Michael Sheppard Bio Page | Adler University

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Overview

I believe that the process of teaching clinicians should focus on growth. Clinical skills is an art that is informed by science, and the relationship between the clinician and client is the most important variable in treatment outcome. To that end, I focus on validating students in their experiences as well as offering detailed constructive feedback. At Adler, I hope to help students become socially responsible clinicians who have a good understanding of variables related to positive therapeutic change.

Please email me if you have questions or would like more information about me.

Education

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of Saskatchewan

Professional Memberships

Canadian Psychological Association Section for Criminal Justice Psychology (member-at-large, director of training, 2012 to present)
Canadian Psychological Association Section for Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic Psychology (student representative, secretary, and member of the Goethe Committee in different roles between 2003 and 2015)

Select Publications

Sheppard, M.D. (2003). Gender issues. Chapter in J.S. Wormith (Ed.), Youth at Risk for Harm to Self or Others.Technical manual for the Saskatchewan Department of Social Services. University of Saskatchewan.
Sheppard, M.D., Alexander, D.L., & Starzomski, A. (2007). Development of a countertransference management.
program for clinical staff. Unpublished manuscript. East Coast Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Sheppard, M.D. & Wormith, J.S. (2008a). Review of Trauma and Dissociation in Convicted Offenders (by K.
Quina & L.S. Brown, The Haworth Medical Press, 2007). British Journal of Psychology, 99, 575-577.
Sheppard, M.D. & Wormith, J.S. (2008b). Review of The Abusive Personality 2nd Edition (by D. Dutton, The Guilford Press, 2007). British Journal of Psychology, 99, 577-579.
Sheppard, M.D. (2009). Review of Mindfulness and the Therapeutic Relationship (S.F. Hick & T. Bien, Eds., The
Guildford Press, 2008). British Journal of Psychology, 100, 806-807.
Sheppard, M.D. (2010). On Within-defense Variability and Defenses in Male Federal Offenders. Unpublished
doctoral dissertation. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Sheppard, M.D. (2014). Review of The Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Primer (by B.S. Brodsky & B. Stanley,
Wiley-Blackwell, 2013). British Journal of Psychology, 105, 145-146.
Sheppard, M.D. (2015). Review of Sitting together: Essential Skills for Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy (by S.M.
Pollack, T. Pedulla, & R.D. Siegel, Guilford, 2014). British Journal of Psychology, 106, 747-748.
Sheppard, M.D. (2016). Review of Fundamentals of motivational interviewing: Tips and strategies for
addressing common clinical challenges (by J.A. Schumacher & M.B. Madson, Oxford, 2015). British Journal of Psychology, 107, 393-395.
Sheppard, M.D., Layden, B.K., Turner, B.J., & Chapman, A.L. (2016). Dialectical behavior therapy in forensic
contexts. The Behavior Therapist, 39, 181-183.

Select Presentations

Sheppard, M.D. (2013b). Early results with the Correctional Q-sort. Poster presented at the Canadian Psychological Association annual conference, Quebec City, QC, June 13-15.
Sheppard, M.D. (2013a). Primary and secondary psychopathy from an object
relations perspective. Symposium presented at the Canadian Psychological Association annual conference, Quebec City, QC, June 13-15.
Sheppard, M.D. (2011a). Sharks and bottom feeders: Narcissism and sexual
aggression. Symposium presented at the Canadian Psychological Association annual conference, Toronto, ON, June 2-4.
Sheppard, M.D. (2011b). Defense mechanisms in male federal offenders. Symposium
presented at the Canadian Psychological Association annual conference, Toronto, ON, June 2-4.

Awards

Inducted into the Golden Key National Honour Society, Simon Fraser University, 1999.
Winner 3rd prize for poster at Advances in Program Effectiveness and Applied Research, Nipissing, ON, September 20-22, 2005.
Winner 1st prize for poster at Dalhousie University Law/Psychology Research and Practice Day, Halifax, NS, November 9, 2006.
Freud Award awarded for best student contribution to the Section on Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Psychology, Canadian Psychological Association annual conference, Ottawa, ON, June 7-9, 2007.

Vancouver Campus

Adler University in Vancouver has been, like Canada itself, born and built with an open mind. Located in the midst of one of the world’s most exciting and breathtaking cities, Adler University reflects a true Canadian spirit. It’s smart, inclusive and determined to make a world of difference. By design, our Vancouver campus echoes the Adler values and intent down every hall and in every room. It is built to live, breathe and inspire those with the passion to pursue a more just society. This is where the work gets done.

At Adler Vancouver, you’ll find multiple collaborative areas with the absolute latest technology. Learning areas and windows have literally been situated to stimulate thought. To some, that may sound odd, but these things do matter. If students are given the space, opportunity and technology to achieve their goals, they are more likely to rock the boat of conventional thought.