Clinical Services

Individual Therapy Opportunities

Anger Management Therapy

The Anger Management program employs a cognitive-behavioral and solution focused approach. The students assess their level of anger, review employed strategies for dealing with anger, discuss physiological and psychological constructs of anger, present strategies for reducing anger, and restructuring of cognitive errors. The program attempts to improve communication skills, develop conflict resolution skills, problem solving and assertiveness skills. The format includes exchanges, modeling, various “anger workouts” and pen/paper assignments.

Social Skills Therapy

The Social Skills program is part of our therapeutic boarding schools focus on developing pro-social skills, such as, listening, self-image, accepting consequences, exercising self-control, problem solving, dealing with feelings, and dealing with peer pressure. A structured learning approach is used, consisting of four components: (1) modeling, (2) role playing, (3) discussion of performance, and (4) use in real life situations.

Behavioural Therapy

Behavioural Therapy addresses students whom have deficits in behavioural coping skills and emotional dysregulation; furthermore, students may struggle with extreme thinking, regulating emotions, emotional vulnerability, emotional sensitivity, and very intense response to stimuli, resulting in inappropriate behaviours and an inability to organize self or self-soothe. Content includes (1) how to use powerful solution-focused strategies, (2) skills building training, (3) emotional regulation, (4) interpersonal effectiveness, (5) distress tolerance, (6) relaxation training, (7) learned optimism and non-judgemental observation, and (8) exploration of mindfulness and self-awareness.

Stress Management Therapy

Stress Management Therapy’s goal is to quickly and effectively elicit realistic positive change through the development of self-control and emotional modulation skills in a therapeutic setting. Also, each student is to effectively establish a “self management” plan that focuses on building upon already existing strengths and coping skills.

Play Therapy

Therapeutic Play or Play Therapy is a form of psychotherapy for children, using play situations for diagnosis and /or treatment. Play provides a way for students to express their experiences and feelings through a natural, self-guided, self-healing process. As student’s experiences and knowledge are often communicated through play, it becomes an important vehicle for them to know and accept themselves and others.

Individual Counseling

Dependent on treatment needs, individual counseling is offered to provide an opportunity for students to explore the links between their thoughts, feelings and symptoms. Strategies taught within groups sessions are reinforced within the individual sessions. Any coexisting psychological difficulties are integrated into the student’s treatment plan.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Specific therapy targeted at enhancing the student’s motivation for change occurs. Students at our therapeutic boarding schools learn to assess their own readiness for change and explore ways in which their life might improve if they took on their learning style more forcefully.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavior Therapy encourages students to look at the ways their thinking influences their feelings and behaviors. Students address “faulty thinking” patterns, or cognitive distortions in which their basic assumptions about themselves or their needs are challenged. All or none thinking is addressed. As students begin to shift their patterns of thinking, they are encouraged to develop different action plans to help modify behavior. Cognitive Behavioral techniques also are taught to help with stress, anxiety, depression and anger management as indicated within a student’s treatment plan.

Brief Solution-Focussed Therapy

The Brief Solution-Focused Therapy approach is designed to utilize goal oriented questioning and the student’s own success to illicit positive change that is both achievable and behavioural in nature. By focusing on the procedure of solution building, the model can be implemented within a limited period of time to treat a wide range of problems.

Group Therapy Opportunities

Dramatic Arts / Role Playing Group

Dramatic play therapy is a goup model where the therapeutic powers of play are used to help students resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development. Through the activites and dramatic skits further insight is forged into underlying issues, with the opportunity to physically and mentally engage in alternative forms of behavior, or to try out alternative perspectives. Group topics are determined by a needs review at the outset of the group.

Expressive Arts Therapy

Some students find it easier to express themselves using images rather than words. The use of a variety of mediums such as clay and playdoh, paints and collage are used to explore feelings, discover unconscious thoughts and help students integrate physical sensations, emotions thoughts and memories. In addition, poetry writing, story writing and journaling are encouraged to help students get in touch with innermost thoughts and emotions.

Interpersonal Therapy

Interpersonal Therapy focuses on the student’s relationships with important individuals in their lives and how these relationships are affected by their learning style and / or possible diagnosis.

Milieu Therapy

Each student is a part of a therapeutic community where normal childhood development is emphasized. Each student is held responsible to help in the creation of a positive educational environment.

Exercise Group

There is a daily exercise program. Emphasis is on mind /body connection and use of exercise in an appropriate and healthy way.

Nutrition Group

This group teaches the importance of good nutrition. It covers the different food groups and teaches students how to set up adequate menus. It includes some supervised food preparation.

Healthy Lifestyle Group

The development of a healthy balanced lifestyle is something most people strive for in their day-to-day living. The group works from the perspective that the whole person is important, as is, all their facets of life.

This group typically involves topic areas including:

  1. The role of Nutrition;
  2. The role of Exercise;
  3. The role of Family;
  4. The role of Religion;
  5. The role of Self.

Community Based Supports and Services for our therapeutic boarding schools

Applewood Academy for Progressive Learning strives to offer a wide range of assessment and clinical services within the educational program and through our valued partners. Applewood Academy also recognizes that a wide variety of services are available in the community that students may benefit from.

Policies and procedures in this area reflect the goal of meeting our students’ individual and unique needs by accessing appropriate community based services that are not offered in the context of our educational program.

  • When a service outside of Applewood Academy appears beneficial to the student or is requested by the student or student’s family, Applewood Academy will consult with the parents / guardians as needed, or in the context of the student’s Treatment Plan, about the potential benefit of accessing the defined service.
  • Such requests and the outcome of discussion with the parent / guardian will be noted in the student’s file.
  • Applewood Academy recognizes the authority of the parent / guardian to determine which community based supports and / or services their child shall have access to.
  • The Community Key book will be purchased from Volunteer Quinte yearly and maintained at the main office to review local services, if necessary.