About Me

Dr. Nathan Edwards is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia (#2756). He provides therapeutic treatment to clients struggling with a diverse set of psychological concerns including anxiety, depression, interpersonal or relationship difficulties, trauma, life transitions, identity development, grief and loss, racialized or culturally based concerns, and emotional regulation. (At this time, Nathan does not accept patients who are actively suicidal). Nathan primarily utilizes a psychodynamic frame in his work with clients, but is able to blend elements of ACT, CBT, as well as mindfulness into treatment planning and delivery.

Approach and Values

At the heart of Nathan’s work is the prioritization of safety and connection as the most vital components of the therapeutic process. He attempts to foster such an environment through dedication to a collaborative approach that allows clients to move at their own pace and take ownership of their healing journey. It is Nathan’s belief that through the ability to better recognize one’s own humanity and strengths, the capacity for flexibility, self-compassion, and healing can grow and thrive. As such, Nathan attempts to help clients develop greater insight and personal understanding through exploration of past and present experiences, as well as the various contexts they inhabit, and the impact these have on one’s conception of the world. Nathan works to move alongside clients in their journey, attempting to understand the complexity of their full-being and inspiring similar curiosity in those he sits across from.

Education and Experience

Nathan earned his doctorate in psychology from the Graduate School of Education and Psychology – Pepperdine University (APA accredited) in 2015. He completed is doctoral internship at California State University (CSU) – Northridge as a member of the University Counseling Services team. Nathan further completed a year-long post-doctoral fellowship at Santa Monica College in Los Angeles before accepting a position at CSU-Northridge as a tenure-track staff psychologist. He later continued his work in post-secondary counseling as a staff psychologist at CSU – Dominguez Hills in Los Angeles before returning to his home country of Canada where he joined the Counselling services team at UBC. During his tenure at UBC, Nathan had the opportunity to act as the dedicated counsellor for a variety of scholarship programs including the MasterCard Foundation, as well as WUSC, and Beyond Tomorrow Scholars. Additionally, with training held as a career passion Nathan has provided both individual and group supervision to doctoral interns throughout his career. During his time at UBC, he further stepped into the role of practicum coordinator, which allowed him to manage recruitment, selection, and training of Master’s level practicum trainees within the clinic.

If you would like to see Dr. Nathan Edwards, please indicate this when completing our online referral form: https://hushforms.com/wisemindcentre-referralform

About Me Dr. Nathan Edwards is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Br... Read More

CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS. CONTACT INFO@WISEMINDCENTRE.COM TO SCHEDULE

Dr. Gurpreet Singh is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia (#2551). She was born and raised in the Vancouver area and completed her graduate degrees and clinical training in the USA. She received her Doctor of Psychology (APA-accredited) and Master of Arts degrees in Clinical Psychology from Adler University in Chicago.

Each and every one of us has a mental health, just as we have a physical health. Both exist on a spectrum and it is a normal part of the human experience to acquire medical and psychological conditions, and/or to experience ups and downs in these areas. Just as we see medical professionals to get help with medical problems, it is normal to see a psychologist to get help with psychological problems. Unfortunately however, when it comes to getting help for our mental health, there is a lot more stigma. While this can make it difficult to seek help, remember that you don’t have to suffer alone and more importantly, you don’t deserve to. Taking care of your mental health is an essential part of being human.

Client Experiences: Dr. Singh has experience treating a range of issues including depression, anxiety, trauma, chronic pain, anger, stress, eating problems, substances use, grief and loss, interpersonal and couples problems, sleep disturbances, work issues, and emotional regulation problems. She can also help you work through general emotional issues, situational stressors, learn more about yourself, let go of unhelpful patterns and problematic behaviors that are interfering with daily life, increase emotional resilience, self-esteem and identity issues, learn a skill, and achieve a behavioral goal, among many other reasons.

