Treatment Programs
Treatment should be based on a sound assessment that will guide our work with you. The length of time that you will be seen will vary based on the assessment results and the progress you make. With adults, youth and children over twelve the goals of therapy are discussed and jointly agreed upon. With children under twelve, we work with both the child and the parent/guardians to establish treatment goals.
General Mental Health
People come to us usually because they are feeling concerned or worried about something or someone in their life. Their problems may be compounded by anxiety, depression and other mental health issues that may require that we work together with other medical or mental health professionals.
Couple/Family Relationship Issues
Some issues are best addressed by having all the people effected by the problem involved in creating a solution. Crisci & Mayer have on staff, trained family therapists whose work with couples and families includes conflict resolution, anger management, child-parent conflict, issues of loss and grief, family of origin issues, relationship and communication enrichment, separation counselling and intergenerational issues and difficulties with developmental junctures (for example, “empty nest”, retirement, career change, birth of children).
Sexual/Physical Trauma and Assault
Treatment plans are developed after a trauma assessment is completed. Treatment is focused on the correction of cognitive distortions, neutralization of sensorial reminders, the reduction and elimination of symptomotology, the correction of poor post disclosure response and restoration to appropriate developmental level of functioning. The goal of all trauma treatment is the integration of all harmful and/or negative experiences in order to bring resolution to the experience of being abused.
All children under that age of sixteen are protected under the Child and Family Services Act. Therefore they are often involved with the police and child protection system.
For adults and youth 16 years of age and older, issues concerning the pursuit of justice will lead to the consideration of utilizing services through the criminal or civil justice systems. We are committed to providing a safe and neutral place to explore all available options.
Sibling Sexual Abuse Assessment and Treatment
When children in a family have been involved sexually with each other all family members are affected. The definition of siblings and family vary. When caregivers are in a parental role and their children live together full or part time as family, the boundaries of safety and protection are viewed as the same. Regardless of the family configuration, sexual contact between children in a family is problematic.
Our Comprehensive Assessment includes the following:
- family assessment
- trauma assessment
- sexual behaviour or sexual offense assessment
- psychological component
- psychometric component
- review of all relevant collateral contacts information
- Formulation and writing of a report that outlines treatment recommendations
Our Comprehensive Treatment Program includes the following:
- Individual Treatment for each sibling involved
- Dyadic Treatment for parents and siblings involved
- Family Treatment for all family members. Can include the extended family
Note: In situations where adults have been abused by a sibling during childhood, this protocol would not be used. Instead, adults would undergo a Sexual Trauma Assessment. Current family issues would be addressed as part of the treatment plan.
For further information please contact ext. 222
Sexualized Behaviour in Prepubescent Children
Treatment plans are developed after a sexualized behavior assessment is completed. Treatment is focused on behavioral correction, addressing trauma issues when indicated, and development of corrective peer relationships. Treatment includes caregivers. Treatment plans are developed specifically to address the etiological pathways defined in the assessment
Treatment Program for those who Self-Harm
Self-injury is one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed behaviours. Adults and youth who engage in this form of behaviour are looking for ways to cope with difficult situations and painful emotions.
We utilize the S.A.F.E. Alternatives Program Treatment Model (Self Abuse Finally Ends) developed by Dr. Wendy Lader and Karen Conterrio. We believe this model to be the most effective in working with people who self harm. We have had a lot of success using this model in working with those who engage in this behaviour. The goal of treatment is to help individuals develop better coping skills so they can stop self injuring.
In brief, this model utilizes the following:
- Treatment contracts and utilization of impulse control logs
- Reaching a critical understanding of their self harming behaviour
- Developing an understanding of what circumstances lead to urges to self harm
- Identifying feelings that need to be safely expressed
- Examining what self harming behaviour would accomplish and communicate
- Alternatives to self harming behaviour
Referrals to this program may be made by contacting ext. 224.
Early Trauma Program
(This particular program is usually accessed by referrals from other mental health professionals)
There are many sources of early trauma: poor attachment, neglect, deprivation, chaotic, unpredictable, violent and/or dangerous environments and specific abuse events. Children and youth who have experienced any of these conditions in the first three years of life often present many clinical challenges. Preverbal trauma often results in pervasive sleep disturbance, chronic somatic complaints and severe behavioural disturbance. These problems are often resistant to change. Frequently, these children and youth have multiple diagnoses and numerous pharmacological interventions have been attempted. These symptoms challenge some of the most skilled treatment resources currently available.
Our interdisciplinary program focuses on developing a plan after integrating historical information about the child and/ or youth. Included is information about attachment, trauma, disruptions in placements, medical history and behaviour. Even in cases where history is not readily available every effort is made to obtain all relevant data. Information that may seem insignificant may be key to understanding the child’s difficulties and the disruptions to their development. Our approach takes into account the effects of early trauma on brain development and its resulting limitations on the youth’s abilities to utilize traditional approaches. This approach often leads to a new way of understanding a child and youth’s behaviour and leads to more effective treatment.
This program specializes in developing practical, realistic treatment plans for these children and involves guidance and consultation to caregivers. Due to the specialized nature of the treatment approaches utilized, we offer consultation services to ensure that the treatment co-ordinates with our planned approach.
Secondary Trauma Treatment Program
This program is designed for professionals who are exposed to trauma in their work. This includes, law enforcement, child protection, mental health, trauma managers, lawyers, physicians, nurses, firefighters and any others who have been exposed on the job to trauma incidents. Workers can experience secondary trauma which can include intrusive memories, flashbacks, disruptions to relationships, somatic and other symptoms. Our extensive experience in this field allows us to draw from a myriad of approaches to assist workers in integrating these kinds of work experiences into their lives and developing a more stress resilient lifestyle.
Professional Assistance Counselling Program
Caring and conscientious professionals work hard to deliver excellent service to clients while maintaining a healthy personal life. Our program provides confidential counselling and consultation to professionals who want to work with an experienced therapist who understands the challenges facing them. In order to maintain perspective and energy counselors require the acquisition of specific skills.
This program serves professionals who work with traumatized populations. We provide counseling and consultation services to assist professionals in addressing the following:
- childhood /family of origin issues
- relationship problems
- secondary trauma
- compassion fatigue
- worries about workplace dilemmas
- coping with professional complaints and workplace politics
- transference and countertransferance issues
- work-life balance
This program is covered by some extended health care plans. Call us at ext. 224 for more information.
Supporting Adoption Successes
The only thing worse for families and adopted children than not finding each other is not having an adoption work. Adoption breakdown compounds the trauma already experienced by a child who has lost one family and is a tragedy for the family who had hoped to share their lives with a child.
Our experience tells us that children who have the following histories are likely to be the most challenging and pose the greatest risk of poor attachment.
- early trauma and neglect
- preverbal trauma
- exposure to violent homes
- chaotic and unpredictable caregiving
- birth parents with substance abuse/addictions or major mental health disorders
- multiple placements prior to adoption
- inadequate prenatal care and early childhood medical care
- lack of emotional and physical nurturance in institutional care settings
- children who have been exposed to a large number of changes ie., culture, language, nutrition, travel
Our success with these families and children is a result of a comprehensive assessement and treatment model that recognizes how these issues manifest in the parent/child relationship. We assist parents in accurately identifying the child’s needs and correctly interprete the child’s behaviour. Our job is to assist parents to develop and implement specific interventions to facilitate attachment. We work with the family to strengthen their relationship in order to provide support to each other as well as the child.
Referral for this program should be made by completing the child and youth referral form and by contacting ext. 222