Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Despite maternal mental health having potentially wide-ranging and deep impacts on individuals, families and society in general, constructive and supportive discussion of maternal mental health is often hampered by "myths of motherhood" and an atmosphere of judgment perpetuated on social and other media.  Drawing from her extensive clinical experience, OICBT Clinical and Health Psychologist Dr. Natasha Ballen provides a master class level overview of maternal mental health including i) the definition of maternal mental health ii) risk factors for challenges related to maternal mental health iii) common clinical manifestations of maternal mental health including postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder iv) tips for accessing social support v) challenges around infertility vi) the psychological impact around loss of a pregnancy vi) impact of postnatal period on the mental health of the partner both in heterosexual and same sex couples as well as vii) addressing issues related to use of psychotropic medication during pregnancy as well as breastfeeding.   Dr. Natasha Ballen is a Clinical and Health Psychologist at the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy who provides individual, group, and couples therapy treatment to adults. She uses primarily a cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) approach, however she also has training and experience in other approaches including experiential, interpersonal, and dialectical behaviour therapy. She treats a wide variety of problems, including mood and anxiety disorders, personality-related problems, health issues (e.g., coping with acute and chronic medical problems, health-anxiety), and women’s health concerns. An area of special interest and experience is in the assessment and treatment of psychological issues related to pregnancy and postpartum adjustment (e.g., postpartum depression and anxiety, “baby blues”).

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!While many individuals are able to quickly lose weight through a variety of means, maintaining weight loss over time has proven to be elusive. Dr. Lesley Lutes, R. Psych joins host Dr. Pete Kelly, C. Psych to discuss Small Changes - an innovative evidence-based CBT approach to weight loss and lifestyle change that Dr. Lutes has developed and studied extensively.  In the course of this discussion Drs. Lutes and Kelly discuss why behavioural change is so hard, consider the factors that contribute to obesity from a biopsychosocial perspective, outline the Small Changes treatment approach including its underlying theory, core interventions, integration of values and evolutionary underpinnings, discuss the impact of trauma and other forms of psychological distress on eating, elucidate the link between mental health and obesity as well as consider how parents might discuss concerns around health and weight with young children and adolescents. Dr. Lesley Lutes is a Professor and Director of Clinical Training at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan. Dr. Lutes is a registered psychologist whose area of research is in developing innovative behavioral treatment interventions focused on lifestyle change. Much of her research has been in developing an evidence-based new treatment approach called Small Changes, which has resulted in international recognition, national awards, and policy changes. She has secured more than $5 million dollars of research funding to date, helping her publish over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and deliver over 100 community and conference presentations. Dr. Lutes is the supervisor of the healthy weight specialty service in the Interprofessional clinic at UBC Okanagan, working with graduate student clinicians to help individuals achieve positive behavior changes related to weight loss and long-term weight loss maintenance, binge eating treatment, and other factors impacting health and well-being through group or individual therapy. Dr. Lutes values student training, mentorship, caring for patients, developing evidence-based treatments to help improve individual’s health and well-being, and developing policy and systematic change for people to access mental health and health behavior change services. https://www.thecorelabubc.com/drlesleylutes

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!The Pareto Principle or "80-20 Rule" states that whether it be in sports, economics or health care, only 20% of inputs are responsible for 80% of a given outcome. Dr. Jeff Perron, C.Psych and host Dr. Pete Kelly, C.Psych explore this principle in the context of CBT where they identify those strategies and interventions which they feel provide the greatest value proposition for both clients and clinicians. In the course of this discussion Drs. Perron and Kelly outline cognitive restructuring, core belief work, acceptance & commitment therapy, contentedness vs. happiness, mindful awareness, problem-focused coping, sleep hygiene, behavioural activation, and radical acceptance.Dr. Jeff Perron provides clinical psychology services to adults, with a particular focus on the areas of mood and anxiety disorders.  Guided by client goals and presenting concerns, he applies the range of evidence-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, including Schema Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.  Dr. Perron completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa.  His pre-doctoral residency was completed at the OICBT and his doctoral thesis research focused on the development of a measure related to assessment of readiness to change.  He also holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and has a background in Human Resources.