Treatment Approaches: Dr. Singh uses evidenced based treatment approaches. She uses an integration of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). To treat trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), she uses Prolonged Exposure Therapy. Dr. Singh’s approach to treatment is individualized and she highly values collaboration with clients and open and transparent communication. In the initial sessions, she works closely with clients to create a treatment plan based on current symptoms, goals, and needs. Dr. Singh believes that, while the treatment process involves a lot of learning, it also involves a lot of unlearning and having self-compassion is an essential part of this process.

Dr. Singh’s therapeutic style is warm, non-judgmental, and compassionate, while also direct and challenging. Research tells us that the therapeutic relationship is an essential part of successful treatment outcomes. It is of utmost importance to Dr. Singh that the therapeutic relationship is viewed as safe and as a trusting space.

Clinical Experiences: In addition to working at Wise Mind Centre, Dr. Singh also works at an occupational rehabilitation clinic on an interdisciplinary team, treating adults who have been physically and/or psychologically injured in the workplace and struggle from chronic pain, depression and anxiety, and PTSD/ trauma. In the trauma program, Dr. Singh often works with first responders (police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, dispatchers, and correctional officers), nurses, housing support workers, industrial workers, and truck drivers, in addition to various other occupations.

Dr. Singh has provided psychological treatment and assessment services in a broad range of settings. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Petaluma Health Center, a primary care clinic in the California Bay Area, where she worked alongside medical professionals and provided therapy and behavioral health and crisis consultations to adults, adolescents, children, and families. Dr. Singh completed her APA-accredited residency at the Student Counseling Center at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas (UNLV), where she provided individual, group, and couples therapy and crisis consultations to undergraduate and graduate students. While at UNLV, Dr. Singh also worked as part of the eating disorder treatment team and as a behavioral consultant at the Student Health Center. In addition these, Dr. Singh has also worked in community mental health centers, outpatient medical clinics, academic settings, and forensic settings. In terms of group experiences, she has led mindfulness meditation and interpersonal processing groups, and taught psycho-educational classes on a variety of topics.

Client Diversity: Dr. Singh is committed to providing culturally sensitive and responsive treatment. She has worked with and welcomes clients of different ages, ethnic and racial backgrounds, gender identities, socioeconomic status, sexual orientations, physical abilities, and religious and spiritual beliefs. The bulk of her training years were spent serving the underserved and marginalized populations, an area of passion.

Outside of Work: Dr. Singh enjoys cooking, hiking, spending time in nature, travel and exploring new places, watching sunsets, a good T.V. series, and spending quality time with her family and nieces.

Services: Dr. Singh provides individual and couples services to adults (18+ years). She offers services in English and Punjabi. Dr. Singh’s session rates start at $225 for 50 minutes.

Please note that Dr. Singh does not provide treatment in the comprehensive DBT program.

CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS. CONTACT INFO@WISEMINDCENTRE.COM TO SCHEDULE Dr. Gurpreet Singh ... Read More

Dr. Lisa Sperle is a Registered Psychologist in BC (#2920). If you or your child are experiencing anxiety, emotion dysregulation, worries, obsessive thoughts, parenting stress, low confidence, compulsions, perfectionism/behavioural rigidity, procrastination, or academic stress, these concerns can be confusing, frustrating and overwhelming to navigate. Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms can make it more difficult to lead a life aligned with your values when these concerns create challenges for interpersonal relationships (e.g., family, friends), activities you or your family wishes to do, communicating effectively, your physical health (e.g., sleep, concentration, panic, head/stomach pain), and/or feeling successful in your roles (e.g., student, caregiver).

By engaging in therapy backed by research but tailored to your unique goals, needs, and strengths, Lisa offers solutions-focused, empathic, nonjudgmental and action-oriented treatment so clients can lead lives designed by them rather than by anxiety or OCD. Common treatment goals include learning emotion regulation tools, improving relationships, spending more time on what they value or enjoy (rather than worry/anxiety/compulsions), building self-confidence, overcoming fears, tolerating mistakes better, developing more control over OCD symptoms, and empowering parents in ways to understand and support their child. Although Lisa’s specialty areas are anxiety (including but not limited to generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, social anxiety, phobias) and OCD, these concerns may not occur in isolation. If you or your child are experiencing other mental health concerns like depression, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or behavioural problems, then therapy is flexibly designed to provide research-supported strategies to improve mood, behaviour and healthy living habits. Lisa works with children (ages 3+), teens, families, and adults and welcomes clients across diverse backgrounds and identities.

