The Canadian Mental Health Association Simcoe County provides a full care system for those with addictions and mental health issues. We serve everyone from youth to adults to seniors. Our programs help individuals and families to lead lives filled with meaning and promise. We have 250 staff at offices in Barrie, Orillia, Collingwood, Midland, and soon Innisfil and Wasaga Beach.
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Services Offered
Adult Services * Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT) - Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT) is a client-centred, recovery-focused mental health service for people with serious and persistent mental health illnesses. ACTT services are delivered by multidisciplinary mental health staff who work as a team to provide treatment, rehabilitation and support services to clients in achieving their goals.
* Adult Addiction Services - Individual Counselling Services - Individual Outpatient Counselling Program available to individuals (25 years of age and up) who are concerned about their own or someone else's substance use. Our individual counselling program utilizes a client centered approach that embraces a philosophy of harm reduction where people have the right to make their own choices while being treated with respect, compassion and dignity in a safe, non-judgmental environment.
* Adult Addictions - Brief Service - 4 to 6 individual, one on one, counselling sessions ( max 6 ) utilizing a strength based, client centered, solution focused brief therapy modality that focuses on solutions to presenting issues not the origins of the issue. As with all CMHA programs, Brief Service is provided within a Harm Reduction framework. Clients completing this program remain eligible for additional addictions supports including longer term individual counselling and group therapy.
* Adult Group Therapy Programs > Choices - A psycho educational group developed to assist clients mandated by various agencies to complete a substance abuse treatment program. This 6 week program covers a variety of topics including alcohol and drug education, concepts of harm reduction, handling high risk situations, safety planning, coping skills, stages of change, communication and assertiveness, dealing with emotions, the importance of self care and supports both formal and informal.
> New Beginnings - A psycho educational group designed for clients in the contemplation, planning or early action stages of change. This 8 week program aims to assist clients in early recovery by promoting group discussion, understanding and skill development while providing tools that may assist in making changes to substance use. Topics include the concept of harm reduction, stages of change, goal setting, recognizing and understanding triggers and cravings, coping skills, boundaries, communication and assertiveness, understanding emotions, the importance of supports, and self care.
> Resilient Change - This group is designed for clients in the action or maintenance phase who have experienced some period of active change (suggested minimum 3 moths) and encompasses concepts of relapse prevention. Along with educational and skill development components this program relies heavily on group discussion and peer support. Topics include triggers and coping skills, healthy relationships, self esteem, self image, cognitive distortions, dealing with emotions, communication, boundaries and assertiveness, supports, recreation and resources.
> Aftercare - This group is designed for clients who have completed a treatment program and are seeking additional support to maintain momentum, reinforce learned concepts and benefit from the lived experience of other members. This group relies almost exclusively on group discussion and peer support with topics being generated through individual client check ins. Group facilitators will be provided with materials to help generate discussion if the need arises.
* Dual Diagnosis Case Management - Provides intensive case management support geared to meet the unique needs of the dual diagnosis clients. The emphasis is building strong partnership within the community to assist clients to discover their strengths, determine area of need and develop support plans. This may include skills development, planning daily/weekly activities, accessing medical services, grocery shopping, grooming and hygiene and dealing with income and housing issues.
Youth Services * Crisis Services - Crisis Services offers 24hr telephone support to assist individuals, community agencies, emergency services and family or friends, to work through resolution of identified issues and challenges. Our team is comprised of mental health and addiction professionals, who are trained in suicide intervention, and can help stabilize pre and post-crisis, developing coping strategies and plans for ongoing mental health and addiction support and follow up.
* Youth Addiction Counselling - Counselling is offered with a Harm Reduction approach; meaning respecting choices and promoting safer use and options that help minimize the risks from drug use. Support is also offered to those who are impacted by someone else's use. Common support offered includes: moderation, abstinence, alternative coping, exploring support networks, discussing family dynamics and peer interactions, self-exploration, advocacy and connection to community supports and resources.
* Early Psychosis Intervention Program (EPI) - A team made up of professionals from various disciplines provides intensive service to youth and young adults who are experiencing first episode psychosis. Services include individual and group treatment, family support, and education for anyone wanting to learn more about the onset of a psychotic disorder.
* Youth Counselling Services - Case management is a goal based program which helps youth to identify their goals and work towards them. Mental Health Counselors help youth to explore the impact of mental health on their daily lives, increase awareness and improve coping.
* Dual Diagnosis Case Management - Provides intensive case management support geared to meet the unique needs of the dual diagnosis clients. The emphasis is building strong partnership within the community to assist clients to discover their strengths, determine area of need and develop support plans. This may include skills development, planning daily/weekly activities, accessing medical services, grocery shopping, grooming and hygiene and dealing with income and housing issues.
Fees and Payment
Services are free and confidential.
This is a registered charity.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual LGBTQ
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
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Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.