Treatment Services

What kind of services do you offer?

Dr. Kathy Smolewka, C.Psych & Associates offer neuropsychological and psychological assessment services as well as mental health treatment (e.g., CBT, DBT-skills, ACT, EMDR), occupational therapy, and cognitive rehabilitation (i.e., Goal Management Training™) options.

Our assessment services include psychoeducational assessments, neuropsychological assessments and other assessments, such as NMT, psychodiagnostic assessments and neurocognitive baseline testing and repeat neurocognitive screening. Please view our Home page for more details about each type of assessment.

Our treatment services are provided by Dr. Kathy Smolewska and Clinical Associates who are Registered Social Workers and Occupational Therapists.

What should I expect at my first appointment?

During your first appointment, you can expect to discuss the issues for which you are seeking treatment as well as some other information about your life and family history. You may also be asked to fill out some questionnaires.

What is treatment/therapy?

Therapy is a collaborative treatment for emotional/behavioural/psychological problems based on the relationship between an individual and a professional –psychologist, social worker, occupational therapist or licenced counselor.

It is a form of treatment aimed at relieving emotional distress and mental health problems through structured meetings between the professional and client with the goal of improving a certain aspect of their life and overall wellbeing by identifying and changing thought and behaviour patterns that are causing distress.

These sessions provide an environment in which the client can talk openly with an objective, neutral and non-judgemental professional. Therapy aims to teach new skills sets so that you can better cope with whatever challenges arise in the future.

When should you consider therapy?

Everyone can benefit from therapy, and there are many reasons why one might seek it. Everyone has trouble coping with certain problems and unproductive behaviour patterns that hold us back from being our best selves. Some people seek therapy because they may feel sad, anxious, overwhelmed, or irritable more often than not, which interferes with their everyday functioning. People who are struggling with relationship challenges, feeling stuck in their career, or feeling disconnected from the people around them, may also find therapy beneficial.

Additional signs that you could benefit from therapy include feeling an overwhelming sense of helplessness and sadness, finding it difficult to concentrate and carry out everyday activities, excessive worry, and your behaviour negatively impacting those around you.

What are the different kinds of therapy?

There are many different approaches to therapy, and therapists usually draw on at least one. Each perspective helps the therapist understand their clients with their problems and come up with solutions.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) involves a practical approach to treatment. Your therapist might ask you to complete certain tasks designed to help you develop more effective coping skills. They may ask you to log your reactions to a particular situation, or practice new skills between sessions.

In contrast, psychoanalytic and humanistic approaches typically focus more on talking. Your sessions may consist of discussing your early life experiences to help you and your therapist better understand the causes of your current difficulties.

Your therapist may also combine elements from different types of therapy. In fact, most therapists blend elements from different approaches, rather than stick to just one approach.

Do you offer therapy to children?

Yes, we offer treatment services to individuals of any age.