The foundations of Lisa’s treatment approach include:

(1) Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT involves learning patterns and relationships among thoughts, emotions, and actions. CBT is backed by research in the treatment of various mental health concerns, including anxiety and depression. In anxiety treatment with Lisa, empathic but action-oriented collaboration is emphasized so there are gradual opportunities to practice brave behaviours and overcome fears/anxiety.

(2) Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD treatment. ERP is an important treatment for understanding the OCD cycle and gradually reducing distress with intrusive thoughts and the time spent engaging in compulsions to reduce one’s distress. Lisa is a member of the International OCD Foundation and is dedicated to disseminating evidence-based education and interventions like ERP for individuals with obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

(3) Behaviour management skills building for parents of children/teens. This approach involves collaborating with parents on how to build positive parent-child relationships, increase appropriate behaviors (e.g., compliance, being brave rather than avoiding), and address parent-child challenges (e.g., emotion dysregulation due to anxiety, outbursts, defiance).

(4) Other strategies are incorporated based on clients’ unique goals (i.e., Dialectical Behavioural Therapy-informed strategies for distress tolerance and/or interpersonal communication; trauma-informed care principles for individuals to understand the impact of trauma for themselves or their child).

Lisa received a joint doctorate degree in Clinical & Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh (American Psychological Association-accredited). She completed both her internship training (2017-2018) and postdoctoral fellowship training (2018-2019) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (US) where she received extensive training and supervision in psychological testing and therapy across development. She has previous experience working as a psychologist at a hospital (outpatient behavioral health clinic of Nationwide Children’s Hospital) and held a dual appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor in Ohio State University’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. In addition to her responsibilities providing therapy and testing services, Lisa facilitated clinical consultation groups for behavioral health staff focused on OCD assessment/treatment, co-led trainings on exposure-based treatments for anxiety disorders and OCD, engaged in program development for caregivers of children with anxiety disorders, provided clinical supervision to psychology interns and fellows, and served as a subject matter expert on OCD as part of the hospital’s “On Our Sleeves” mental health initiative. She is also a licensed psychologist in Ohio, United States (#7906).

*Please note Dr. Sperle does not provide treatment to clients in the comprehensive DBT program.

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS.

Dr. Lisa Sperle is a Registered Psychologist in BC (#2920). If you or your child are experiencing... Read More

Dr. Karolina Rozworska is a registered psychologist in the province of British Columbia (#2799). She provides psychological assessment and individual therapy services to clients facing a diverse range of challenges. These include:

• difficulties in managing emotions, impulsive behaviors, self-criticism, and dissociation,
• coping with life crises and transitions or general life dissatisfaction,
• personality disorders, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis and psychosis-like experiences,
• adjustment after a mental health crisis (for - - individuals who are psychiatrically stable) and adjustment to concussion and other brain injuries,
• supporting loved ones with a mental health disorder.

Individual Therapy:

Dr. Karolina aims to help you shape your desired life through therapy. Whether you’re facing unexpected stressors, long-standing difficulties, or a period of worsened mental health, she provides practical strategies to overcome them. She partners with you in finding strategies that match your life goals and guides you in applying these strategies to your life.

As a psychologist, Dr. Karolina offers evidence-based therapy interventions backed by rigorous academic research. These include dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), compassion-focused therapy (CFT), and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Dr. Karolina’s approach to therapy centres around collaborative efforts to help you master emotions, break free from unhelpful behaviours, develop effective new behaviours, challenge beliefs that fuel depression or anxiety, improve relationships, and cultivate full engagement in life. Every therapy process is unique to match your personal and family history, strengths, challenges, and broader life context. Dr. Karolina acknowledges the potential impact of discrimination, oppression, and trauma on you and your family, and supports you in building resilience to these external events and shifting the responsibility for them outside of yourself.

