Deanna Brady’s team bears witness to watershed moments that provide clarity, confidence and peace of mind for young people struggling with some deep-seated questions and emotions in life.
“I am not alone.”
“This is who I am.”
Brady is the vice president and general manager of Homewood Ravensview, a Victoria-area treatment facility that helps those 19 and older deal with addictions, mental health challenges and/or explore their self-identity without judgment.
It’s a restorative, safe and inclusive mental health treatment program known as My Path, that acknowledges the complexities of this life stage, including things such as identity, self-esteem and social dynamics.
“Within a few weeks in our program, clients who may be struggling with gender or identity for example, tend to be feeling more comfortable and have a bit of clarity about who they truly are,” Brady says. “Their pronouns may change, and they'll say, ‘I now want to be referred to as they/them’. That’s just part of the journey of understanding who they are.”
The My Path treatment program is supported by master-level therapists who help clients develop emotional coping skills, gain personal insights and create strategies to achieve their individual goals. The broader onsite team consists of psychiatrists, addiction physicians, counsellors, occupational therapists, horticultural, recreation, art and music therapists and a 24/7 nursing staff - all of whom assist with young adults who may be living with depression, anxiety, addiction, trauma or concerns around identity and gender.
A myriad of approaches are employed to help with that journey of self-discovery, including group therapy, one-on-one counselling and a range of therapeutic approaches: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and recreational and expressive therapies such as art, music and horticultural and cultural therapies.
Take, for example, the expressive therapy method as a catalyst for breakthroughs. As Brady explains, the beauty of expressive therapy is that individuals can learn to process their feelings or emotions through art or other creative means. Working alongside a therapist, the client can then work through self-discovery in ways that can’t be tapped into otherwise.
“They may not be ready to share initially, but eventually, they get to where they can share what this means to them without necessarily having to explain it,” Brady explains. “It makes them feel safe that they can now start to explore these other identities, feelings or thoughts within them without using words.”
The My Path program's key tenets foster feelings of safety and inclusion, while the group dynamics inspire peer collaboration and inclusivity.
While people's needs inevitably vary, a recent study from the University of Ottawa underscores the need for intervention.
- Transgender and gender diverse people were up to three times more likely to meet the criteria for depression, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder and social phobia over a one-year period compared to cisgender people.
- More than half of transgender or gender diverse people in the study had met the criteria for major depression, generalized anxiety or social phobia in their lives.
- Transgender and gender diverse people were three times more likely to report thoughts of suicide and six times more likely to have attempted suicide during their lifetime.
“Having peers around who are sharing the same things helps form healing bonds while they're here,” Brady says. “It feels good to know you're not alone.”
To learn more about Homewood Ravenview’s My Path program, visit ravensview.com/who-we-help/young-adults/.
