Pathways | Mind Space Virtual and In-Person Psychoeducational Groups

Mind Space Virtual and In-Person Psychoeducational Groups

Condition Specific Support and Mental Health - Adult & Senior

Provided by Mind Space (formerly known as CBT Skills Group Society)

A variety of Mind Space programs for patients (aged 17.5 +) with anxiety, depression, insomnia, ADHD, and/or for parents/caregivers.

All groups are facilitated by trained physicians. Referral from a doctor (family or walk-in) or nurse practitioner is required for all participants.

There is one referral form to access all programs. Patients self-select the group in which they wish to participate. Level One groups are delivered as an 8-10 week series varying in length (90- 120minutes). These are group medical visits with 15 patients per group. Participants who complete the CBT Skills Foundations program (attend 6/8 sessions) are automatically offered Level Two groups to choose from that vary from 4-8 weeks in each series.

The following level one programs are offered:

The Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Skills Foundations Group: A self-management group designed to introduce the foundational concepts of CBT, as well as aspects of mindfulness, emotion regulation, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Participants build practical mental health self-management strategies helpful for daily life to cope with life transitions, stress, depression and anxiety. The CBT Foundations groups are offered to the general population, as well as affinity Foundation groups for specific populations which include, but are not limited to: women/men identifying, LGBTQIA2S+, cancer survivors, young adults (19-25), new parents and physicians.
Raising Resilient Kids Parenting Group (RRK): This 8-week program is designed to strengthen the caregiver-child relationship during the early childhood years (age 0-6yrs). Participants benefit from psychoeducation on children’s social-emotional development, and learn essential parenting skills to navigate conflict, normalize distress, and support healthy emotional expression in children based on the best evidence from child development, mindfulness, attachment, and reflective parenting. The child does not have to have any particular diagnosis for the caregiver to be eligible to participate, but the caregiver must have a diagnosis (e.g., Parent-Child Relational Problem, Adjustment Disorder).
Skills for Success Group (SfS) - ADHD Strategies for Adults: This 8-week series teaches adults 19+ years old practical, evidence-based strategies designed to improve self-management and self-care for those experiencing symptoms of ADHD. Participants develop strategies to help set realistic goals, prioritize, manage time, and reduce distractions, as well as mindful skills to cope with feeling overwhelmed. This program is open to patients with a past or current diagnosis of ADHD (or if they or their health care professional suspects they have ADHD).
CBT Skills for Insomnia: This new 8-week program provides practical, evidence-based strategies designed to improve self-management and self-care for those experiencing symptoms of insomnia. The goal of this group is to help participants develop a better understanding of healthy sleep and what to do when things get in the way. Participants will learn about the science of sleep, why some people struggle with falling or staying asleep, and how to effectively manage insomnia. From monitoring their sleep with a diary, to learning tools that can quiet an overactive mind, to challenging common misconceptions about sleep, participants will build a set of skills and strategies to help them on their way to a good night’s rest.
CBT Skills Indigenous Group: The new 8-week group, led by Indigenous physician facilitators, provides a culturally-adapted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy program specifically designed to support self-identifying Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Metis, or Inuit) living in British Columbia. The group has been developed to emphasize the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions, offering tools to identify and shift unhelpful patterns. The program aims to empower Indigenous participants to understand and manage their emotions, challenge negative thoughts, develop healthy coping strategies, and live a more meaningful and fulfilling life in alignment with their values. Woven through the program are Indigenous perspectives which incorporate teachings, stories, and practices that resonate with Indigenous cultures. In addition, there is emphasis on self-compassion, practical exercises including mindfulness practices, thought records, and behavioural experiments, as well as real-life examples to better illustrate how to apply the skills in everyday situations.

The following level two programs are offered (participants must have completed CBT Skills Foundations Group to register):

Intro to Mindfulness: In this group, participants will be introduced to a variety of mindfulness and compassion practices to support their well-being. Each 1 hour and 45 minute session includes group sharing and trying different mindfulness practices, as well as exploring how these may fit into daily life. The emphasis is on experiential learning, with 15-20 min meditation sessions and and several shorter practices each week. The course emphasizes home practice between sessions. In contrast to Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, this series includes compassion and gratitude cultivation practices along with mindful awareness practices.
Mindfulness CBT : This program introduces participants to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy skills for managing anxiety and depression. MBCT has Level 1 evidence in preventing relapse of depression for those with recurrent depression.
Booster Groups:These 4-week groups delve deeper into specific topics that were taught in the CBT Skills Foundations course. These groups do not introduce new information, rather provides the space for you to work with the concepts and skills in a more interactive format utilizing more small group discussions about your home practice. These courses refer to the CBT Skills Foundations workbook and use handouts for class exercises. The course sessions are 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Who: These group programs are for adults 17.5+ years old (19+ for Skills for Success - ADHD Strategies for Adults).

It is encouraged to refer patients who have a PHQ9 score of 18 or less who struggle with:

Mild-moderate anxiety or depression (PHQ9 Score of 18 or less)
Adjustment disorders (stress causing symptoms, and/or affecting ability to function in relationships, parenting, or at work/school)
ADHD or other difficulties with executive function
Caregivers coping with stress related to looking after dependents
Note that our parenting group, Raising Resilient Kids, is suitable for parents with children 6 and under.
Other programs may be suitable for parents generally, as well as other types of caregivers.
Insomnia
Chronic medical conditions with associated mental distress
Perfectionism
Chronic pain
Substance Use Disorder, in at least early remission OR would not interfere with cognitively demanding group-based learning. Please note: Participants who are intoxicated will be asked to leave group.
Eating disorders (medically stable)
Mild trauma related disorders. If dissociative symptoms are present, these are mild and would not interfere with group based learning

Cost: A $65 deposit is collected from each registrant to encourage attendance and support the program’s sustainability. This is refunded if the participant attends all sessions or misses only one session. Please note that refunds may take up to 4 weeks after the group ends to be processed. Those with financial hardship can explore accommodations and options to participate in a group by contacting the program at hello@mind-space.ca. A hard copy of the workbook is recommended, which is an additional cost, or participants can access an online version or download a PDF for free.

Referral: Referral is required from a family doctor, walk-in doctor, or nurse practitioner to determine participant suitability for program. Refer using this one universal referral form. Referring MRP must agree to follow the patient for the duration of the referral.

Public email: hello@mind-space.ca

Website: http://mind-space.ca/

Website: https://cbtskills.ca/

cbtskills.ca website is still active.

Service is available in English.

Cost: Fees may apply

Referral options: