Lyndsey Davies is an empathic social worker with more than 20 years experience working primarily with individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a history of trauma, and emotion regulation difficulties. Lyndsey is an integral member of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) BPD Clinic, Canada’s premier clinic in the treatment and research of Borderline Personality Disorder. She is an expert in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), with specialized training in Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE). Drawing upon her extensive clinical experience, Lyndsey works collaboratively with clients in individual and group settings, empowering them to gain a sense of control and direction in their lives. Individuals will gain insight into the factors that have contributed to their difficulties and challenges, and learn the skills necessary to develop satisfying relationships and meet their life goals. As a result of this therapy, clients will become more capable of skilfully managing painful situations, and the various circumstances in which they find themselves. Employing a straightforward, non-judgemental, and compassionate approach, Lyndsey is focused on helping clients understand that they can recover from trauma and live meaningful lives.
Contact Lyndsey
‘I am committed to helping people decrease the degree of emotional pain and suffering they experience, and to helping them develop the skills necessary to build a meaningful and satisfying life.’
‘Ask yourself, what are you doing or not doing that is getting in the way of having the life you want to be leading? What are the obstacles and challenges standing in your way? How can you work with these challenges differently?’
What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)?
DBT is an evidence-based cognitive-behavioural treatment developed by Marsha Linehan. Originally created for suicidal individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, DBT is highly effective in the treatment of other mental health issues including eating disorders, substance abuse, depression and difficulties with anger management.
Standard DBT is offered through both individual therapy and/or group skills training, both of which are offered in Lyndsey’s practice.
Individual therapy sessions focus on helping clients develop new and healthy ways of dealing with intense emotions and urges. Individuals identify specific, behavioural goals that they would like to work on to improve the quality of their lives. These may include eliminating destructive behaviours – such as self harming, substance abuse, eating disorders, and anger outbursts – or increasing skilful behaviours – such as creating structure and working on goals related to work.
With Lyndsey’s guidance, clients focus on the barriers to working towards their goals. They learn the DBT skills needed to achieve those goals, applying the skills to specific life circumstances.
Individual DBT sessions are one hour per week.
Group sessions are 2 hours per week.
Employing a classroom-like setting, group therapy teaches a new skill each week to enhance clients’ capabilities in managing life events and circumstances. Organized as four modules of therapy, participants develop various skills to improve their coping, including:
Mindfulness
A core skill in DBT, mindfulness teaches you how to control your attention and awareness. You will learn how to focus your attention in the present moment, rather than ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. |
Emotion Regulation
Cultivate a better understanding of the emotions you experience, and learn how to gain more control over them. |
Distress Tolerance
Learn how to manage pain and distress more effectively. Develop ways of self-soothing, distracting, and radically accepting painful situations in order to help you tolerate the pain without acting in a way that will make the situation worse. |
Interpersonal Effectiveness |
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Learn to ask for what you want while saying no to what you don’t want, in a manner that increases the likelihood of getting your needs met. These skills help you to improve both your relationships and your self-respect. |
‘Learn how to be present focused, and lessen the impact of trauma.’
What is Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)?
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), developed by Dr Edna Foa, is a therapy that specifically addresses the symptomatology associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PE is a relatively short-term therapy (typically 8-12 sessions), which has been shown to be highly effective in reducing symptoms of trauma such flashbacks, nightmares, and strong physiological responses triggered by reminders of the trauma.
The overarching goal of PE is to promote processing of the traumatic event, and to decrease distress and avoidance of feelings and situations associated with the trauma. This therapy anchors the client in the present moment, minimizing reactions and sense of being controlled by their trauma.
PE sessions are 90 minutes per week. Lyndsey is a Certified Provider of PE.
‘To bow to the fact of our life’s sorrows and betrayals is to accept them; and from this deep gesture we discover that all life is workable. As we learn to bow, we discover that the heart holds more freedom and compassion than we could imagine.’ ― Jack Kornfield
Lyndsey Davies has developed and hosted training workshops in hospital settings, forensic settings, and community agencies. She has trained psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and psychotherapists in the practice of DBT.
Lyndsey is adaptable and collaborative in her approach. She is very interested in creating training workshops specifically tailored to the needs of agencies seeking to incorporate aspects of DBT into their clinical work. The focus of each training varies depending on what, if any, previous exposure agencies have to DBT. After consultation, trainings of varying lengths would be developed to suit the agency need and mandate.
"This was one of the best DBT trainings I have attended. The instructor was very knowledgeable of DBT concepts and patient with those of us who were slow to understand these concepts. Very engaging"
Participant
"Phenomenal speaker. Presentation was well organized"
Participant
"This course was fantastic. I have received pieces of DBT training over the years but never has it been so clear and consolidated. This will change my practice"
Participant
"This presentation was clear. The presenter was very knowledgeable, was open to questions, had a good sense of humour. Nice blend of didactic lesson, activities and discussion"
Participant
“When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take the step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen: there will be something solid for us to stand on, or we will be taught to fly” – Patrick Overton
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the referral process?
Self-referrals are welcome and do not require a formal referral from a doctor. I also accept referrals from other health care professionals.
Duration of appointments
Unless otherwise specified, appointments are 50 minutes in length. Sometimes it is helpful to have a longer session which may be discussed if required.
Are therapy fees covered by OHIP
Psychological services provided by registered social workers are not covered by OHIP but may be covered by some private extended health insurance plans or workplace benefits. Please consult your individual healthcare insurance plan to determine the extent of coverage provided.
Fees that are paid without coverage are tax-deductable as they qualify under the category of medical expenses.
How do I pay?
Payment is due at the beginning of each session and can be made in cash, cheque or interact e-transfer. If you choose to pay by interact e-transfer you must complete the transaction online three hours before your session starts to allow for enough time for the payment to be processed before your session starts. A receipt is issued when payment is received. Please retain these receipts for your insurance or income tax claims.
DBT Skills Group payments are per module. Modules vary in length depending on the particular module. There is no charge for the initial group orientation session of 60 minutes.
What is the policy for cancelled or missed appointments?
I have a 24-hour cancellation policy. If you cannot make an appointment, please let me know 24 business hours prior to your scheduled time. The full fee will be charged for late cancellations or missed appointments. Insurance companies do not provide reimbursement for cancelled or missed sessions.
lyndsey@lyndseydavies.com
647-200-9573
Copyright Lyndsey Davies 2017