Psychological Assessment:

Intake Assessment: Each therapy process begins with an intake assessment, typically spanning one to two sessions. This brief assessment allows Dr. Karolina to craft a customized treatment plan suited to your needs. The outcomes of this assessment are discussed verbally with you and documented in Dr. Karolina’s treatment records. Together, Dr. Karolina and you then decide on the therapy goals and plan.

Psychodiagnostic Assessment: This comprehensive psychological evaluation aims to clarify mental health diagnoses and produce an assessment report. During a psychodiagnostic assessment, Dr. Karolina distinguishes between diagnoses that may initially appear similar, ultimately determining which diagnosis aligns with the client’s symptoms. Employing a range of methodologies, including detailed clinical interviews, standardized psychological inventories, reviews of previous mental health records or assessments, and interviews with individuals familiar with the client (with written permission), Dr. Karolina ensures a well-rounded perspective for an accurate diagnosis. This diagnostic conclusion is documented in a psychological assessment report, which also includes practical recommendations for addressing the client’s difficulties. A feedback session is scheduled to discuss the assessment’s outcomes and recommendations.

Background and Experience:

In addition to her role at the Wise Mind Centre, Dr. Karolina works at the Vancouver Coastal Health Mental Health and Substance Use Outpatient Services. She also imparts her expertise by teaching psychological assessment to PhD and Master’s students in the Counselling Psychology Program at UBC. She previously spent four years providing comprehensive assessments to patients admitted to the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Karolina holds a PhD in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from McGill University. Her clinical training includes a year-long doctoral residency at the Ottawa Hospital – a program accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association. She also underwent clinical training at the Douglas Institute for Mental Health in Montreal, the Fraser North Eating Disorders Program, Back in Motion, and the UBC and SFU Counselling Services.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Karolina has pursued academic research in emotional functioning within eating disorders and mindfulness interventions for diabetes. She has received numerous federal and provincial awards to support her graduate work, along with a fellowship to work at the BC Ministry of Health as a policy researcher.

Dr. Rozworska offers services in English and Polish.

If you are interested in seeing if Dr. Rozworska is a good fit, please complete our online referral form here: https://hushforms.com/wisemindcentre-referralform

You are also welcome to schedule a 15 minute free phone consult with her.

Dr. Karolina Rozworska is a registered psychologist in the province of British Columbia (#2799).... Read More

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Dr. Marla Korecky holds a Doctor of Clinical Psychology degree and is a registered psychologist with the College of Psychologists of BC (#2736). Marla prioritizes a collaborative and client-centered approach to treatment, working together with her clients to identify their evolving needs, preferences, and goals for therapy. She believes that her clients are the experts of their experience and focuses treatment on supporting each individual to facilitate the changes they are looking to make to feel more in control and fulfilled in their lives.

Marla received her degree from Adler University in Vancouver and completed an accredited pre-doctoral residency with Adler Community Health Services in Chicago. In addition to her work with Wise Mind Centre, she works at Red Fish Healing Centre for Mental Health and Addiction, an integrated treatment facility for adults living with complex concurrent disorders. Marla also has experience working in outpatient interdisciplinary rehabilitation programs, community mental health, and primary care settings.

Marla integrates evidence-based approaches to treatment, including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based practice, as well as resources, strategies, and tools to effect change. Treatment is tailored to help each client gain insight into the areas that may influence their current challenges (including exploring previous significant experiences and relationships) and to make meaning of their emotional experiences. An integrative approach is also used to support clients to develop the skills necessary to build resilience and confidence in their ability to navigate future obstacles. Marla considers herself privileged to support individuals experiencing a wide range of difficulties including depression, emotion regulation difficulties, anxiety, trauma, stress-related challenges, holistic health and wellness concerns, healthy work-life balance, communication and relationships, and challenges with adjusting to and navigating life transitions.

In her spare time, Marla enjoys finding new spots to walk her dog, spending time around animals, travel, and being outdoors in the beautiful city of Vancouver!

Dr. Marla Korecky holds a Doctor of Clinical Psychology degree and is a registered psychologist w... Read More

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Cindy Strydom (she/hers) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). She holds a bachelor’s degree, honor’s degree and master’s degree in psychology from the North-West University in South Africa. She has 15 years experience working as a therapist with adolescents, adults and couples.

