About Me

I have been a registered psychologist since 1981. I received my masters in Social Psychology from the  London School of Economics and my Ph.D. from the University of  Toronto.  I have worked in private practice, University Counselling Centres and have been  an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream at the University of  Toronto. I have loved being a psychologist for the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people, for the honour and privilege of helping people in their very personal private life and for the opportunity to be constantly stimulated with interesting work and colleagues.

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Research and Writing

In addition to CBT Made Simple I have presented at academic conferences, published chapters in books and articles in academic journals. 

 

I tend to have a broad array of interests, and my academic writing  reflects my wide interests.  I have published on issues related to women and therapy, Indian residential schools in Canada, forensic assessment of adults reporting childhood sexualized assault, and the role of confidentiality in therapy.  I have also published on various issues related to clinical care and CBT. You can see a  partial list of my publications in the Publications page of this website.

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Clinical Work

I have worked as a CBT therapist my whole career, and continue to love clinical work.  While committed to CBT, I also integrate other modalities into my work such as mindfulness, emotion focused therapy and aspects of ACT. I work from a strengths based perspective and  see the goal of therapy as helping people have a good life.

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I also have an assessment practice, and specialize in forensic assessments of individuals who are claiming damages as a result of breaches of fiduciary duty, and in particular the sequelae of interpersonal and sexual violence. I have been recognized as an expert witness numerous times in court proceedings and Tribunals.  I was an official assessor for the Indian Residential School Adjudication process.

 

Teaching

For the past thirty-five years I have taught various clinical courses in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at OISE/University of  Toronto. For the past fifteen years I have taught a graduate level course in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.  I am particularly interested in how to combine experiential exercises and learning clinical skills.

 

From 2019 to 2021 I was the program Coordinator of for Masters in Global Mental Health and Counselling Psychology at OISE/University of  Toronto.  In that capacity I taught courses on basic clinical skills, substance use disorder, treating trauma and a course on supervision.  I continue to teach in the program.

 

In 2004 I started the first CBT certificate program in Ontario.  It was a joint collaboration between OISE/University of  Toronto and Hincks-Dellcrest.  Since that time, I have taught workshops throughout Ontario to various mental health agencies, school boards, hospitals,  private clinics, and professional organizations.

 

I have a particular interest in international work.  I have taught CBT at the University of Peking, China, the University if Bangalore, India and have taught in Ethiopia as part of the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration program.

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Committee Membership and Professional Honours

I was  an elected member to the governing council of the College of Psychologists of Ontario and President of the College.  I was also a  member of the board of the Canadian Association of  Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies.

 

I have received a number of professional honours including:

• Elected to the status of Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association

• Barbara Wand award from the Ontario Psychological Association

• Volunteer  Service award from the Government of Ontario

• Listed in Who’s Who Canada and Who’s Who of Canadian Women

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