Welcome to Outpatient Mental Health Services. We are a patient-focused program supported by a multidisciplinary team that includes Psychiatrists, Nurses, Social Workers, and an Occupational Therapist. Our program serves adults aged 18 and older who reside in Elgin County and are experiencing acute mental health symptoms. We offer psychiatric consultations, individual counselling, and group treatment.

Location: 189 Elm Street, St. Thomas - 3rd Floor of the North Tower
Office Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with extended hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays until 8:30 p.m.

Services Provided

• Psychiatric Consultation: For medication review and treatment recommendations.
  Note: The primary care provider must have tried previous interventions without success and be willing to continue follow-up care.
• Telephone Consultation (Physician to Physician/Nurse Practitioner): For professional discussions regarding patient care.
• Individual Counselling: Goal-oriented, skills-focused, and time-limited. Initial assessment and treatment may include up to three sessions, with an additional seven sessions available if needed.
  Note: EAP users must exhaust their benefits before being referred for services.
• Group Counselling:
  • Assertiveness & Boundaries: A 12-week group to develop communication skills through assertiveness and boundary-setting.
  • Building Foundations Part 1: An 8-week stabilization group for adults with trauma history and post-traumatic stress symptoms.
  • Building Foundations Part 2: A 7-week follow-up stabilization group fir adults with trauma history and post-traumatic stress symptoms.
  • CBT - Mood & Anxiety Group: An 8-week group using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to manage depression and anxiety.
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): A 25-week group with modules on mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance.
  • Building Self-Compassion: An 8-week group focusing on developing and applying self-compassion in daily life.

Services Not Provided

• Crisis, emergency, or urgent care
• Ongoing psychiatric support and counselling
• Marital/couples counselling
• Assessments for ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, or Gender Dysphoria
• Parental capacity, Ontario Disability, court/forensic/military assessments

Please note we do not offer the specialized services to meet the needs of the following:

• Individuals currently receiving tertiary-level services (e.g., Parkwood Institute Ambulatory, ACT).
• Individuals with developmental disabilities, brain injuries, or age-related cognitive decline (e.g., dementia), as these conditions are better supported by specialized services.

Cancellations and No-Show Policy

Appointment Commitment: When you schedule an appointment, you are reserving time with a healthcare professional who is prepared to provide the care you need.  If you cannot attend, it is important to cancel or reschedule as soon as possible to allow another patient the opportunity to be seen.

•  Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the appointment will be considered a no-show.
• Missing two consecutive appointments will result in discharge from the Outpatient Mental Health Program.
• Patients who miss an appointment must contact Outpatient Services within three (3) weeks to reschedule. Failure to do so will result in discharge.
• Missing four non-consecutive appointments will also result in discharge.
• Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances (e.g., medical emergencies). Please contact us promptly at (519) 631-2030 ext. 2795 if your situation warrants an exception.
• Once discharged, a new referral is required for future Outpatient Services.