Our Services

The psychologists provide a series of services for children, teens, and adults with neurodevelopment disabilities (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities). The services include therapy and assessment and vary based on the needs of the individual client.

Psychotherapy

The psychologists provide various forms of psychotherapy; such as play therapy for children with anger issues, cognitive behaviour therapy and psychoeducation (skills teaching) for children, teens, and adults suffering from depression, anxiety, social, and emotional issues.

Assessment

The psychologists provide diagnosis and needs assessments. In other words, we specialize in identifying why someone may be experiencing developmental delays (using standardized tests and interviews) and we identify what the clients’ needs are, based on their diagnosis and their clinical profile.

Consulting to an interdisciplinary team

The psychologists sometimes work as independent professionals and sometimes we work within an interdisciplinary team, depending on the needs of the individual. Some of the other professionals that we work with from Spectrum Clinic include a psychiatrist, BCBA behaviour analysts, and a sexual educator. We also work with professionals from outside of the Spectrum team when the situation calls for it, such as working with the CIUSSS/CLSC social worker or an educator from a CRDITSA.

Consultation to other service professionals

Other services provided by the psychologists include training and supervision for other professionals. Some examples of the trainings available for professionals include training on Autism Diagnostic tools, developmental psychology, and differential diagnosis.

Our speech and language pathology services are also offered on an individual basis, or as part of our interdisciplinary team’s goals. Here is a summary of what can be offered:

• speech, language assessment
• individualized therapy
• parent coaching
• consultations for home, school, daycares
• school and daycare visits
• education and training for caregivers, educators, and other professionals

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Dr Brebion provides community based psychiatric assessment, consultation and treatment for children, adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health needs (dual diagnosis) residing in the greater Montreal area. Psychopharmacological treatment is also offered. Our goal is to support mental health and recovery, improve quality of life, and prevent unnecessary hospital stays.

As an integrated model of services, we work with patients, families, family doctors, and community based teams (CRDITSA and CIUSSS teams) in the patient’s community and home. Care is provided with a patient and family centred approach and considers physical, mental health needs and any problems in their home or life.

Many individuals benefit from private sexuality and sex education instruction. I work with individuals, couples and families on issues of boundaries, prevention, dating, consent and healthy relationships for all individuals, including those with special needs. A consent form is needed for individuals under the age of 16.

Programs are designed to be short term. The first session is an assessment with the individuals and/ or family, then a personal program is designed. Each session is 40 to 60 minutes.

Puberty and Hygiene

Sexuality Education For Children and Their Families, 8+

A personal program for individual puberty education is designed and delivered on a one to one basis. This program can be tailored to the needs of individuals 8 and older and their families.

Topics discussed may include;

Changes during puberty

• Hygiene
• Personal hygiene instruction for females and menstruation
• Private/ Public
• Appropriate/ Expected behaviours
• Relationships/ Circles ™ Program
• Internet safety

Prevention/ Harm Reduction Sexuality Education For Teens and Their Families, 12+

A personal program for individual sex education is designed and delivered on a one to one basis.

The R-E-S-P-E-C-T Program delivers information on sexual health and intimate boundaries, using appropriate imagery and focusing on the relationship to others. This program can be tailored to the needs of individuals 12 and older.

RESPECT stands for:

R- Anatomy and Response

E- Exploring Masturbation and boundaries

S- Sexually Transmitted Infections

P- Pregnancy

E- Examining sexual images/ Porn

C- Condoms

T- Talk/ Consent

Relationship Help For Teens and Adults, 16+

Psycho-social education is a tool to help individuals learn the necessary skills for flirting, dating, and maintaining healthy relationships. This approach offers information as well as strategies. This program can be tailored to the needs of individuals 16 and older.

Topics discussed may include;

• Understanding special needs and how this affects sexual issues.
• Sensory issues and strategies.
• Sexual behaviours and pleasure.
• Reading body language and facial expressions.
• Communication strategies and flirting.
• Understanding consent.
• Sexual health and prevention.
• Boundary setting and pornography.
• Gender expressions and sexual orientation.
• Instructional videos on self touch.

Relationship Help For Couples, Adults

Psycho-social education can be used to help couples learn the necessary skills for maintaining healthy relationships. This approach offers information as well as strategies. This program can be tailored to the needs of individuals and adult couples.

Topics discussed may include;

• Understanding special needs and how this affects sexuality.
• Areas of strengths and areas of weakness/ communication differences.
• How sensory processing affects sexuality and response.
• Negotiating the sexual relationship/ behaviours.
• Communication strategies to strengthen the relationship.
• Dealing with difficult emotions.
• Addressing individual and couples’ needs.

Parent Consultation

Private education sessions are offered for parents to answer questions and learn how to teach sex education to their kids and set healthy boundaries.

Topics discussed may include;

• Changes during puberty
• Hygiene
• Appropriate/ Expected behaviours
• Internet safety/ Pornography
• Gender/ orientation questions
• Sexual health

Our services provide comprehensive treatments individually designed to help children with an autism spectrum diagnosis (ASD) and are empirically validated and based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

• Our program is designed to begin in the home-setting, where the child’s strengths can be capitalized on in order to increase pro-social behaviours as well as functional communication. The behaviour team will create an individualized program to suit the needs of the child as well as take into account the priorities of the parents. Our focus aims at decreasing any maladaptive behaviour the child might present with, while at the same time teaching more effective replacement behaviour. Ensuring that sessions are fun and reinforcing by capitalizing on the child’s motivation will ensure success across all areas of development. Programming goals will place an emphasis on targets within the areas of:
  • Communication
  • School Readiness
  • Motor Skills
  • Social Adaptation
  • Academics
  • Social Skills
  • Self-Help Skills
• We also offer integration services enabling your child to learn the skills necessary to participate  effectively within a daycare or pre-school setting. This approach applies the teaching principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) to a group setting allowing the child’s one-to-one interventionist to support the child when needed and fade themselves as the child becomes fluent with each targeted goal. During the child’s integration teaching will focus on independent participation in group activities (i.e. circle time and school yard play). Individual goals will also target other important areas of development such as functional communication, academics and self-help skills.
• Clinique Spectrum also offers a variety of trainings based on the organization, interventionist or parental needs. These can include:
• In home parent coaching
• In house training for daycare educators
• In house training for school settings
• Supervision for ABA providers

Trainings can be tailored to focus on topics such as “How to decrease maladaptive behaviour based on its function”, “Developing better sleep routines”, and but not limited to “How to arrange the environment to increase motivation to communicate”. Trainings based on other topics can always be created to suit your needs.

Individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities have been identified as being at nutritional risk due to a variety of factors. Several nutritional consequences occur as a result of autism, developmental delays and disabilities. Specific concerns include significant weight fluctuations, potential nutrient deficiencies, feeding issues and significant nutrition-related side effects of pharmacological treatments. Furthermore, issues such as poverty, social isolation, marginalization, comorbid medical conditions, concurrent disorders, and aging compound the nutrition -related problems this population encounters.

Dietitians are uniquely qualified to identify the nutritional needs of individuals and to plan appropriate interventions within primary care contexts. Based on education in the science and management of nutrition, and practices based on evidence‐based decision‐ making and national standards, the dietetics professional can assess clinical, biochemical, and anthropometric measures, dietary concerns, and feeding skills as well as understand the varied determinants of health acting on intervention plans. Dietitians can be catalysts for improved care of clients and effective members of collaborative mental health care teams.

Please check out our Trainings to explore upcoming training sessions. If you have a need for a specific training program, please contact us. Our team would be glad to help you with your organization’s unique needs.