FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Clinical psychologists have advanced doctoral-level training in assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment. This includes years of specialised coursework, research training, supervised clinical experience, and post-doctoral practice. Clinical psychologists are uniquely qualified to provide both therapy and formal psychological assessment. If you are looking for a highly trained mental health professional who uses scientifically supported methods, a clinical psychologist is an appropriate choice. 

I provide psychological services to adults aged 18 and older. My practice focuses on concerns related to anxiety, trauma and PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, mood difficulties, sleep issues, and general life stressors.

Appointments are available in person at my Saskatoon office or virtually for clients anywhere in Saskatchewan. 

I see clients Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (taking my last client at 1:00).

My practice is grounded in evidence-based treatments, especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and related approaches such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Behavioural Activation (BA).

These therapies are considered first-line treatments, which means that they are the recommended starting point based on the best available scientific evidence. In other words, when research compares many different therapy methods, these approaches consistently perform the best for conditions like anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and depression.

CBT focuses on the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Although some therapies centre mainly on discussion or insight, CBT is active, structured, and skills-based. Treatment involves learning practical strategies, approaching situations that create fear or distress, understanding patterns that maintain symptoms, and building new habits through intentional practice.

A useful way to think about CBT is to imagine working with a personal trainer at the gym. The therapist provides guidance, structure, and expertise, but the real progress comes from effort and repetition. Effective therapy requires active engagement, a willingness to practise between sessions, and an openness to tolerating discomfort in service of meaningful change.

CBT and its related behavioural treatments have the strongest and most consistent research support across many psychological conditions. These methods are effective because they rely on well-understood principles such as exposure, reinforcement learning, and behaviour change. They are structured, goal-oriented, and provide tools that clients can continue to use long after therapy has ended. 

Sessions are 50 minutes in length. The first session typically involves reviewing your history, clarifying your goals, and developing a shared understanding of the concerns you want to work on. After that, sessions are structured around learning new skills, reviewing between-session practice, and working toward meaningful behavioural change. 

Most evidence-based therapies involve weekly sessions, especially at the beginning. This is because therapy effectiveness follows a dose–response pattern, which means that change tends to occur when treatment is delivered at a consistent and helpful “dose”.

A simple way to understand this is to compare therapy to how medication is studied. For example, we know that an antibiotic only works when a specific dose is taken regularly over a certain period of time. Therapy is studied the same way. Research shows that when sessions are too far apart, the “dose” becomes too low to produce meaningful improvement. Weekly sessions provide the steady momentum needed for progress.

The overall duration of therapy varies, but many CBT-based treatments range from 8 to 20 sessions. Some individuals may require shorter or longer courses depending on their goals and circumstances.

Between sessions, clients can expect to complete practice exercises or behavioural experiments. These activities are essential parts of treatment and help translate what is learned in session into real-world change. Therapy is most effective when clients apply strategies consistently, even when it feels challenging.