[rev_slider alias="slider-1"][/rev_slider]
Are you living with issues of low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, panic, phobias, stress, obsessive compulsive disorder, emotional dis-regulation, PTSD or substance use? Are you tired of feeling as if you have made progress only to find yourself relying on old, unhealthy coping mechanisms to obtain relief from emotional pain?Consider Dynamic Change — a modern, participatory style of counselling that can aid in real, personal growth.

What is Dynamic Change?

Dynamic Change is a style of counselling that is active and moving. It requires and expects the ongoing participation of clients at all times.

You can expect flexibility from Dynamic Change counsellors who are familiar with various treatment protocols, which include, but are not limited to

The most appropriate protocol is used as required, but elements may be utilized from various protocols so as to provide treatment that is most beneficial to the client.

SERVICE RATES

Individual Sessions are $150.00/hour on a sliding scale based on ability to pay.

Couples' Sessions are $180.00/hour on a sliding scale based on ability to pay.

Please use the form at above right to inquire about rates for other programs offered.

CONTACT/CONSULT
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
OPTIONAL: If interested in booking a session, choose 3 preferred times for a 20-minute consultation.

Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention

Non-Insured Health Benefits

VICTIM QUICK RESPONSE PROGRAM

HQ TORONTO HEALTH SERVICES

BIO, TRAINING AND WORK HISTORY

Tony Black, Dynamic Change Counselling Tony Black is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers registration number 803013.He has worked in the field of Addictions and Mental Health, as a counsellor/case manager and manager, for over 20 years. Tony has developed expertise in working with individuals around issues of housing, life redevelopment and overcoming barriers to the justice system. He has worked with youth and adults who live with substance use issues, mental health diagnoses, PTSD and other emotional issues. Tony is a gay, black, cis-gendered man who provides counselling services to individuals seeking to explore how issues related to their identities impact their mental and emotional health and also to all those seeking to address their histories of trauma. 
CREDENTIALS:
  • Bachelor of Arts-English, York University
  • Bachelor of Social Work, York University
  • Registered Social Worker
  • Business Writing Course, George Brown College
  • Master of Social Work Program, York University (in progress)
 
Experience 1990 to present:
  • Fred Victor Centre
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  • Street Outreach Services
  • Covenant House
  • Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship/Pioneer Camps
 

Insured by: CASW 

FRIENDS
MELOSPACES.COM
With more than 18 years of professional experience in feng shui design and spiritual science, Master Melonie Arscott travels throughout Canada providing feng shui consultations within communities. She works extensively with architects, interior designers and builders. She has been featured on television networks such as — HGTV, WTN, and Rogers — discussing the impact of one’s environment on his/her holistic health and well-being. She is the apprentice of the highly sought-after Grand Master Val Biktashev and a graduate of Qi-Mag Feng Shui and Geobiology Institute founded by Grand Master Dr. Jes T.Y. Lim.
AETHON.NET
Aethon DesignWe are an skilled, bilingual webdev company in Montreal available for all types of web & graphic jobs. Named after the lead horse pulling the sun chariot, Aethon.net also delivers — from logos to flyers to wordpress to fully ecommerce web projects. With over 30 years of experience in design, programming and writing, we are here to help you deliver your light to the world.

SERVICES OFFERED

Dynamic Change is currently providing counselling and consulting services to the following organizations :

services4
INDIVIDUAL & GROUP COUNSELLING

COUNSELLING FOR INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES & GROUPS:

All sessions are currently being offered virtually.
Relapse Prevention/Maintenance
To assist those who have achieved their substance use goals to maintain and continue to make progress in their recovery by uncovering and processing issues connected to, or that may have contributed to, the individual’s unhealthy substance use. Counsellors will utilize facets of various modes of substance use intervention including, but not restricted to:
  • Structured Relapse Prevention
  • Biopsychosocial model of recovery
  • 12 Step model
  • Harm Reduction
...and other abstinence-based models. Please note that this treatment is not appropriate for those using daily and/or heavily but rather for those who have arrived at their identified goals and are seeking to explore deeper issues.(Offered individually. Waiting list is kept for those interested in ongoing group sessions. Minimum of six participants / maximum of 10 participants).
Seeking Safety
This stage one trauma intervention aims to assist those living with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) symptoms in reducing their harmful coping mechanisms (substance use, self-harm, etc.) and replacing them with healthier ones. The goal of these sessions is to assist the client in arriving at a place where they are ready to explore their trauma in depth without the fear of major relapses. While complete abstinence is not required, reduction in overall unhealthy use of substances is expected and abstinence on the day of treatment is required.(Offered individually, to couples and groups. Waiting list is kept for those interested in group sessions. This program lasts for twelve sessions. Minimum of six participants/maximum of 10 participants. No PTSD diagnosis required.)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
This stage two trauma intervention provides PTSD treatment that addresses the client’s trauma directly so as to reduce symptoms and help the client to move towards a healthier life, with significant reduction in the constant and painful intrusions being experienced. This protocol assists individuals in uncovering patterns of negative thinking relating to self, others and the world and seeks to replace these with more objective, healthier ways of seeing self and relating to others.(Individual sessions only: PTSD diagnosis required to pursue this treatment. Due to the nature of this therapy, some sessions are done in person.)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for PTSD
Childhood abuse survivors with PTSD benefit from DBT-PTSD and CPT therapies. For those for whom 12 weeks of CPT intervention is deemed to be insufficient, a combination of CPT and DBT are offered over a significantly longer period of 20-24 weeks.(Individual sessions only: PTSD diagnosis required to pursue this treatment. Due to the nature of this therapy, some sessions are done in person.)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Offering twelve sessions to treat: low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, panic, phobias (including agoraphobia and social phobia), stress, bulimia, obsessive compulsive disorder and emotional dis-regulation.(Offered individually. Waiting list is kept for those interested in ongoing group sessions around specific topics. Program is comprised of 12 group sessions with a minimum of six/maximum of 10 participants.)
Solution-Focused, Strength Based, Brief Counseling
Uses client’s strengths to address a singular issue over a limited number of sessions. Number of sessions to be determined in consultation with client.(Individual, couple or family sessions offered.)
TRAINING for PRACTITIONERS & AGENCIES

