currently enrolling for Fall 2024 - Referral Required

Cognitive Behavioural and Somatic Therapy for Insomnia

Tentative Dates: Nov 13, 20, 27; Dec 4 and Dec 18, 2024

Time: 2-5 pm (including breaks)

Location: Online via Zoom only

Price: This is an OHIP covered service. A fully-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot in the group and to act as payment for any missed sessions as OHIP does not pay for missed sessions.

Requirements for Virtual Participation: Participants must be in the province of Ontario for all sessions (OHIP rules require patients and their MD to be in the province at the time of service delivery - even for virtual care).

Description: Is it time to reduce or eliminate your need for sleeping pills? Join Dr. Amy Alexander for this 5-session course specifically designed for people struggling with sleep difficulties. 

The CBT-I techniques in this course were developed at Harvard Medical School and can help reduce insomnia and sleeping pill use in 70-80% of people who take it.

In this course, you will also be introduced to Somatic Internal Family Systems therapy and iRest (Integrative Restoration) practices which are evidence-based treatments for insomnia and other health issues.

This course will benefit people who:

• struggle with getting to sleep or staying asleep;

• deal with sleep-wake cycle challenges;

• are committed to making real changes in their lives to help their bodies and minds relax into rest;

• are able to commit to all groups sessions, as well as daily, prescribed, Mind-Body Medicine practices;

• willing to agree to the policies and group guidelines. 

Please note: This group is not a substitute for ongoing, individual psychotherapy.

Please contact Dr. Amy Alexander for to see if you're a good candidate for the group, or for more details about the course.

Now Full for 2024 - Referral Required for Fall 2025

Recovering With Mind Body Medicine

Dates: Thursday mornings from September 12 to December 19, 2024 (skipping Oct 10th and Nov 7th)

Time: 10 am - 1 pm (with breaks)

Location: Online only

Price: This is an OHIP covered service. A fully-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot in the group and to act as payment for any missed sessions.

Requirements for Virtual Participation: Participants must be in the province of Ontario for all sessions (OHIP rules require patients and their MD to be in the province at the time of service delivery - even for virtual care).

Description: Join Dr. Amy Alexander for this 13-week program. Based on her training in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Internal Family Systems, somatic psychotherapy and the SMART program at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine in Boston, this trauma-informed medical program will teach you evidence-based principles & practices of rehabilitation and Mind-Body Medicine and its use in:

• improving stress resilience;

• speeding recovery from illness;

• enhancing sleep and relaxation;

• reducing pain & inflammation;

• reducing depression;

• easing anxiety;

• enhancing healing;

• strengthening immunity; and,

• reducing the impact of treatment side effects

This course will benefit people who:

• have chronic physical or stable mental illness, or difficulties with treatment related to it;

• are committed to making real changes in their lives;

• are able to commit to all groups sessions, as well as daily, prescribed, Mind-Body Medicine practices;

• willing to agree to the policies and group guidelines. 

Please note: This group is not a substitute for ongoing, individual psychotherapy. It is highly recommended that all participants have an individual counsellor during their participation in the group program.

Please contact Dr. Amy Alexander for to see if you're a good candidate for the group, or for more details about the course.

Full for 2024 - Now Enrolling for 2025 - referral Required

** Includes one-on-one, OHIP covered support **

This program is being offered over a 10-month period to allow for in-depth exposure to this cutting edge, trauma-informed, somatic healing modality of healing. In addition to the 18-19 group sessions, you will have the option to deepen your group-based learning and healing with regular, OHIP covered, 1-on-1 consolidation visits with Dr. Alexander.

Group 1: Mondays 4-7 PM - Now full

Tentative Dates: Sep 9, 23; Oct 21, 28; Nov 11, 25; Dec 9, 2024 and Jan 13, 27; Feb 10, 24; Mar 24; Apr 7, 21; May 5, 26; Jun 9, 23, 2025 (Please also book alternative group session date on Tuesday, Jun 17, 2025 from 5-8 pm which will be used as needed in case of main schedule change.)

Group 2: Thursdays 2-5 pM - Now Full

Tentative Dates: Sep 12, 26; Oct 17, 31; Nov 21; Dec 5 & 19, 2024 and Jan 16, 30; Feb 13, 20; Mar 20, 27; Apr 17, 24; May 8, 22; Jun 5 & 19, 2025. (Please also book alternative group session date on Jun 26, 2025 from 2-5 pm which will be used as needed in case of main schedule change.)

Location: Oakville, ON and/or online (as public health guidelines allow)

Price:  OHIP covered . A fully-refundable deposit is also required to secure your spot in the group and to act as payment for any missed sessions.

Requirements:

• Participants must have a valid OHIP card and be in the province of Ontario for all sessions (OHIP rules require patients and their MD to be in the province at the time of service delivery - even for virtual care).

• Participants must have some experience with an IFS Therapist, or prior individual/group therapy experience with Dr. Amy Alexander.

