Montreal Therapy Centre

Our Story

The Montreal Therapy Centre was founded in 2003 with the aim to provide high-quality psychotherapy services for individuals, couples, and families, at affordable rates. Since that time, our team has expanded to include over 35 professionals. Our therapists come from diverse backgrounds and have completed high levels of training in a variety of specialties including marital and family therapy, art therapy, drama therapy, crisis counselling, addictions, child and adolescent psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy. Presently, we offer services in English, French, Spanish, Dutch and Arabic. The Montreal Therapy Centre is centrally located at the Queen Elizabeth Health Complex in NDG. We are easily accessible by public transit. We offer daytime, evening and weekend appointments to accommodate your schedule. At the Montreal Therapy Centre, we are committed to working collaboratively with you to help you achieve your goals. We would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have about our services by phone at (514) 244-1290 or by email. Working With Us At the Montreal Therapy Centre, we believe difficult life situations can provide a unique opportunity for personal growth and change. We view therapy as an experience through which you can build on existing strengths, develop new tools for approaching old problems in a new way, and learn life-long skills that can keep you focused on achieving your goals. We also believe that the conditions for self-exploration and change are created through a collaborative working relationship between you and your therapist. At the Montreal Therapy Centre, we assume all individuals, couples and families have the capacity for growth and transformation. Therefore, it is our aim to create an environment that allows our clients to identify and utilize their natural strengths. When you decide to work with a therapist at the Montreal Therapy Centre, you will visit our office for an initial meeting. Together with your therapist, you will discuss your current situation and identify key issues. Your therapist will begin to design a treatment plan and together you will decide the direction therapy will take. Through a series of regularly scheduled sessions with your therapist, you will work towards accomplishing your goals. Our aim is to work with you to create lasting change. Services 1. Individual Therapy. Individual therapy can be helpful for a variety of issues. Therapy can provide you with an opportunity for personal growth and exploration, assist you with improving coping strategies to manage stress, depression and anxiety, and help you develop new tools for relationships and parenting. Individual therapy has been successful in assisting with the following areas: -Relationships -Personal growth -Career guidance -Addictions -Anxiety -Depression -Eating disorders -Grief and loss -Developing more effective parenting strategies -Improving communication skills At the Montreal Therapy Centre, individual therapy is a collaborative partnership. You and your therapist will work together in an effort to resolve the situation which brought you to seek help. Your therapist is interested in understanding your particular situation and the feelings involved which may be causing discomfort and difficulty. The Montreal Therapy Centre has many well-trained therapists who have experience assisting individuals to cope with their feelings, personal relationship difficulties, and work related issues. 2. Couples Therapy. What is Couples Therapy? Couples therapy provides couples with the opportunity to meet and discuss their issues with a professional trained in relationship matters. Common issues that bring couples to therapy include communication difficulties, intimacy, infidelity, anger, parenting, and pre-marital counselling. What to Expect: In the first sessions, you and your partner will meet with the couples therapist to discuss the current difficulties you are experiencing in your relationship. Other topics that may be explored would include family history, relationship history, as well as goals for and expectations from the therapy. Together with your therapist, you will develop a plan to begin working towards resolving your conflict. Your couples therapist will look for: -The negative interactional patterns that you are experiencing -Explore the underlying emotions that may be preventing you from moving forward -Facilitate a new awareness and understanding of these patterns -Assist you in developing a new, more satisfying way of interacting with deeper communication and increased intimacy Our Couples Therapists Our couples therapists have specialized in post-graduate training in marital and family therapy. We are committed to fostering an open and unbiased environment wherein a variety of relationship issues can be delved into with respect, understanding and empathy. We welcome couples from all backgrounds, married and unmarried, as well as LGBT couples. 3. Family Therapy. Family therapy can help your family to learn better ways to interact and communicate with each other and resolve conflicts. Family Therapy may address: -Parenting -Step-parenting -Blended families -Coping with teenagers -Difficulties with communication -Family conflict -Parent-child relationships -Parent-teen relationships -Grief -Divorce -Managing a child with disabilities All families encounter a variety of stressors as its members grow and develop. At times, these growing pains may become more serious and you may want to consult a professional. Family therapy is based upon the belief that the behaviour of the individual is influenced and maintained by interactions with other important figures in their lives. Effective family therapy can result in deep and lasting changes for individual members as well as for the entire family unit. Family therapy is intended to identify conflicts and set specific goals for resolving them. Therapy usually explores family roles, rules, goals, and stages of development in order to target issues that may contribute to conflict and stress. It may address the family’s behavioural patterns, their ability to solve problems, and their ability to express emotions and communicate with one another. Therapy addresses family strengths as well as weaknesses. 