She is a warm and caring counsellor that has a passion for assisting clients in overcoming their difficulties. She believes that we all have an incredible ability to heal, overcome life’s difficulties and foster personal growth and that through the therapy process we are able to provide the knowledge and tools needed, thereby achieving the desired and sustainable change. Cindy works predominately from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach, although she utilises various techniques to optimally benefit each client. She has extensive training in CBT including training from the Beck Institute, the Albert Elis Institute, and National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists.

After her master’s degree in psychology, she registered as a clinical psychologist in South Africa. She completed her internship and government service years with the military mental health units, where she gained vast experience in treating various mental health challenges, as well as creating mental health programs. She furthered her experience and knowledge after starting private practice in 2012, and soon had other therapists join her group practice which she managed for 11 years. Here she gained a wide range of experience by working with clients of all ages and within a diverse setting and spectrum of problems. She has also supervised and provided training in CBT to other mental health professionals. Cindy registered as and now practices as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) since her move to Vancouver.

She has experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and with a wide variety of different difficulties and conditions that her clients present with. She has a special interest in working with anxiety, depressive disorders, bipolar mood disorder, trauma, relationship difficulties, couples, chronic pain and medical conditions, grief and individuals navigating the adjustment to emigration.

She believes that the therapeutic relationship is vitally important in the process, and therefore place great value on creating an environment in which her client feels understood and at ease.

If you would like to see Cindy (RCC) for therapy or for a consultation, please either email info@wisemindcentre.com or reach out to her via email at cindy@wisemindcentre.com.

Cindy Strydom (she/hers) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical ... Read More

Dr. Jen-Mai Wong is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia (#2665). She has extensive experience providing clinical services to clients presenting with a wide range of concerns such as anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, academic/work struggles, transitional/adjustment challenges, issues of identity, grief/loss, trauma and disordered eating/body image disturbance.

Jen-Mai’s clinical work is grounded in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), however she also believes in adopting a flexible therapeutic process attuned to the needs of individual clients. Therefore she also integrates clinical approaches from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and psychodynamic perspectives to inform treatment planning and therapeutic interventions that best fits each client.

Jen-Mai approaches psychotherapy in a spirit of collaboration with clients, with the belief that compassionate understanding is key to any therapeutic process. Part of that includes being authentic in the therapy room, and building a space of trust and safety within the therapeutic relationship.

Given her diverse set of clinical experiences, Jen-Mai is adept at working as a generalist psychologist, meeting with clients presenting with a breadth and depth of mental health struggles. However she also has specialized training and is experienced in providing treatment to clients struggling with eating/body image concerns and emotional dysregulation, and has an extensive background in supporting young adult populations in particular.

Dr. Jen-Mai Wong is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of British Columb... Read More

Pauline Song-Choi is a Registered Psychologist in BC with the College of Psychologists of BC (#2911). She is also a registrant with the College of Alberta of Psychologists (Registration #7100)

Pauline provides assessments and evidence-based treatment for kids and adults who are experiencing mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, OCD, relationship difficulties, trauma, emotion dysregulation, and adjustment to life stressors. Her main goals are to help her clients develop a sense of confidence in their own ability to navigate through their mental health challenges and to find personal ways to live an engaged and meaningful life. She is especially passionate about providing culturally-attuned and anti-oppressive care for racialized people/people of colour and other marginalized groups. Pauline considers it integral to her practice to consider all the intersecting identities that her clients hold.

Pauline believes that collaboration and the therapeutic relationship are the building blocks of both assessment and therapy. She believes that each person has a unique story and immense resilience. Some of the evidence-based therapies that Pauline integrates in her treatment approach includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Narrative Therapy, Play Therapy, Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

Pauline is in the final year of her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Victoria, where she also completed her MSc in Clinical Psychology. She completed her Clinical Psychology Residency at the Edmonton Consortium within Alberta Health Services. She has provided assessments and therapy in a number of settings including hospitals, community mental health clinics, and very specialized mental health services in both Edmonton and Victoria.

