DBT Therapy In Ottawa (List Of Therapists & Clinics 2024)
Are you looking for DBT therapy in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada? This article will provide you with a some information on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy clinics and therapists available in Ottawa.
You’ll also discover how to pick the right clinic or clinician for your specific needs. And we’ll share interesting information about accessing mental health services in Ottawa, which may be helpful for your own research.
7 DBT Therapy Options In Ottawa
Board Certified DBT Programming in Ottawa
1) Broadleaf Health
Only Board Accredited Online and in-person DBT Therapy In Ottawa and Ontario
If you’re looking for easy and fast access to in-person or online DBT therapy in Ottawa, Broadleaf Health offers the only Linehan Board Certified (DBT-LBC) and Adherent Comprehensive program to residents in Ottawa or anywhere in Ontario. Broadleaf Health is one of three Linehan Board of Certification certified Dialectical Behaviour Therapy programs in Canada and the only such program operating in Ottawa or Ontario. Meaning, their clinicians and programming have been independently verified by the governing body established by the treatment developer, Dr. Marsha Linehan.
Broadleaf Health is a national leader in DBT, having provided trainings to dozens of organizations, and hundreds of clinicians across Canada for over 15 years.
Broadleaf Health clinicians are also registered and providing clinical care in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. Broadleaf Health provides in-person DBT in Ottawa and online throughout Ontario.
Broadleaf Health offers comprehensive DBT programming which includes all treatment modes including individual therapy sessions, group skills training, inter-session contact or “phone coaching” with your DBT therapist, and DBT peer-consultation meetings.
Broadleaf Health also offers “DBT Group-Only” programming for those seeking a less comprehensive version of DBT. “DBT Group-Only” programming can be an option for those looking to learn skills for more effective living either on their own, or while working with a therapist outside of Broadleaf Health if they are concerned about changing therapists.
If you are looking for DBT clinicians whose skill has been independently verified, contact Broadleaf Health with any questions or to join the waitlist.
Find out more about Broadleaf Health
DBT Informed Programming in Ottawa
Several clinics also offer some components of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy in Ottawa:
2) DBT Lite at the Ottawa Hospital
Hospital Based DBT-Informed Programming in Ottawa
The “DBT-Lite” Program is a 21 week skills group for people with Borderline Personality Disorder. The group is designed to be an adjunct to ongoing therapy elsewhere in the community.
Using DBT as an adjunct to ongoing therapy elsewhere can be a good fit for some clients. While a “group only” format means you are only using one of the four modes of treatment described above (individual therapy, group skills training, inter-session or “phone” coaching, therapist consultation team) this might be an option if you already have an existing therapist who is helping you effectively address your difficulties and you would like to add some “tools to your toolbox” with a skills group.
Some Adherent and Comprehensive DBT programs (see above) may also offer a “group only” option for your needs as an alternative to Adherent and Comprehensive DBT. Contact a DBT clinic near you to ask what treatment options are available in terms of Adherent, Comprehensive, “DBT Skills Group-Only”, or other DBT-informed options near you
The Ottawa Hospital web-site also features an interesting and thoughtful interview with one of the DBT leaders at the hospital, Dr. Christine Dickinson.
Note that as of April, 2024 this program is not accepting new patients but may again sometime in the future.
3) The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
CMHA Ottawa Dual Diagnosis Program offers DBT-Informed Programming.
The CMHA Ottawa web site also includes a moving story related to a client’s lived experience on their web site. The client described how DBT helped her cope effectively with the pandemic and how being a peer support for others who have struggled has been a source of strength for her.
DBT informed, especially group only, programs have become increasingly popular in recent years.
The program also offers support for needs related to housing, legal, employment related, and other life challenges.
Contact the CMHA Dual Diagnosis Program
4) COPE Well Groups
DBT-Informed Skills Groups In Ottawa
COPE Well Groups offers DBT-informed skills groups and workshops in Ottawa, Canada. According to COPE Well Groups’ website, they are founded on the principle that therapeutic group services should be accessible to parents, youth and young adults.
COPE Well groups are not covered by OHIP. COPE Well notes that their groups are designed to help clients improve their ability to regulate emotions, improve relationships, and develop interpersonal effectiveness skills.
If you are looking for DBT-informed group skills training in Ottawa, COPE Well Groups’ group schedule is also available online. Group offerings are available for a wide range of age groups including teens aged 12-18, young adults older than 18, as well as parents, caregivers, and those middle aged and older.
Explore COPE Well offerings in Ottawa
5) Rise Anxiety & Depression Clinic Ottawa
DBT For Anxiety & Depression
If you are looking to treat an anxiety disorder or mood disorder, and you’re interested in in-person DBT therapy in Ottawa, the Rise Anxiety & Depression Clinic may be the right choice for you. While DBT was originally designed to treat emotion dysregulation and impulsive behaviour, it is possible that some DBT skills may be useful for those experiencing mood and anxiety disorders as well.