4. Services for Children and Adolescents. Therapy with children and adolescents can address such issues as: -Learning Disabilities -Grief -Separation and Divorce -Eneurisis / Encopresis -Abuse -Trauma -Loss -Anxiety -Depression -Eating Disorders -ADHD -Self-Esteem -Behavioural Disorders Generally children go through sporadic distresses and problems as they grow. It is common for a child to experience emotional ups and downs, especially if faced with new situations, demands and expectations. Certain reactions can be brief and may resolve themselves over time. However, sometimes a child’s reaction to life’s stresses may become extreme, and the parents’ efforts to help may be unsuccessful. At such times, professional consultation may be required. Adolescence can be a demanding and difficult time with new responsibilities and pressures. During this time often the whole family can feel off balance. Seeking help can assist in restoring that balance. For teens, most conflicts have to do with differences between family members or issues over the expectations of parents. The aim in therapy is to help the teen become skilled at expressing their needs and desires in ways that are constructive for the teen and in turn positive for the whole family. Adolescents are often reluctant to attend therapy for a number of reasons; they regularly distrust anything their parents recommend, they often feel that going to therapy means that they are crazy, some think the therapist will tell them what to do, while others are afraid they may run into someone they know and thus be shamed. Early involvement is essential to successful intervention. The most important thing is to not remain isolated in your struggle with your child/adolescent. How does a parent know when it is time to seek professional assistance for their child/adolescent? -If the emotional distress is getting in the way of daily functioning -If the problem seems to inundate and overwhelm the child/adolescent -If the issue impedes achieving developmental milestones Therapists who have specialized training with children and adolescents possess particular knowledge and skills that allow them to recognize problem behaviors and devise suitable interventions in a non-threatening environment. Therapy may be helpful to youth in a variety of ways for example; in providing emotional support, addressing the resolution of conflicts, and the exploration of new solutions to old problems. A therapist trained to work with children/adolescents and families can develop individualized treatment plans appropriate to the specific needs of their client. As an alternative to talk therapy many young people have expressed feeling more comfortable with art or other expressive therapies. The feelings of pride, power and control for a young child provide a compelling incentive to create. It is therapeutic for a child to be given the opportunity to be in control and independent. When doing art the child can create situations where s/he makes the rules, sets the limits, and commands his/her space. Using metaphoric art as part of the mastery process, most children feel empowered in this role and receive enormous benefits as a result. Often children’s artwork reveals how they view themselves and the significant relationships within their families. For adolescents it is generally more difficult to verbalize certain emotions. They are often overwhelmed and even confused by the many complex feelings that emerge as they approach adulthood. Therefore, for some adolescents “talk therapy” is not as successful as expressive therapies. For both children and adolescents art can be used to; -Elicit verbalization -Aid self-expression -Explore feelings (especially with metaphors & symbols) -Concretize desires -Reveal scary feelings or secrets -Increase self esteem -Teach limit-setting Will a therapist keep secrets from me about my child? For both children and adolescents, parents should obtain some feedback from the therapist about his or her assessment of the child. The therapist should share concerns about the child and offer methods or techniques to improve difficult relationships between parent and child. Regarding adolescents, the question of what information is shared with the parents and what information is confidential is carefully worked out with all concerned. 5. Art Therapy. Art Therapy can help you with: -Anxiety -Depression -Grief -Chronic pain -Addictions -Anger -Self-esteem issues body image -Relational issues -Abuse issues -Stress -Eating issues -Or an issue unique to your own life experience What is Art Therapy? Art therapy is a unique branch of psychotherapy which involves the use of art materials for self-expression and reflection. Clients utilize a wide array of art media such as paint, charcoal, pastels and clay to create images of personal significance. These images are then discussed and explored in the presence of a trained art therapist. Often, through the exploration of these images, powerful feelings are evoked, and new insights attained. Who Can Benefit from Art Therapy? Anyone can benefit from art therapy. One common misconception about art therapy is that advanced artistic skills are required, or that art therapy is only appropriate for children. No previous artistic experience is necessary to benefit from art therapy. Art therapy is founded upon the belief that there is inherent creativity within each of us. Sometimes words are not enough to express complex feelings within. Sometimes individuals have difficulty expressing these feelings verbally. Art therapy can serve as a springboard for the exploration of personal issues which get in the way of living a full and satisfying life. What are the Benefits of Art Therapy? Art Therapy is: -A non-threatening form of self-expression -An effective tool for the management of stress and anxiety -An alternate treatment for less verbal clients -An effective means for personal growth and exploration -Provides a more direct link to the emotional centres of the brain -Provides a concrete record of progress attained in therapy -Stimulates creativity which can enhance a sense of well being and self-esteem 6. Drama Therapy. Give your body a voice! Give your emotions a voice! Give your thoughts a voice! The National Association for Drama Therapy describes Drama therapy as the “intentional use of drama and/or theater processes to achieve therapeutic goals.” Founded on the following theories and practices, drama/theatre, psychology, sociology, psychotherapy, anthropology, play, and the creative process, drama therapy is an approach that looks at the positive and functional aspects of individuals rather than