Block Building Therapies Behavioural Activation Program 

Criteria for Participation 

Purpose of the Program: 

Our Occupational Therapy (OT) Behavioural Activation Program is designed to support clients in a gradual increase of engagement in meaningful activities, to improve readiness for rehabilitation and to progress towards exposure therapy and/or return-to-work rehabilitation. Every client will be assessed to determine eligibility for the program.  

Eligibility Criteria: 

To ensure effective participation and outcomes, clients must meet the following criteria: 

  1. Initial Readiness and Commitment  
  • Demonstrate a willingness to engage in a structured rehabilitation process. 
  • Express a desire to take an active role in identifying and achieving meaningful personal and functional goals. 
  • Demonstrate the physical, cognitive, and emotional capacity to attend and participate in therapy sessions as scheduled. This could be demonstrated by the client’s existing ability to engage in-person with other healthcare providers. 
  • Demonstrate enough stability in mental and physical health to engage in graduated activities. 
  • Understand and agree to the program’s purpose and timelines, including the expectation to transition to higher levels of rehabilitation (e.g., exposure therapy, return-to-work rehab) if progress is evident. 

    2. Progress-Oriented Participation 

Clients who tend to have the most success in behavioural activation are those who demonstrate that they are in the preparation or action phases of the Stages of Change model, which is determined through our assessment process. If the client is determined to be in the contemplation or pre-contemplation stage(s) of change, one of two outcomes will occur: 

  • If the client demonstrates a willingness to participate beyond their duty to their insurer to adhere to treatment (i.e. they must show some enthusiasm, buy-in, and/or interest in the program), they will be admitted to the program. The client will be reassessed approximately every three months to monitor progress and determine if their readiness for change has increased.  
  • If the client demonstrates neither readiness nor interest in the program, alternative mental health services will be recommended with the option for the client to be re-referred when specific readiness criteria are met (these criteria will be included in the OT report).

    3.     Timelines 

Clients must be willing and able to participate in treatment for a minimum of 3 months, no longer than 12 months, if accepted into the program. Sessions will be booked weekly for the first 12 weeks of the program.  

 

Discharge Guidelines: 

  • Clients will be discharged from the program at the one-year mark unless they meet clear criteria for continued participation, including demonstrable progress and active engagement in rehabilitation and readiness for advanced stages of rehabilitation, such as exposure therapy and/or return-to-work rehabilitation. 
  • Early discharge may occur if it becomes evident that the client is not progressing or is not meeting therapy goals despite therapist support and program adaptations. This would be determined through regular re-assessment. 

 

 

For more information or to refer a client, contact us at 204-231-0785 

or visit www.blockbuilding.ca for referral forms.  

Block Building Therapies is a fee for service clinic. We are accepting new referrals from 3rd party funders as well as individual private payers. Please complete a referral form (link) or contact your medical professional or insurance provider to see if you have coverage for Occupational Therapy services. We current work with a variety of funders: