Vancouver | Assistant Professor | Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
I have a strong passion for teaching, mentoring and collaborating with students as they navigate their doctoral training. As a psychologist who believes strongly in evidence-based practice, I ask students to draw on the current literature base and to understand gaps in our knowledge, particularly in relation to treatment for diverse and marginalized clients. My goal is help students develop competence, humility, and self-reflective skills to guide ethical and socially responsible practice.
I strongly believe in experiential, hands-on learning. I teach courses focused on clinical and diagnostic interviewing skills, cognitive behavioural therapy, interventions for trauma, ethical and professional issues, and clinical supervision. My classes include a combination of didactic presentations, lively discussion, role plays, mock interview and therapy sessions, and video demonstrations. I encourage students to actively participate so that all voices and perspectives are heard, and all students have ample opportunities to practice and hone new clinical skills in a supportive learning environment.
In terms of research, I am interested in a variety of cognitive and behavioural factors that influence treatment outcomes for clients with a range of presenting problems including anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. I have conducted research projects investigating prospective predictors of avoidance behaviour, the impact of threatening imagery on habituation of distress, memory distortions, and drop-out rates in a variety of treatments for PTSD. I also contributed to a NIMH funded treatment-outcome study evaluating the efficacy of fluoxetine and CBT for social phobia. I find it highly rewarding to mentor and work alongside students as they develop their own research questions and design their doctoral thesis projects.
I can be reached by email at: [email protected].
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.