An initial consultation will focus on (1) discussing the nature of your difficulties and, where applicable, offer a diagnosis (2) establishing an individualized treatment plan based on your goals for therapy and (3) providing information about therapy and what to expect during treatment. You can expect to be asked a variety of questions to help understand your difficulties and personal history. You will have an opportunity to gather the information you need to make an informed decision about whether treatment with Dr. Erickson is for you. 

CBT is considered the ‘gold-standard’ of psychological treatment for a wide variety of mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma-related disorders, substance use issues, and eating disorders. It is an evidence-based treatment, meaning, that it is backed by decades of scientific research. It is considered a short-term treatment; typically occurring once weekly over 10-14 sessions. 

CBT aims to help people examine the interrelationship between their emotions, thoughts, behaviours and physical sensations. It is focused on helping people acquire skills to help change how they think and how they behave in order to promote emotional change. It is an active treatment, meaning, you are expected to set treatment goals, participate in each session and follow through on homework outside of therapy. CBT often involves doing things that are uncomfortable, such as confronting feared thoughts or situations, talking about difficult emotions or experiences, and moving outside your comfort zone. 

Although virtual therapy (or telepsychology) has existed for over 20 years, it has become more widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In CBT outcome research comparing in-person treatment to online, it’s been shown that these approaches are equivalent in their effectiveness. 1

Preference for therapy format can vary from person-to-peron. Some individuals may appreciate the fact they don’t have to commute into an office to see their therapist and can conduct therapy from the comfort of their home or office. Others may want the in-person contact and benefit from getting out of the house or office. Consider which approach may be better suited for you. Dr. Erickson is only offering virtual services at this time.

1 Esfandiari, N., Mazaheri, M. A., Akbari-Zardkhaneh, S., Sadeghi-Firoozabadi, V., & Cheraghi, M. (2021). Internet-Delivered Versus Face-to-Face Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 12, 153. 

You are expected to play an active role in your treatment. This means thinking about what your goals for treatment are (e.g., reduce anxiety when public speaking, learn to manage stress without using marijuana, resume regular physical activity even if feeling depressed), committing to doing the homework discussed in each session, and coming prepared to each session. As an active participant in therapy you can also reflect how treatment is progressing and let your therapist know if your treatment plan is helping you reach your goals. 

Pharmacotherapy can be a safe and effective treatment option for many mental health concerns. Some may find this treatment to be necessary prior to, or concurrently with, engaging in CBT. This may especially be the case if someone is experiencing more severe mental health issues. Consult with a general practitioner or psychiatrist in order to determine whether medication treatment would be a good option for you. 

CBT tends to be most suitable and effective for individuals who have some insight into their difficulties; are able to identify their thoughts, emotions and behaviours; are open to engage in therapy; motivated to do the homework discussed each session; and optimistic that this approach could be helpful to them. This approach is also better suited for people who prefer some structure in their sessions and those who wish to focus more so on what is maintaining problems in the here-and-now as opposed to what’s caused them. 

It’s a common stereotype that older adults are more resistant, stubborn and less capable of changing their behaviour. Not only is this stereotype damaging to older adults, it’s not supported by scientific research. Older adults tend to respond just as well to therapies such as CBT as younger adults do. Depending on the needs of the older adults, they may need some modifications to treatment such as altered pacing, shorter session length, and increased use of memory aids, for example. CBT is less likely to be effective for older adults who have severe forms of cognitive impairment. Working with a psychologist who has specialized training and experience in working with older adults is recommended.