Location: in person in Oakville, ON and/or online (as OHIP funding and/or public health guidelines allow)

This course will benefit people who:

• are motivated to cultivate more harmony, ease and wellbeing in their minds and bodies via group and one-on-one support;

• have chronic physical or mental challenges, or deal with bothersome side effects related to medication;

• would like to engage in 1-on-1 Trauma-informed and Somatic IFS sessions with Dr. Alexander

• are able to commit to all groups sessions, as well as regular, individual IFS inquiry practices;

• willing to agree to the policies and group guidelines. 

What is Internal Family Systems, you ask?

“Internal Family Systems is a powerfully transformative, evidence-based model of psychotherapy. We believe the mind is naturally multiple and that is a good thing.  Our inner parts contain valuable qualities and our core Self knows how to heal, allowing us to become integrated and whole. In IFS all parts are welcome.

IFS is a movement. A new, empowering paradigm for understanding and harmonizing the mind and, thereby, larger human systems. One that can help people heal and helps the world become a more compassionate place.” (source: https://ifs-institute.com/)

For more information on this cutting edge method of psychotherapy and Self-leadership, check out the following resources:

• Inside the Revolutionary Treatment that could change psychotherapy forever

• Internal Family Systems Therapy: How it works and what to expect

• Video: What is IFS?

• Video: Finding our Parts

currently enrolling for Spring 2024 - Referral Required

Cognitive Behavioural and Somatic Therapy for Insomnia

Tentative Dates: May 8, 15, 22, 29 and June 5, 2024

Time: 1 - 4 pm (including breaks)

Location: Online via Zoom only

Price: This is an OHIP covered service. A fully-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot in the group and to act as payment for any missed sessions as OHIP does not pay for missed sessions.

Requirements for Virtual Participation: Participants must be in the province of Ontario for all sessions (OHIP rules require patients and their MD to be in the province at the time of service delivery - even for virtual care).

Description: Is it time to reduce or eliminate your need for sleeping pills? Join Dr. Amy Alexander for this 5-session course specifically designed for people struggling with sleep difficulties. 

The CBT-I techniques in this course were developed at Harvard Medical School and can help reduce insomnia and sleeping pill use in 70-80% of people who take it.

In this course, you will also be introduced to Somatic Internal Family Systems therapy and iRest (Integrative Restoration) practices which are evidence-based treatments for insomnia and other health issues.

This course will benefit people who:

• struggle with getting to sleep or staying asleep;

• deal with sleep-wake cycle challenges;

• are committed to making real changes in their lives to help their bodies and minds relax into rest;

• are able to commit to all groups sessions, as well as daily, prescribed, Mind-Body Medicine practices;

• willing to agree to the policies and group guidelines. 

Please note: This group is not a substitute for ongoing, individual psychotherapy.

Please contact Dr. Amy Alexander for to see if you're a good candidate for the group, or for more details about the course.

Tentatively Full for 2024 - Referral Required for 2025 Program

Train the Brain, Ease the Pain: Healing body and mind with evidence-based pain management tools

• Confirmed Dates: Thursday mornings from February 15 to May 23, 2024 (skipping March 14th and April 11th)

Time: 10 am - 1 pm (with breaks)

Location: Online only

Price: OHIP-covered. A fully-refundable deposit is also required to secure your spot in the group and to act as payment for any missed sessions.

Requirements for Virtual Participation: Participants must be in the province of Ontario for all sessions (OHIP rules require patients and their MD to be in the province at the time of service delivery - even for virtual care).

Description: Join Dr. Amy Alexander for this 13-week program. Based on her training in pain and rehabilitation medicine, Somatic Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and the SMART program at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine in Boston, this trauma-informed medical program will teach you evidence-based principles & practices of mind-body pain management and its use in:

• reducing pain & inflammation;

• improving daily function;

• reducing depression associated with pain; and,

• easing anxiety associated with pain.

This course will benefit people who:

• have chronic pain;

• are committed to making real changes in their lives;

• are able to commit to all groups sessions, as well as daily, prescribed, Mind-Body Medicine practices;

• willing to agree to the policies and group guidelines. 

Please note: This group is not a substitute for ongoing, individual psychotherapy. It is highly recommended that all participants have an individual counsellor during their participation in the group program.

Please contact Dr. Amy Alexander for to see if you're a good candidate for the group, or for more details about the course.

**Full** - Referral Required from An IFS Therapist or prior approval from Dr. Alexander

This program is offered as a less intensive commitment for graduates of Dr. Alexander’s Self-Led Healing and Recovery with IFS program (or for those with significant IFS therapy experience with an IFS Therapist).

In addition to the ten (10), OHIP-covered, group sessions, you will have the option to deepen your group-based learning and healing with occasional, OHIP covered, 1-on-1 consolidation visits with Dr. Alexander.