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!OICBT clinician Dr. Kiran Vagada, C.Psych joins us to discuss a number of aspects of mindfulness including the definition of mindfulness, the evidence around mindfulness as therapeutic intervention, common myths around mindfulness, the "dark side" of mindfulness, the neurobiology of mindfulness as well as selected tools and strategies to help develop and stick with a mindfulness practice.  We also briefly touch on theories of consciousness as it relates to the practice of mindfulness.  Dr. Kiran Vadaga, C.Psych, obtained his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Concordia University and completed his pre-doctoral internship at the McGill University health care centre. He provides psychodiagnostic assessment and treatment for adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), mood and anxiety disorders, and chronic pain. He also works with clients who have interpersonal difficulties. Kiran uses an integrative approach to therapy drawing from cognitive, behavioural, interpersonal, and mindfulness traditions.

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Dr. Charles Raison, MD, joins us in a wide-ranging discussion of depression from an evolutionary lens considering the role of inflammatory processes in the pathophysiology of depression; the potential adaptive role of depressive symptoms in the face of adverse environmental circumstances; potential pitfalls with respect to current diagnostic conceptualizations of depression; unintended side-effects of treatment of depression with antidepressants; and, the opportunity to leverage difficult circumstances for personal growth.  We also briefly touch on emerging evidence around psychedelic compounds in the treatment of depression as well as the potential utility of meditation practices.     Dr. Raison is the Mary Sue and Mike Shannon Chair for Healthy Minds, Children & Families in the School of Human Ecology and a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Dr. Raison has written and published over 100 scientific papers as well as over 20 review papers and editorials. Chapters he has written have been featured in over 30 books, and he has written two books, most recently The New Mind-Body Science of Depression. The recipient of several teaching awards, Dr. Raison has received research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His visionary work focuses on the treatment of depression in response to illness and stress, translating neurobiological findings into novel interventions. In addition to his activities at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Raison is the mental health expert for CNN.com.

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Dr. Allan Abbass sits down to discuss Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) in the treatment of a variety of psychological difficulties.  We discuss the framework of ISTDP, conscious vs. unconscious anxiety pathways, patterns of body response that correlate with different types of emotional responses, where CBT and ISTDP overlap and where they may diverge and finally, the evidence base for this method.  We also briefly discuss how medication can augment but also impede psychotherapy.  Host note: We will be offering a 6 week essentials of CBT workshop that I will be facilitating beginning March 24, 2023.  For more information and registration, please visit: https://www.ottawacbt.ca/news.  Dr. Abbass is a psychiatrist, teacher, and researcher. He is a professor of psychiatry and psychology and the founding director of the Centre for Emotions and Health at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. He has consulted widely for governments, universities, and health agencies on the cost-effectiveness and applicability of short-term psychotherapy. Dr. Abbass has provided over 300 invited presentations around the world as well as ongoing video-recording-based training to professionals in several countries. In addition, he has been awarded many research grants and has over 250 publications including his 2 books Reaching through Resistance and Hidden from View. He has won several awards and recognitions for education and research.  He is currently the President of the International Experiential Dynamic Therapy Association. He is proud to be the David Malan Visiting Professor of Psychotherapy at the Tavistock Institute, London, UK.

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Dr. Bruce Hubbard PhD is a clinical psychologist based in New York City who developed tinnitus, hyperacusis and high-frequency hearing loss in 2005. After many months of struggle, he was encouraged to learn that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), the treatment for stress and trauma he’d practiced his entire career, was the most researched, clinically-proven approach to tinnitus. Armed with his own expertise in CBT and having read everything he could about tinnitus, he guided himself through a successful course of CBT.  Since then he’s guided hundreds of clients, many with severe tinnitus, in applying CBT to achieve high levels of habituation and resume full, valued lives with tinnitus. He founded CBT for Tinnitus, LLC, to help people apply principles and strategies of cognitive behavior therapy to address tinnitus and related hearing issues.  Dr. Hubbard is a Visiting Scholar at Columbia University - Teachers College, Past-President of the New York City Cognitive Behavior Therapy Association (NYC-CBT) and Board Certified in Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).  https://www.cbtfortinnitus.com/

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Drs. Natasha Bouchard, C.Psych & Drs. Pamela Quintana, C.Psych discuss the delivery of CBT using Virtual Reality (VR) technology. We discuss the evidence for VR therapy, the neurobiological mechanisms by which VR may work, common applications of VR in the context of CBT, tips & tricks for clinicians and finally, equipment requirements and technical considerations.  

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Dr. Jennifer Karp, C. Psych discusses pathways to becoming a resilient parent through consideration of self-care, self-compassion, building a village of support, modelling acceptance of uncertainty, the importance of accepting all emotions (especially our own) and the value of staying calm and not taking things personally.  

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Dr. Melissa Tiessen, C.Psych and Dr. Karen Dyck, C.Psych, founders of www.intentionaltherapist.ca, speak to self-care for mental health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.