EpiphanyClinic BC
Our goal at EpiphanyClinics is to help you meet your full potential in life. We offer detailed assessments, disability documentation, counseling, executive skills coaching and medication management. Come in and see us.
We have re-branded. Our new name is EpiphanyClinic BC. The epiphany is the 'aha' moment when you put two and two together, generating a transformative insight. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@northshoreadhd.com. You can also reach us by fax at +1 778-508-3552. Talk soon.
To whom it may concern,
The impact that EpiphanyClinic BC has had on my life is inexpressible. When I came to see them it felt like there were so many moving pieces. I didn't have the tools to communicate my needs. Anyways, Dr. Ocana just cut right through all the static. It changed everything and set me on the path to --not just actualizing my potential-- but finding contentment within myself (I can't overstate the difference it makes to a confused kid, just having somebody on your side; someone to speak for you, when you aren’t able to speak for yourself)
It was a real turning point in my life. Dr. Ocana made a difference. Sorry if it's a little cheesy, I just don't think I've ever properly thanked him.
kp
Why Assess
and Treat ADHD?
ADHD is the most common neuro-developmental disorder. It is more heritable than eye color. It's more common than anxiety and bipolar disorder combined. At least 50% of kids with ADHD grow up to be adults with ADHD.
People who have ADHD are twice as likely to drop out of school, become parents in their teens, have their electricity cut off, get fired, go bankrupt. They are three times more likely to fail in relationships, get divorced or get injured in car accidents.
But the greatest injury of all, is the steady decline in self-esteem that accompanies repeated failure, despite their best effort. That's a catastrophe.
That's why we treat it.
Assessment
Assessments at EpiphanyClinic BC are detailed, comprehensive and solution-focused. We listen to your story, screen and assess you for 16 different mental health conditions, and document a full and nuanced summary of your socio-emotional health. The real you.
Here's an overview of what goes into every assessment:
-
Summary of current concern
-
Detailed overview of the symptoms and in which areas of your life where they are having the most impact.
-
Summary of severity of each symptom and lifetime impact
-
Genetics, Child and Family history
-
Screen for other associated conditions and their severity
-
Assess 24 different functions in social, emotional and executive domains to determine your Overall Current Function.
Dear Dr. O,
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You made it so easy to open up about my issues. Although I still struggle a lot, you have changed my life, and for that I cannot thank you enough. I have always felt that struggling mentally is wrong and you showed me that it was OK.
Sincerely, ST.
Treatment
At EpiphanyClinics you will benefit from our 30 years of experience helping people with complex mental health conditions. We specialize in medical treatment, but we are also trained to offer executive function coaching and different types of psychotherapy. There are many other kinds of treatments which can help, we are happy to connect you with those practitioners, to create a truly multi-disciplinary approach to your health journey.
Dr. Ocana,
My experience at EpiphanyClinic has had a profoundly transformative effect. First, there were the key psychological insights you offered me in therapy. Second, the openness and positive emotion granted to me by the psychedelic experience. Together, these elements allowed me to make the largest positive shift in my life in years.
KS, June 2023
Dear Dr. Ocana
You met with (my partner) yesterday and I just want to THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart. The information you provided to him in 20 minutes, did more for him than thousands of hours of counseling and therapy throughout his life. He looks forward to educating himself about ADHD and Reward Deficiency Syndrome, and getting from you the help that so others were not able to pin point.
Today he broke down, he has cried for most of the day, I believe that in a way he is relieved, but at the same time scared. One thing I do know is that he is READY to enjoy the next 30 years of his life.
Why Treat Addiction?
If you take 100 people off the street and give each of them an addictive substance, only 20% will get addicted. That's 20% of the entire population. They are our sisters, cousins, parents, brothers, neighbors and co-workers, and they need our help.
They say that where there is addiction, there is pain. That pain can be depression, anxiety, trauma, boredom or actually real physical pain. The substance (or addictive behavior) is a compensation for that pain. It's what that person has learned to do when their brain says, "do something".
Let us know your pain. We'll pack some resources and walk, with you, down the path of wellness. Let's start today.
Dear Dr. Ocana
You met with (my partner) yesterday and I just want to THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart. The information you provided to him in 20 minutes, did more for him than thousands of hours of counseling and therapy throughout his life. He looks forward to educating himself about ADHD and Reward Deficiency Syndrome, and getting from you the help that so others were not able to pin point.
Today he broke down, he has cried for most of the day, I believe that in a way he is relieved, but at the same time scared. One thing I do know is that he is READY to enjoy the next 30 years of his life.
If a patient has Depression and ADHD, which should you treat first?
Most clinicians have been trained to treat the Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) first. Well actually, most clinicians miss the ADHD, because they have not been trained or refuse to recognize ADHD. So they treat only the Depression.
Other clinicians, even if they do diagnose the ADHD, will still treat the MDD first, because that's what they have been trained to do.
We've been collecting ADHD and MDD data for over 20 years. The data says the best outcomes are associated with treating the ADHD first. Why would that be? Again the data shows that treating the ADHD first improves cognition and executive function, which decreases distress and therefore improves mood indirectly. Whereas treating the MDD first, with an SSRI, usually, increases mood directly, but is associated with worsening of cognition, executive function and impulsivity.
Research has shown that SSRI's stimulate Serotonin circuits, but Serotonin competes with Dopamine.
So treating the ADHD first is a win-win, while treating the MDD first is a win-lose.
