consultation to agencies
- Training
High-risk behavioural assessments
Psychological Assessments for individuals who engage in high-risk behaviours and are at risk of becoming involved in the legal system or are engaged in behaviours that are of concern.
Often the goals of these assessments are to understand behaviour and to make treatment or management recommendations to help address the behaviour/issue and avoid possible legal, discipline problems, and/or marital/relationship problems.
Some examples of high-risk behaviours include but are not limited to:
- Anger and Aggressive Behaviours
- Human trafficking
- Substance Abuse
- Problematic Internet use
- Inappropriate social-sexual boundaries/behaviours
- Chronic infidelity – lying, deceitful behaviours
- Professional misconduct
Psychological/Mental Status assessments for legal purposes
These assessments may address a range of issues related to a specific referral question.
They can include questions around:
- Cognitive limitations and/or concerns
- Evaluation of mental health status
- Examination of personality disorders and/or psychopathy
Threat Assessments/Consultations
Threat assessments are typically conducted when there is behaviour that is raising concerns about possible harmful behaviour to another or a group but may or may not have crossed the threshold into criminality.
This behaviour can include, but is not limited to, verbal or written threats, unusual or concerning behaviours, inappropriate social media posts, domestic violence leaking into the workplace, inappropriate sexual comments/behaviours, and/or aggressive behaviours.
These assessments can occur in a variety of settings including:
- Schools
- Workplace
- Communities
- Hospitals
Treatment Services
We offer individual and group treatment for a range of issues specifically aimed at improving a client’s quality of life and well-being, and to reduce or mitigate risk to engage in problematic behaviours in the future. Treatment may be sought by individuals who are having difficulties managing certain behaviours, emotions or thoughts in their personal life and that may be starting to impact their relationships and work/school life. In addition, we provide treatment services to those that have been directly impacted by the harmful actions of others.
Confidentiality/privacy is very important in the treatment process and as such our providers ensure that each client has a good understanding of these limitations, which is thoroughly reviewed at the beginning of the first treatment session.
Common areas addressed in treatment include but are not limited to:
- Anger management
- Intimate partner violence/relationship skills
- Trauma/PTSD
- Compulsive sexual behaviours (Sexual/Pornography addictions)
- Other sexualized behaviour (paraphilias)
- Antisocial behaviours
- Social skills training
- Problem solving skills
- Emotion regulation difficulties
- Depression/Anxiety
- Psychosis
- Alcohol and substance use
What to Expect
The intake process will vary depending on the nature of the service you require.
Please reach out to our intake staff if you have any questions or concerns that may be specific to your situation.
Initial Paperwork
Prior to your initial appointment you will be required to complete paperwork that will include basic demographic and personal information, consent for services forms as well as information for payments
Office Visit
If you are coming to the office, have a seat in the waiting room. Your service provider will greet you in the waiting room.
Virtual Sessions
If you are scheduled for a secure virtual meeting, please ensure you have received a link prior to the meeting time. If you don’t recieve please contact the office immediately. You can use a computer or mobile device for virtual meeting; however, you need to ensure you have a private location allowing you to focus on the meeting and have solid wifi connection.
Overview of the Process
Generally, information provided to us is confidential with somelegal and ethical exceptions, which will be explained to you (and which are outlined in our consent document). If you have any questions about those policies, please ask.