Your first session is designed to provide a broad overview of your life and experiences. This helps us gain a deeper understanding and identify the most effective way to support you moving forward. The initial session lasts 120 minutes and includes Clinical Assessments and Measures for Anxiety & Depression.

What to expect in a 120-minute preliminary CBT assessment

A preliminary CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) assessment lasting 120 minutes typically covers these elements:

Welcome and introduction (5–10 minutes)

Presenting problems and history (25–35 minutes)

Mental health and medical background (15–20 minutes)

Functional assessment and risk evaluation (10–15 minutes)

Cognitive-behavioral formulation (15–20 minutes)

.Goals and treatment planning (10–15 minutes)

Practicalities and next steps (5–10 minutes)

What you can expect emotionally

• The assessment is collaborative and goal-focused but can feel intense because it covers personal topics.

• You may feel relief from being understood, uncertain, or emotionally activated; the therapist can help stabilize and provide coping techniques.

Time pacing and flexibility

• The above timing is a guide; the therapist will adapt based on complexity and immediate safety needs.

• If risk concerns arise, more time will be spent on safety planning.

A structured session designed to address specific issues or goals, offering targeted support and practical strategies to stay on track with your progress.

A typical 60 minute CBT session follows a clear, collaborative structure:

• Check-in: Quick review of mood, symptoms, events, and homework since the last session.

• Set agenda: Agree on 1–3 specific goals or topics for today.

• Review homework: Talk about completed tasks, obstacles, and lessons learned.

• Skill work: Use CBT techniques (challenge unhelpful thoughts, behavioral experiments, exposure, activity planning, problem-solving, relaxation) tied to the session goals.

• Practice and tailor: Role-play or guided practice and adapt techniques to the client’s values and situation.

• Summarize: Recap key insights, skills used, and any changes in thinking or behavior.

• Homework and plan: Set clear, measurable practice tasks and targets for the next session.

This session provides a safe and supportive space to explore the challenges of addiction and recovery. Together, we’ll focus on understanding patterns of behaviour, building coping strategies, and strengthening your resilience as you move toward lasting change.

A typical addiction-focused CBT session (50 minutes)

• Check-in (5–10 minutes): Brief review of mood, cravings, substance use or behaviors since last session, and any urgent issues or risks (e.g., relapse, safety concerns).

• Agenda setting (2–3 minutes): Collaboratively choose 1–3 specific goals for the session based on priorities and homework.

• Review homework (5–10 minutes): Discuss completed assignments (e.g., thought records, behavioral experiments, coping plans), what worked, and barriers.

• Psychoeducation and skill teaching (10–15 minutes): Introduce or reinforce a cognitive or behavioral skill—common topics include identifying triggers, recognizing automatic thoughts, craving management strategies, activity scheduling, coping statements, problem-solving, and lapse-response planning.

• Practice and role-play (10–15 minutes): Apply the skill to real-life scenarios through guided practice, role-play, or behavioral experiments to build confidence and troubleshoot difficulties.

• Develop a concrete plan (5–10 minutes): Create specific, measurable coping strategies and activities for the coming week, including relapse prevention steps and when to seek support.

• Closing (2–3 minutes): Summarize key points, confirm homework, arrange follow-up, and assess safety/stability.

Sessions are collaborative, structured, and focused on skill-building and relapse prevention. Frequency often starts weekly and shifts based on progress.

Our 6-week Addiction & Recovery Package is designed to provide structured support and practical tools for lasting change. It begins with an introductory session to explore your background and goals, followed by five focused CBT sessions tailored to your needs. Alongside these, you’ll receive recovery tools and resources to strengthen progress between sessions, as well as referrals to additional services where helpful. This package offers a guided path to understanding addiction, building resilience, and supporting your recovery journey.