If you are interested in seeing if Pauline Song-Choi is a good fit, please complete our online referral form here: https://hushforms.com/wisemindcentre-referralform. You are also welcome to schedule a 15 minute free phone consult with her.

Pauline Song-Choi is a Registered Psychologist in BC with the College of Psychologists of BC (#29... Read More

Shirley Friesen is a highly respected Registered Psychologist (BC #1771) with over 25 years of experience in providing comprehensive mental health services. Specialising in cognitive-behavioural therapy and mindfulness-based approaches, she works with adults from all ages and stages of life, facing a range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions such as ageing, career transitions, retirement prepping and adapting, parenting, relationship navigating, workplace burnout/conflicts, and support for medical health challenges (i.e. IVF, weight loss programs etc.). Shirley is known for her empathetic and solution-focused methods, helping clients build resilience and achieve their personal goals. Committed to ongoing professional development, she regularly participates in workshops and conferences to integrate the latest psychological research into her practice.

Feeling Stuck? Let’s work together toward growth and lasting change. If you’re dealing with anxiety, overwhelm, or depression you’re not alone—and there’s a way forward. I’m here to provide professional support that’s compassionate, non-judgmental, and grounded in science. I specialize in working with adults, usually professionals in their 20s to 80s, who want to feel more connected/balanced, and content with their lives and relationships.

My experience is broad and I have worked in Psychiatric centres, correctional facilities, health and wellness industries, and private practise. As well, I have experience in as an executive Board Member and have background and insight into accommodations, human rights, strategy and policy, and labour relations.

My goal is to help you feel safe, heard, and empowered. In our sessions, we’ll get to the heart of what’s keeping you stuck. Together, we can create a plan that fits your unique needs, helping you gain clarity, break free from what’s holding you back, and move toward a fulfilling, confident future. If you’re ready for change, let’s take that step together. I am known for my ability to bring clarity and make complex topics approachable and relatable, using an evidence based, tailored approach to guide individuals toward meaningful, sustainable change.

Shirley Friesen is a highly respected Registered Psychologist (BC #1771) with over 25 years of ex... Read More

Dr. Trisha M. Kivisalu, is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of B.C. (#2520). She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. She has extensive experience working to help individuals manage the experience of Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Adjustment-related concerns, Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, Trichotillomania, Life Stress, Obsessions and Compulsions, Self-Esteem, Self-Confidence, Academic stress and achievement demands, and Work-Life Balance concerns. She works to help support individuals build healthy coping strategies, healthy relationships, and effectively manage life’s challenges. Dr. Kivisalu’s approaches to therapy is integrated and includes Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness, Solution Focused Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Therapy is tailored to the unique presenting concerns of each person and incorporates best practices in treatment.

Dr. Kivisalu also provides couple’s and relationship therapy. Dr. Kivisalu’s approach to couples and relationship therapy uses a combination of evidence-based treatments from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and basic principles of Gottman’s Couples Therapy to help individuals, and couples, understand their behaviors, underlying thoughts, clarify intentions, and focus on developing and enhancing effective relationship communication and healthy patterns of interaction. Couples therapy can be helpful to address healthy relationship communication, conflict resolution, sustaining a relationship through life changes or long-distance (such as returning to school, or changes in career/job placement or location), adjusting to marriage, adjusting to living together, or as a means to proactively discuss relationship parameters before marriage or the decision to cohabitate. Initial couples’ sessions are 90 minutes in duration. Subsequent couples’ appointments are 50 minutes.

For both Individual and Couples/Relationship Therapy, working on activities or exercises that are discussed in session, between sessions, helps to enhance treatment outcomes. As with any form of therapy, the outcomes of individual or couples/relationship therapy depend on the individual’s involved and their own commitment, progress and process.

