Child and Youth Anxiety Clinic

Michael Garron Hospital's (MGH) Anxiety Clinic specializes in evidence-based individual and group psychotherapy for children and youth up until their 18th birthday who have an anxiety disorder. Additional services include medication follow-up and computer-based interventions.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common and most treatable mental health conditions impacting children and teens. 

Founded in 2009, the child and adolescent anxiety clinic is one of only a few government-funded services of its kind in Toronto. We provide treatment for separation anxiety, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, specific phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other related conditions. 

Although our primary goal is clinical care, we also conduct research into anxiety and are active in providing training for psychiatry residents and other students. Our staff are published in academic journals and have received grants and awards in this field.

Our interdisciplinary team includes child psychiatrists, psychiatry residents and trainees from a variety of other disciplines.

The Anxiety Clinic can be accessed through referral by a primary care physician (green button on this webpage).

SERVICES

Our clinic is small and spots are limited. Please see below for currently available services, and check back periodically for updates if a service you require is closed to new referrals. New spots come up all the time! You are welcome to contact Help Ahead (previously Mental Health Toronto [MHTO]) at 416-438-3697 ext. 12289 with any questions related to psychiatric referrals to MGH. Please note our list of private therapists and resources in the link below as well. 

In an effort to serve additional clients, we have opened a private clinic, which provides the same services as our public clinic and, in addition, harnesses technology to provide our patient population with a choice of treatments and fees. Please email @email or call 416-469-6580 ext. 3229 for further details.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - CLOSED

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that integrates theories of cognition and learning with treatment techniques derived from cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. CBT assumes that thoughts, feelings, and behavior are interconnected. Treatment focuses on thoughts; identifying them, understanding them better, and, if interested – changing them. This, in turn, affects the way we feel and what we do.  

CBT is an evidence-based therapy and is considered the first-line treatment for anxiety disorders, especially in children and adolescents. CBT can be tailored for specific disorders, for example, Exposure and Response Prevention (ER/P) for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) or Trauma Focused CBT (TF-CBT) for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). CBT can be practiced in different ways, for example, group therapy (in which a therapist leads a group of clients through a therapeutic process to overcome a common difficulty) or individual therapy (in which a therapist meets with one client).

THE FOLLOWING SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT OUR CLINIC:

Individual CBT is tailored for all anxiety disorders including therapy for preschoolers, Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), OCD, and PTSD. 

Group CBT:

  • Teen Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) (for ages 13-18). 
  • Cool kids for ages 7-9 (addresses a variety of anxiety disorders). 
  • Cool kids for ages 9-12 (addresses a variety of anxiety disorders). 
  • Teen Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) (for ages 13-18). 
  • Parenting Group for Anxious Preschoolers (P-GAP) for ages 0-6. This group helps parents address an anxious temperament in their young children. 
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) for ages 9-18 (specific age range may vary in accordance with the clients referred at the time). 
  • Trichotillomania for ages 9-18 (specific age range may vary in accordance with the clients referred at the time). 
Consultation - CLOSED

A one-time meeting with a psychiatrist for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment recommendations. 

Medication Follow-Up - CLOSED 

Recurring visits with a psychiatrist/nurse for the sole purpose of medication adjustment and follow up. These visits are shorter and less frequent than CBT.

ANGST-E Research Study - OPEN

ANGST-E is our Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) app for the treatment of anxiety in teens. The app is always with you, on your phone, and will guide you through 12 stages of therapy. Each participant will have access to a live therapist through the app as well. The app is designed for teens aged 13-18 who feel anxiety is the primary problem in their lives. Please see the brochure below for additional information and feel free to contact us if you have further questions. For participation in the study, please send a doctor's referral and indicate clearly " for ANGST-E study." 

ANGST-E Brochure

 

ECO Anxiety Treatment Group - OPEN

The world has experienced record-breaking heat, wildfires, and floods this summer due to climate change and many are concerned, some to the degree of debilitating anxiety and a feeling of helplessness.

Our clinic is offering a six-session group intervention to help transform climate distress into motivation and purpose, to overcome anxiety by engaging in meaningful action, and to address burnout.

The group is run by Dr. Nate Charach, founder of Psychiatree. Psychiatree recognizes the importance of our connection to nature and earth's healing power. This group is held outdoors when the weather allows for it. We learn to practice gratitude, honour our pain, see our challenges from different perspectives, and use this new understanding to make meaningful change in our lives.

Resources

Referral form

Physicians:

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