ASD Autism Diagnosis: Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam

Jim Roche, Ph.D, provides assessments for and diagnosis of ASD, as well as psychoeducational assessments, counselling and therapy services for individuals (children/adolescents/adults), couples and families in the Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Moody and central Vancouver area. Dr. Jim Roche also provides services for adults with ASD including social skills coaching and workplace consultations.

He is trained in using social-cognitive therapy (social learning) methods developed by Michelle Garcia Winner with high functioning children and adolescents with Asperger's Disorder, NVLD (Non-Verbal Learning Disorders) high functioning autism and other related social cognitive deficits.

He is a member of the British Columbia RASP, Registry of Autism Services Providers, and if you qualify for ministry services his services will be covered for all ages of children.
You can find more information at any of these sites:

https://www.actcommunity.ca/resource/902/
https://www.relatedminds.comhttp://www.psychologists.bc.ca/users/jimroche

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

What is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)?

I've been suggesting this webpage to my patients, please try to reach it directly. If not, I have provided some of the information below.

http://www.camh.ca/en/hospital/health_information/a_z_mental_health_and_addiction_information/CBT/Pages/default.aspx

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a practical, short-term form of psychotherapy. It helps people to develop skills and strategies for becoming and stay healthy. This happens through an interactive process between the therapist and the patient. It's an educational process, focused on the here and now rather than the past. CBT was started by Dr. Albert Ellis, and was originally called Rational Emotive Therapy. A second practitioner developed a very similar method at about the same time, Dr. Aaron Beck. I have been lucky enough to have been trained by Dr. Ellis and have my Advanced Certificate in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy from the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City. Much of my doctoral work, in addition to family and couple's therapy, was in the use of CBT.

CBT is useful with adults, teens and children. We have some wonderful tools to use with younger children to teach them the same skills an adult would be learning in CBT. 

CBT helps people to examine how they make sense of what is happening around them and how these perceptions affect the way they feel. CBT:

• is structured

• is time-limited (usually 6-20 sessions)

• is problem-focused and goal-oriented

• teaches strategies and skills

• is based on a poaitive, shared therapeutic relationship between therapist and client

In the video above Dr. Zindel Segal, a CBT expert, discusses how CBT works. The video also features people explaining how CBT helped them deal with various mental health problems, including depression and schizophrenia.

CBT model

The CBT model is built on a two-way relationship between thoughts (“cognitions”) and behaviours. Each can influence the other

Cognition

There are three levels of cognition:

• Conscious thoughts: Rational thoughts and choices that are made with full awareness.

• Automatic thoughts: Thoughts that flow rapidly, so that you may not be fully aware of them. This may mean you can’t check them for accuracy or relevance. In a person with a mental health problem, these thoughts may not be logical.

• Schemas: Core beliefs and personal rules for processing information. Schemas are shaped by influences in childhood and other life experiences.

Behaviour

Behaviour can be changed using techniques such as self-monitoring, activity scheduling (for depression) and exposure and response prevention (for anxiety).

What happens in CBT?

In CBT, clients learn to identify, question and change the thoughts, attitudes and beliefs related to the emotional and behavioural reactions that cause them difficulty.

By monitoring and recording thoughts during upsetting situations, people learn that how they think can contribute to emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. CBT helps to reduce these emotional problems by teaching clients to:

• identify distortions in their thinking

• see thoughts as ideas about what is going on, rather than as facts

• stand back from their thinking to consider situations from different viewpoints.

Where is CBT used?

There has been a lot of research on CBT. Evidence suggests that it is particularly effective in treating anxiety and depression. CBT has also been tailored to other specific problems. 

For more information on CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) as provided in my office, please visit my webpage at: 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/jim-roche-burnaby-bc/70682
or
http://www.relatedminds.com/therapy/