focusing on their deficits thereby encouraging participants to in turn nurture a positive sense of self. This approach is similar to other forms of therapy in that participants can set therapeutic goals, solve problems, and express feelings. However, it is extraordinarily unique in the sense that it also takes into account the creative capacity of each individual participant. Creative expression is thus encouraged as a vehicle for self-exploration – this could include, but is not limited to, techniques such as improvisation, theatrical games, storytelling, and enactment. Drama therapy thus allows for in-depth work with dramatic roles, similar to the roles individuals play on a daily basis (eg. lover, caregiver, wife, husband, boss, etc), thereby affording participants the opportunity to explore the relationships they have with others as well as the relationship they have with themselves. It is in this way that drama therapy helps individuals to expand and enhance the roles they play in their own lives. Through the use of creativity and more specifically, through the use of one’s body, the therapeutic experience is enriched and integration can be achieved. 7. Music Therapy. Music Therapy utilizes the therapeutic tools of music and sound to facilitate positive change within clients. A variety of approaches can be utilized, including music listening, imaging to music, expression and improvisation on a wide variety of instruments, work with the voice, toning, and song-writing. These approaches are interwoven with verbal discussion, dialogue and reflection. No previous musical experience or talent is required to fully engage in and benefit from music therapy, and music therapy is widely practiced with adults, contrary to the misconception that it is primarily for children. Why use music in therapy? Often times, words can take us only so far, whereas music can access feelings that often express more authentic levels of the self that go to the heart or core of an issue. Music and sound can do this by directly accessing the right brain and the limbic system, thus bypassing the thinking mind, which frequently blocks us from getting in touch with our true feelings. Engaging in creative processes with music enriches and enlivens the experience of therapy, allowing different aspects of oneself to emerge and be given expression. Conflicting parts of oneself can clearly be heard through creative expression and dialogue, allowing individuals to come to terms with and integrate different aspects of themselves. New understandings and insights are a natural result of this process. Who can benefit? Adults facing: -Life transitions and adjustment difficulties -Creative blocks and performance anxiety -Depression, anxiety/stress -Illness or grief issues -Low self-esteem -Relationship issues -Identity issues -Sexual abuse/trauma FAQs What are the fees for therapy? Are the fees covered by insurance? What forms of payment are accepted? How often do I meet with my therapist? How long does therapy last? How do I schedule an initial appointment? Do you see couples who are not married? Should I bring in my partner? Why consider therapy? I’ve never done this before, what can I expect? What are the fees for therapy? In order to make quality services more accessible, the Montreal Therapy Centre offers sliding fee scale rates ranging from $50.00-$110.00 per session for individual therapy and $50.00- $125.00 per session for couple and family therapy. These rates are determined according to the client’s gross family income. Are the fees covered by insurance? Medicare does not provide coverage for private therapy fees. Insurance receipts are available to those covered by extended health care plans. What forms of payment are accepted? Payments can be made either by cash or by cheque made out to the Montreal Therapy Centre at the end of each session. We do not accept credit card payments at this time. How often do I meet with my therapist? Within our general framework, we usually meet with clients on a weekly basis. Weekly sessions allow for addressing important issues and maintain a sense of continuity through the process. However, the frequency of sessions is flexible and is based on your needs. How long does therapy last? The duration of therapy varies greatly from person to person and depends on the presenting issues and the goals of the individual. You can speak to you therapist about your needs and goals during your initial session. How do I schedule an initial appointment? If you would like to set up a first appointment, you can contact us at (514) 244-1290, or by email at info@montrealtherapy.com. Do you see couples who are not married? Yes, we work with couples of all ages at different stages in their relationship. You may be married, living together, dating, engaged, or same s*x partners. Should I bring in my partner? If you are struggling with issues in your relationship, or feel like your current difficulties are impacting your relationship, you may wish to bring your partner. It can be helpful to work in collaboration with your partner to resolve relationship difficulties. Your therapist can help you to uncover patterns in the relationship that may be contributing to maintaining the problem. Therapy can also provide you and your partner with a safe environment to explore and communicate feelings. Why consider therapy? Therapy can be helpful when you want to make changes in your life. When you feel stuck in old patterns, a therapist can help you to explore different perspectives and discover new solutions. Many people feel like they should be able to tackle problems on their own. Deciding to consult a therapist is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, a commitment to making positive changes in your life is a sign of strength. Going to therapy is an investment in yourself. I’ve never done this before, what can I expect? During the initial session, you will be asked to talk about what it is that brought you to therapy. In the case of couple and family sessions, each person will be asked to share their perspectives. The therapist will ask questions about the problem to develop a deeper understanding and may also ask questions about solutions attempted, other issues, and individual histories. Within the first few sessions, your therapist will ask you about your goals for therapy. Subsequent sessions will focus on reaching your goals along with addressing obstacles and conflicts which may arise along the way.