Clinical Focus

At MindWork Group, our treatment model and philosophy centers on the belief that knowledge and understanding of our own and others’ minds is at the heart of psychological growth and development. Facilitating, encouraging, and sustaining this type of growth happens in various realms, which we see as forming the core of psychological recovery. Psychiatric illness and symptoms are often barriers to growth, relationships, and understanding.  Addressing these is important, but only the beginning of full recovery from disabling illness.

Focus on Development 

This subset of groups in the Intensive Outpatient Program focuses on developing aspects of one’s experience and mind that may have been dormant and unattended to in one’s life. Mentalization Based Therapy is a very important tool in this endeavor. The capacity to know and understand one’s personality style, how it affects day to day life and relationships, and how it gets in the way of attaining one’s personal goals is essential to enhancing self understanding and agency. A key element to a purposeful and fulfilling life is the capacity to stay in touch with reality around us even when it is painful. We work to understand how to observe one’s mind, tolerate difficult internal states, understand motivations and internal experience of self and others to foster deeper and more meaningful relationships. 

Focus on Creativity 

One important way in which we learn about ourselves and the world around us is through creative endeavors that foster curiosity. We often think of creativity as having to do with the arts, however there are countless ways to be creative. Creative thought, problem solving, excitement about new ventures, curiosity about why our minds work the way they do. Curiosity and creativity are often antidotes to feeling fearful and trapped. When we are sure there is nothing more to learn or to be curious about, we cut ourselves off from being more flexible and more adaptive. Art therapy, recreational therapy, playfulness with language, and executive functioning tools are all creative endeavours we emphasize in our groups. 

Focus on Resilience

One essential capacity for growth and development is resilience and ability to tolerate pain and failures. We think about building resilience in physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual ways. Discovering our capacities to pursue goals even if there is discomfort, boredom, suffering, or vulnerability requires us to have the ability to recover, restore our bodies and minds, and find our way back to sustaining effort. Understanding appropriate self compassion, building physical strength, making efforts to engage in work, school or volunteering are opportunities to develop resilience in our program. Our relationships too can be a source of resilience and recovery, and they can be areas where we build resilience in order to find more purpose and meaning.