Psychotherapy

What is psychotherapy? - a description for patients of different types of psychotherapy

CANMAT 2016 guidelines recommend the following:

First-line psychological treatments for acute major depressive disorder (MDD) include:
- cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
- interpersonal therapy (IPT) and
- behavioural activation (BA)
Second-line psychological treatment for acute MDD:
- computer-based and telephone-based psychotherapy
Combining antidepressant and psychological treatment (CBT and IPT) where feasible as combined treatment is superior to either treatment alone
First-line psychological treatments for maintenance include:
- CBT and
- mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)

Note: If no or partial response to psychotherapy consider adding an antidepressant

Click here for psychotherapy follow-up table
click here for medication table

Resources

For those with work benefits for psychological treatment options include accessing their Employment Assistance Program (EAP) or using benefits for

Psychologists (on eMentalHealth.ca)
Social workers (on eMentalHealth.ca)
Registered psychotherapists (on eMentalHealth.ca)
Psychology today - online resource which helps find a therapist based on location, cost, type of therapy and insurance coverage

For those without work benefits or funds to self-finance psychotherapy go to:

Psychotherapy in your area (on eMentalHealth.ca)
BounceBack (free telephone-guided CBT)
Ontario
BC
Manitoba
AbilitiCBT - internet-based CBT with a registered therapist (free for residents of Ontario and Manitoba)
MindBeacon- internet-based CBT with a registered therapist (free for Ontario residents)

Consider working with your patient using the Antidepressant Skills Workbook (ASW):

ASW website
Patient info about ASW pdf
Physician info about ASW pdf

Ottawa resources

Ontario Structured Psychotherapy - free individual CBT
Ottawa Mental Health Community Resource Directory.pdf
- includes information on various services including counselling, finances, immigrant services, legal services etc.
AccessMHA.ca -service to help navigate mental health resources including psychotherapy and counselling in Eastern Ontario
Counselling Connect - same day or next day phone or video counselling session
TOH/Bruyere FHT social work vs. Shared Care referral guideliines
- TOH pdf
- Bruyere pdf