Common Inquiries

BRIA MD psychiatrists are experts in treating pregnant and postpartum women. They also stay up to date with current safety evidence. After a MAXI Mental Health Assessment, medications, such as an antidepressant, may be prescribed. The BRIA Psychiatrists will review the benefits and risks of medication use with each patient, in particular when they are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Psychiatrists also provide “Preconception Counselling” for those who are on psychiatric medication and want to learn about the safety of their medication when planning a pregnancy or undergoing fertility treatment. Start by booking a MINI Mental Health Assessment here.

At BRIA, we understand the complex challenges and stresses of the fertility journey and its impact on mental health. BRIA clinicians have extensive experience treating individuals navigating the fertility journey and will provide evidence-based treatments with empathy. We offer comprehensive mental health services to support you and your partner as you navigate this experience.

In addition to individual therapy, we offer couples therapy and comprehensive mental health assessments, including medication reviews. BRIA also offers Implications Counselling. To learn what services will be most useful for you, start by booking a MINI here. Partners can book Supporting Partners Therapy directly here. 

At BRIA, we understand the trauma, deep sadness, and complexity of a pregnancy loss or termination and its impact on mental health. BRIA clinicians have extensive experience treating individuals who have gone through these experiences and will provide evidence-based treatments with empathy. We offer comprehensive mental health services to support you and your partner at this time.

In addition to individual therapy, we offer couples therapy and comprehensive mental health assessments, including medication reviews. To learn what services will be most useful for you, start by booking a MINI here. Partners can book Supporting Partners Therapy directly here. 

At BRIA, we understand the interplay between your menstrual cycle and mental health problems.  BRIA clinicians have extensive experience with these concerns and will provide evidence-based treatments with empathy. We offer comprehensive mental health services to support you and your partner (if needed) at this time. During our MEDI Hormone Assessment, a BRIA Nurse Practitioner will consider your health and mental health concerns and prescribe hormonal or psychiatric medications when needed. Or, you may benefit from our more in-depth MAXI Mental Health Assessment. 

To understand which assessment you should start with, book a MINI here.

At BRIA, we understand the potentially complex challenges and stresses of pregnancy and the postpartum period. BRIA clinicians have extensive experience treating women and their partners at these significant stages of life, and will provide evidence-based treatments with empathy. We offer comprehensive mental health and other services to support you and your partner as you navigate pregnancy and becoming parents.

In addition to individual therapy, we offer couples therapy and our MAXI comprehensive mental health assessment, including medication reviews. You can also book sleep support here (for yourself and also for sleep training your baby) or get advice from our dietitian here. 

To  learn what services will be most useful for you, start by booking a MINI here. Partners can book Supporting Partners Therapy directly here. 

At BRIA, we understand the potentially complex challenges and stresses of midlife. BRIA clinicians have extensive experience treating women going through perimenopause and menopause, and will provide evidence-based treatments with empathy.

During our MEDI comprehensive hormone assessment, a BRIA nurse clinician will assess your physical and mental health concerns and may prescribe menopause hormone therapy. Since many women struggle with depression and anxiety in perimenopause and menopause, you may also get a MAXI mental health assessment to address your mental health needs. 

In addition, you can start individual therapy, couples therapy or sex therapy. Our mental health providers are “Menopause Mental Health Certified by BRIA.” You can also book sleep support here or get advice from our expert Registered Dietitian here. 

To  learn what services will be most useful for you as you navigate perimenopause and menopause, start by booking a MINI here. 

Currently, all BRIA services are offered in Ontario, but some talk therapies are available in other provinces too. Please email care@betterbria.com to ask about getting care in your home province. You can also sign up for our Newsletter here to receive updates about expansion.

No! You can start by booking a MINI Mental Health Assessment directly. You will then be given an individualized Care Plan, which may include recommendations for a more in-depth hormone or mental health assessment. You can book the MINI here.

You can start right away by self-booking BRIA therapies, sleep support, or care with our Registered Dietitian. Book those services directly here.

Generally, BRIA staff do not write letters for medical sick leaves or accommodations in the workplace. The reason to get care at BRIA is to get the services to support your recovery and to help you feel better so that you can function at your best, at home and at work.

At BRIA, we are trying to decrease the amount of work for PCPs by streamlining the patient care and referral process. This includes:

• Patients self-refer to BRIA: Patients book the MINI Mental Health Assessment directly, and are given an individualized Care Plan which may include recommendations for a more in-depth mental health or hormonal assessment. Patients can book here
• PCPs are sent an easy-to-complete referral form: If the patient requires a MAXI Mental Health Assessment which includes a psychiatric consultation, an easily-fillable referral form will be sent to the PCP. The patient is informed that their PCP may ask them to book an appointment to complete the form. 
• Follow-up care is offered to ensure the patient is getting better: As part of the MAXI Mental Health Assessment, BRIA Psychiatrists provide 5 follow-up sessions (covered by provincial healthcare plans) to ensure symptoms are improving. Patients may also be followed by their Care Coordinator along the care journey.
• Comprehensive Care is provided: BRIA has expert clinicians at each life stage, including psychiatrists, therapists, sleep consultants, and other allied health specialists. BRIA offers one-stop shop services to meet all patients’ mental health needs– and there is no waitlist! 

Our goal is to collaborate with, and make things easier for, the PCP. Please email us at hello@betterbria.com for more information.

We have created the MINI Mental Health Assessment to be your starting point with BRIA. There are many benefits to starting with the MINI:

• For Therapist Matching: Your BRIA Care Coordinator will get to know you and can match you well with a therapist who specializes in your stage and concerns and who you are likely to connect with. (You can book many therapies directly, but we have found that people have strong success in therapy when they are matched via the MINI.) 
• For the Right Services: You will get a personalized Care Plan with suggestions for services that can help you at this stage. We want to be sure you that BRIA can offer you services that are suitable for your needs.
• To be referred to any of the BRIA Assessments: In order to have a MAXI Mental Health Assessment (including psychiatry consult), ADHD Assessment, or MEDI Hormone Health Assessment (for perimenopause or PMS), you must first do a MINI.

You can book a MINI directly here, or by pasting this URL into your browser: https://betterbria.janeapp.com/#/mini-mental-health-assessment .