Additional coaching sessions with a Level 1-trained IFS Practitioner, supervised by Dr. Alexander, are also available on a sliding scale basis (not OHIP-covered).

Mondays*: 430-730 PM

Dates: September 18, October 23, November 20, December 18, 2023 and January 22, February 5, March 18, April 15, May 13 and Tuesday, June 4th, 2024 (5-8pm * note different day and time).

Now Enrolling for 2024 - referral Required

** Includes one-on-one, OHIP covered support **

This program is being offered over a 10-month period to allow for in-depth exposure to this cutting edge, trauma-informed, somatic healing modality of healing. In addition to the 18-19 group sessions, you will have the option to deepen your group-based learning and healing with regular, 1-on-1 consolidation visits with Dr. Alexander.

Group 1: Mondays 4-7 PM - ** Now Full **

Dates: September 11, 25; October 16, 30; November 13, 27; December 11, 2023 and January 15, 29; February 12, 26; March 11, 25; April 8, 22; May 6, 14, 27; June 10, 2024.

(Alternate date to book: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 from 5-8 pm. This date will be used in case of a change to the above schedule.)

Group 2: Thursdays 2-5 pM - ** Now Full **

Dates: September 7, 14; October 5, 19; November 2, 16, 23; December 14, 2023 and January 25; February 8, 22; March 7, 21; April 4, 18; May 2, 16, 30; June 13, 2024.

(Alternate date to book: Thursday, July 4, 2024 from 2-5 pm. This date will be used in case of a change to the above schedule.)

Location: Oakville, ON and/or online (as public health guidelines allow)

Price:  OHIP covered . A fully-refundable deposit is also required to secure your spot in the group and to act as payment for any missed sessions.

Requirements:

• Participants must have a valid OHIP card and be in the province of Ontario for all sessions (OHIP rules require patients and their MD to be in the province at the time of service delivery - even for virtual care).

• Participants must have some experience with an IFS Therapist, or prior individual/group therapy experience with Dr. Amy Alexander.

Location: in person in Oakville, ON and/or online (as OHIP funding and/or public health guidelines allow)

This course will benefit people who:

• are motivated to cultivate more harmony, ease and wellbeing in their minds and bodies via group and one-on-one support;

• have chronic physical or mental challenges, or deal with bothersome side effects related to medication;

• would like to engage in 1-on-1 Trauma-informed and Somatic IFS sessions with Dr. Alexander

• are able to commit to all groups sessions, as well as regular, individual IFS inquiry practices;

• willing to agree to the policies and group guidelines. 

What is Internal Family Systems, you ask?

“Internal Family Systems is a powerfully transformative, evidence-based model of psychotherapy. We believe the mind is naturally multiple and that is a good thing.  Our inner parts contain valuable qualities and our core Self knows how to heal, allowing us to become integrated and whole. In IFS all parts are welcome.

IFS is a movement. A new, empowering paradigm for understanding and harmonizing the mind and, thereby, larger human systems. One that can help people heal and helps the world become a more compassionate place.” (source: https://ifs-institute.com/)

For more information on this cutting edge method of psychotherapy and Self-leadership, check out the following resources:

• Inside the Revolutionary Treatment that could change psychotherapy forever

• Internal Family Systems Therapy: How it works and what to expect

• Video: What is IFS?

• Video: Finding our Parts

Full with wait list - Referral Required

Recovering With Mind Body Medicine

Tentative Dates: Thursday mornings from September 7 to December 14, 2023 (skipping Sept 21, Oct 26 and Nov 30, 2023)

Time: 10 am - 1 pm (with breaks)

Location: Online only

Price: $120 for non-OHIP covered services. A fully-refundable deposit is also required to secure your spot in the group and to act as payment for any missed sessions.

Requirements for Virtual Participation: Participants must be in the province of Ontario for all sessions (OHIP rules require patients and their MD to be in the province at the time of service delivery - even for virtual care).

Description: Join Dr. Amy Alexander for this 12-week program. Based on her training in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Internal Family Systems, somatic psychotherapy and the SMART program at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine in Boston, this trauma-informed medical program will teach you evidence-based principles & practices of rehabilitation and Mind-Body Medicine and its use in:

• improving stress resilience;

• speeding recovery from illness;

• enhancing sleep and relaxation;

• reducing pain & inflammation;

• reducing depression;

• easing anxiety;

• enhancing healing;

• strengthening immunity; and,

• reducing the impact of treatment side effects

This course will benefit people who:

• have chronic physical or stable mental illness, or difficulties with treatment related to it;

• are committed to making real changes in their lives;

• are able to commit to all groups sessions, as well as daily, prescribed, Mind-Body Medicine practices;

• willing to agree to the policies and group guidelines. 

Please note: This group is not a substitute for ongoing, individual psychotherapy. It is highly recommended that all participants have an individual counsellor during their participation in the group program.

Please contact Dr. Amy Alexander for to see if you're a good candidate for the group, or for more details about the course.