SESSIONS, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS:

I offer a comprehensive range of psycho-educational sessions, consulting services, workshops and seminars including the following:
Assertiveness Training
This half-day seminar will explore the four major communications styles: passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive and assertive. The session’s goals are to assist the participant in identifying their preferred way of getting their needs met and for participants to strategize ways in which they could move towards healthier ways of communication.
The Freedom of Healthy Anger
Many of us were raised to believe that all expressions of anger are wrong, sinful or unhealthy. This session aims to assist the participant in accepting that anger is not a negative emotion. We will explore ways in which our anger, when expressed in healthy ways, can be used to bring about necessary change in our personal lives and on a societal level.
What Does Anti-Racist/Anti-Oppressive Practice Mean on the Front Lines?
The term anti-racist/anti-oppressive (ARAO) has become commonplace in social work theory and vernacular. This session will assist the practitioner in understanding how this term can be incarnated in everyday practice. The participant will leave the session having identified practical ways in which this philosophy can benefit their clients and significantly impact their practice.
Finding My Social Location
This session takes participants through honest self-exploration in order to uncover all the aspects of themselves that they bring into their work, including their histories, beliefs, biases, etc. In doing so, participants will then be able to identify possible issues that could have a negative impact on their clients and colleagues and to strategize to ensure that this does not happen.
Effects of Chronic Depression on Daily Functioning
The goal of this session is to explore, together with participants, the ways in which an individual’s ability to navigate through daily life is significantly hampered by ongoing or recurring depression. The session aims to provide a fuller understanding of interventions/strategies that could be helpful and those that could be more harmful. This session is of most benefit to frontline workers.
Effects of Chronic Low Self-Esteem on Daily Functioning
Many of us know people who are extremely talented but are constantly putting themselves down and seem unable to appreciate their many strengths. This session aims to assist the frontline worker in understanding this often debilitating condition and its impacts. Participants will discuss the efficacy of current techniques and identify the most helpful ways of working with individuals with this diagnosis.
Effective, Strength-Based Case Management
We often hear of/speak about clients who are resistant to being involved in the process that would lead to the achieving of their goals. This session explores ways of working within the client's strengths and preferences rather than working in opposition to the client, labelling them as uncooperative.
Principles of Group Facilitation
Are you interested in discovering ways to increase the participation of group members? This session will identify best ways to structure and facilitate groups in order to foster appropriate member participation that is of benefit to all.
What Does Trauma Informed Care (TIC) Look Like on the Front Lines
This session looks to demystify this popular term and assist practitioners in strategizing ways in which they can alter their practices so as to increase access of programs to all, regardless of the clients' potential histories of trauma history.
Harm Reduction: A Philosophy of Practice
The term harm reduction has been used specifically in relation to substance use and, more generally, to other behaviours considered to be harmful in nature or in how it is commonly practiced. This session explores harm reduction as an overall philosophy of practice rather than lists of do’s and don’ts or distribution of clean equipment.
Substance Use – A Symptom of PTSD
Over the years, substance use and addictions have been viewed in various ways. As increasing evidence shows that a majority of clients that come through the doors of our agencies have experienced trauma at some point in their lives, we are realizing that many have been coping with the emotional pain by using substances and/or other behaviours that cause harm to the individual. This session explores ways of addressing substance use from this perspective rather than as a separate diagnosis.
Seeking Safety
Seeking Safety is a stage one PTSD intervention protocol. Stage one involves a period of stabilization where participants explore the negative consequences of current unhealthy coping mechanisms, including self-harm (e.g. cutting), risky behaviours and substance use and begin to discover healthier alternatives. The goal of these sessions is to prepare the client for stage two where the trauma is recounted in detail and specific symptoms and unhealthy thought patterns are delved into. This session provides training to staff in delivering this protocol to groups or individuals.
RESEARCH for AGENCIES & FUNDERS

Researching and Writing:

Formal Reports
Researching and writing official reports containing detailed information, research, and data necessary to make program/business decisions.
Proposals
Producing business proposal reports that propose an idea or an approach to solving a problem or issue. This could be anything from an idea to solve excessive spending within your agency to a strategy for working out the details of a new program.