Located in the Ottawa Holistic Health Centre, the Rise Anxiety & Depression Clinic offers dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) informed therapy, EMDR therapy, burnout therapy and hypnotherapy. Couples and family counselling and counselling for kids and teens are available at Rise.
Contact Explore Rise clinic in Ottawa
6) The Ottawa Institute for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
The Ottawa Institute for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy features an intensive DBT program which includes most components of Comprehensive DBT as well as in-community support. Support within the community can be helpful for integrating skills into a client’s day to day life.
The Ottawa Institute for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy also features an emphasis on thorough case conceptualization during treatment, which can be an important foundation of effective treatment.
7) Ottawa River Integrated Mental Health (ORIMH)
Ottawa River Integrated Mental Health is a group of psychologists and mental health providers focusing on providing Mindfulness Informed interventions, including DBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Compassion based interventions.
The ORIMH web-site describes the group’s shared values. ORIMH also features a multi-disciplinary team.
In addition to therapy ORIMH provides structured clinical/ diagnostic assessments and other services as well.
ORIMH clinicians treat a wide range of difficulties. Some of the difficulties treated at ORIMH are similar to those treated in DBT. Other treatments available at ORIMH may be beneficial and less related to DBT. For example, ORIMH provides care for difficulties including cognitive difficulties, ADHD, and challenges related to leadership and sport performance.
ORIMH may be worth considering as an option if you are looking for both DBT related services and other psychological/ mental health services that can be helpful but are not highly related to DBT.
How Do You Know Which Clinician Or Clinic Is Right For You?
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is an evidence-based therapy developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Since the first research trial was published in 1991 and the first therapy manuals were published in 1993, interest in DBT has exploded.
While all aspects of DBT are helpful, it’s important to know your goals and understand what kind of clinician and therapy you are looking for. Are you mostly interested in group skills training? Do you want a therapist that integrates different therapy modalities? Are you looking specifically for clinician that’s highly-trained in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy?
Why Access DBT Therapy In Ottawa?
While there are many therapies to choose from, DBT is an evidence-based therapy that has grown in popularity. DBT focuses on teaching skills to cope with stress, manage emotions, tolerate distress, pay more attention to the present moment, and improve relationships with others. Key components of DBT include Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. These skills help individuals lead more balanced and meaningful lives.
Mental Health Statistics for Ottawa
According to Ottawa Public Health’s Status of Mental Health in Ottawa Report 2018, 11% of grade 7-12 students considered suicide in 2018. And in the same year, 30% of grade 7-12 students talked to a health professional about their mental or emotional health.
According to the same report, 728,938 people sought out outpatient visits to physicians for mental health and addictions conditions in 2018. While many residents of Ottawa report feeling some joy almost every day, mental health issues affect the residents of Ottawa and many other cities and provinces in Canada.
How Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Can Help
DBT is not just another “talk therapy”. It was developed to help individuals acquire the necessary skills to build lives worth living, manage their emotions, deal with the many stressors of life and have healthier relationships.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy can be an effective treatment for a variety of mental health conditions. While it was originally developed to treat impulsive behaviour and chaotic emotions (difficulties sometimes associated with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and is considered the gold standard for treating BPD, there is also research linking it to the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and eating disorders. If you are looking to treat any of the issues listed above, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy may be a therapy worth considering. To find the right DBT therapy in Ottawa, explore our suggestions above.
To work with a Linehan Board of Certification certified Dialectical Behaviour Therapy program in Canada, contact Broadleaf Health to learn more and schedule an appointment with Broadleaf Health.
Conclusion
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy offers a powerful and effective approach to managing mental health challenges and improving overall well-being. With mental health issues on the rise in Ottawa, DBT is an excellent choice to treat a variety of mental health conditions.
It is strongly suggested that you become educated on the difference between DBT as it was designed and as has been demonstrated to be helpful for people and “DBT-Informed” programming which differs from that. It’s also suggested that you learn about the experience and skill level of the clinicians who will be responding to your needs. Clinicians with 2 days, 2 months, 2 years, or 2 decades of experience can all say they are “doing DBT” and at the same time their knowledge, skills, and abilities may differ.
While not every clinic or clinician might be the right fit for you, there are several options to choose from. Interest in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy continues to grow, and it’s important to be informed about what DBT is and is not so that you can find the clinic provides the best possible care for you and/ or your loved ones.
While access to DBT therapy in Ottawa may still be limited, the presence of Broadleaf Health in Ottawa creates an opportunity for those seeking DBT to receive the therapy as provided at the highest quality standards. Broadleaf Health is making DBT available throughout all of Ontario online and online and in-person in Ottawa.
If you have any questions about DBT or which clinic or clinician may be best for you, contact Broadleaf Health.