Dr. Trisha M. Kivisalu, is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of B.C. (... Read More

Dr. Sasha Davis enters the therapeutic relationship with deep respect for each client’s unique personal experiences and expectations. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Simon Fraser University. Dr. Davis completed her residency in neuropsychology with London Health Sciences Centre and went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical psychology and neuropsychology at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Dr. Davis’s clinical background includes training in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) across a variety of clinical issues. She has also received extensive training in neuropsychology which informs her understanding of the mind-body connection.

Dr. Sasha Davis enters the therapeutic relationship with deep respect for each client’s unique pe... Read More

Dr. Sotskova’s previous professional experience includes working with adults, couples, and groups in private practice, hospital, rehabilitation, and mental health clinic settings. The concerns that she works with often include: anxiety; depression; impact of trauma, injury, or stressful events; relationship difficulties; life transitions; chronic pain; difficulties coping with life challenges, such as loss of a loved one; self-esteem issues; substance misuse; and or experiencing blocks to thriving in personal goals. The approach she takes is based on evidence-supported theories and methods of counselling and psychotherapy. She aims to work together with each client in a collaborative manner, so that the aims of her work with each client is clear, understandable, and tailor-made to the specific individual.

Dr. Sotskova’s previous professional experience includes working with adults, couples, and groups... Read More

Dr. Benjamin Pierce, is a registered psychologist in British Colombia (#2784). He received his Doctorate in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Utah State University, completed his doctoral internship at the University of Pennsylvania Counseling and Psychological Services in Philadelphia, and received postdoctoral training at the University of Minnesota Interventional Psychiatry Program. Ben’s approach to therapy emphasizes meeting people in their lived experiences and walking alongside each person according to their needs and circumstances. He draws from expertise in acceptance-based, cognitive-behavioral therapies, behavior activation therapy, exposure-based therapies, and relational-multicultural counseling in his work. He is experienced in working with anxiety, obsessions and compulsions, chronic depression, perfectionism, burnout, shame, and eating/body image concerns, as well as the intersections of such concerns with identity development, life transitions, and relationship functioning. Ben is accepting new clients (from age 17 and up) for individual therapy sessions.

Dr. Benjamin Pierce, is a registered psychologist in British Colombia (#2784). He received his D... Read More

Accepting new clients. If you would like to see Dr. Jennifer Yip, please indicate so when you complete our online referral form here https://hushforms.com/wisemindcentre-referralform.

Jennifer Yip has completed her Master’s (2015) and Ph.D. (2023) degrees from the University of British Columbia (UBC). Her dissertation focused on the cognitive and affective dimensions of inattentional states.

She completed her clinical psychology doctoral residency (2021) at the Stony Brook University Consortium Internship Program in Long Island, New York. At Stony Brook Hospital, she has worked in several inpatient rotations: the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, where she provided psychiatric evaluations and one-time or brief psychotherapy interventions for patients requiring urgent care, especially those with potential harm to self or others; Consultation & Liaison Psychiatry Services, where she provided brief therapy to acute care patients in medical and surgical units; and the Adult Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, where she provided individual and group therapy for patients with a variety of psychiatric and behavioural problems. In outpatient settings at Mind-Body Clinical Research Center and Krasner Psychological Center, she provided individual therapy for clients with symptoms of depression, stress, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder, and she led traditional dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) groups, radically open DBT groups, and CBT for insomnia groups.

During her PhD, she has worked at Vancouver Coastal Health (Mood Disorders Inpatient Unit, BC Psychosis Program), Cornerstone Child & Family Psychology Clinic, BC Children’s Hospital, Mental Health & Substance Use Department at Burnaby General Hospital, and UBC Psychology Clinic.

Jennifer primarily integrates treatment approaches of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). She has helped clients struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, emotion regulation difficulties, interpersonal difficulties, chronic pain, and insomnia. She welcomes diversity, including but not limited to individuals who identify as belonging to racialized, faith/religion, and/or LGBTQ+ communities. Above all, Jennifer strives to cultivate a genuine, compassionate, and trusting therapeutic relationship that facilitates self-acceptance and growth. Her goal is to enable clients to discover, pursue, and live a fulfilling life, despite pain and adversity.

Accepting new clients. If you would like to see Dr. Jennifer Yip, please indicate so when you com... Read More