What is Mind Space?
Mind Space Skills for Wellbeing is a not-for-profit society (formally named the CBT Skills Groups Society) that was formed by a small and passionate team of family physicians and psychiatrists. Mind Space is governed by a Board of Directors with an Executive Director and staff providing administration. We operate with the ongoing support of the physician facilitators and a partnership with Island Health.
Vision | Mission | Values
We envision a health care system where patients and physicians can gather in safe and inclusive spaces to learn helpful skills and concepts to improve their mental wellbeing, offering alternatives beyond pharmaceuticals and preventing deterioration, stigma, and demoralization. Our vision is for patients and physicians across the province to be mentally well and able to self-manage their mental wellbeing.
We are leveraging the success of our foundational program, CBT Skills Groups, and developing key clinical and organizational partners to expand our menu of groups and accomplish our mission to provide evidence-based mild-moderate mental health services that are accessible, low-barrier, inclusive, and safe.
Mind Space values fostering a safe mental health space for growth, reflection, and supportive care. We strive for our space to embody connection, inclusivity, and diversity.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity
We embrace equity, diversity, and inclusivity and are transforming our program to reflect our values. We envision a program where all group participants can connect with and see themselves reflected in the content taught and feel a sense of community in group. To obtain this vision, we have mindfully reviewed and modified our workbooks and translated the core CBT Skills Foundations concepts we teach into multiple languages. As we train new facilitators, we are actively recruiting physicians with a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints so that participants can join a group that enhances their sense of safety and support. We are also expanding our menu of group options so participants can choose a group with whom they relate to (e.g., LGBTQIA2s+, women-only, men-only cancer survivors) and commit to continuing to offer more.
Our History
Our CBT Skills Foundations Group was first developed thanks to project funding from the Shared Care Committee, a joint collaborative committee of the Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health, and the Victoria Division of Family Practice. The program’s success and key partnerships provided opportunities to expand and grow the program over the past decade.
In 2016, we worked alongside other Divisions of Family Practice to train family physicians in their geographic regions. With the passion of Dr. Wanda Crouse, we developed our Level 2 Booster group offering for completers of the CBT Skills Foundations Group.
In 2017, Dr. Karen Palmer designed our level 2 CBT Skills for Insomnia group for patients who completed the CBT Skills Foundations Group.
In 2018, we became our own not-for-profit organization, named the CBT Skills Groups Society of Victoria at the time.
In 2020, we adapted our in-person groups to virtual groups and virtually trained family physicians beyond South Vancouver Island as facilitators. We also partnered with Dr. Jane Ryan and Dr. Ashley Miller to adopt their Raising Resilient Kids Parenting group.
In 2021, we received further funding from the Shared Care Committee and partnered with more Divisions of Family Practice and UBC Office of Continuing Professional Development to expand the program provincially providing physician wellness groups and facilitator training. In partnership with the Vancouver Division we revised course material using an equity, diversity, inclusivity (EDI) lens and developed resources for referring physicians and patients.
In 2022, we partnered with Dr. Elisabeth Baerg Hall and Dr. Candice Murray to adopt their Skills for Success: ADHD Strategies for Adults group.
In 2023, we expanded our CBT Skills Foundation affinity groups beyond women only, to men only, LGBTQIA2S+, Seniors, cancer survivors, and more. To create more culturally safe and relevant mental health and wellness groups, we also began a collaboration with Indigenous physicians to modify the CBT Skills Foundations content for Indigenous patients.
In 2024, we renamed our Society to Mind Space Skills for Wellbeing to reflect our growth and expansion in the mental health space. In partnership with Providence Health we modified our Level 2 CBT Skills for Insomnia group to a Level 1 group.
Thank you to everyone who has helped us make it possible to offer an effective, accessible option for providers and participants who are looking to improve their lives through learning.