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Clients with both an intellectual disability and mental health diagnosis are among the most vulnerable members of our society; however, these clients often face significant barriers with respect to accessing services for a number of complex reasons.  Dr. Philip Grandia, C. Psych joins us for an in-depth discussion of working with clients with an intellectual disability in a mental health context.  In this episode we cover:  

• a general overview and description of intellectual disability (ID) including diagnostic criteria
• important considerations around differential diagnosis in the context of ID
• mental illness in the context of ID including frequently observed patterns of comorbidity
• the very special concern of trauma & exploitation of clients with ID
• how anxiety and depression presents in clients with ID
• the role and caveats around the use of medication in clients with ID
• assessing one's own competency to deliver psychotherapy to clients with ID
• addressing issues of capacity and consent when initiating treatment
• assessing safety effectively in clients with ID
• clinician perceptions of clients with ID that reflect a barrier to accessing services
• the types of CBT interventions that can be effective and helpful in clients with ID
• rewarding aspects of working with this population

Dr. Philip Grandia is a Clinical Psychologist at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. Following his first career as an infantry officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, Philip underwent his PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa. He completed his residency and supervised practice at The Royal and subsequently joined the hospital as staff. In addition to his clinical work, Philip is actively engaged in program evaluation initiatives and Psychology training. He currently works on The Royal’s three dual diagnosis teams in the Community Mental Health Program.

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Please note that while all emails are read, we are not able to reply to all messages that are sent. Emailing Thoughts on Record does not establish a clinician-patient relationship with the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (OICBT).  Moreover, we are not able to provide any comment or advice with respect to either general or specific clinical or personal situations. If you live in Ontario, Canada and wish to seek clinical services from the OICBT please visit www.ottawacbt.ca. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please contact your health care provider and/or proceed to the nearest emergency department.  The following resources are also available:  

Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 (24/7)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (United States): 1-800-273-8255
For a list of International Crisis Lines please visit: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines