News

On Monday, April 4, 2016 the University of Waterloo held the official opening ceremony of the Operational Stress Injury (OSI) service, expanding the Centre for Mental Health Service’s (CMHR) range of mental health care for the local community with a specialized assessment service for veterans, members of the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP. The service was created by an important new partnership with Parkwood Institute’s Operational Stress Injury Clinic (OSIC) part of St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s). 

Once again, the CPA-accredited Clinical Psychology Program at the University of Waterloo has matched its most senior doctoral students with some of the most prestigious residency programs in the country.

Anisha Varghese will be working in the Department of Psychology at BC Children’s Hospital, Ivana Lizdek will be working at the Edmonton Consortium Clinical Psychology Residency, and Derick Valadao will be working in the London Clinical Psychology Residency Consortium.  All three will begin their year-long full-time clinical residencies in September.

On March 7, Dr. Ian Nicholson (CMHR Executive Director) and Ivana Lizdek (senior Clinical Psychology doctoral student pictured above) met with representatives of Health Canada. The representatives, led by Hillary Geller, Assistant Deputy Minister, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch were met as part of their tour in her new role as Champion to the University of Waterloo for postsecondary recruitment. Ms. Geller and her team were here to learn how Health Canada can work with relevant faculties and departments of the University to support their continued recruitment efforts.

The CMHR, as a member of the Waterloo Region Psychology Consortium (WRPC), was actively involved in the interviews held in January for the 2016-2017 residency cohort. 

Dr. Ian Nicholson, Director of the CMHR, reported “It is always wonderful to be a part of these interviews. I am continually amazed at the clinical experience and professionalism that is so clearly evident in our junior colleagues.” 

The CMHR was proud to host Dr. Michelle Leybman, a clinical research psychologist from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto in her half-day workshop on “An Introduction to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy”.  Speaking to a packed room of faculty, graduate students, researchers, and community mental health providers, Dr. Leybman presented a thoughtful and engaging educational experience for all in attendance.

CMHR and Clinical Psychology Supports a Community Family

Every year in November, the House of Friendship in Kitchener opens their Christmas Bureau, which is filled with many community families that need sponsors to assist in bringing them a wonderful holiday season.

Clinical Psychology has taken part in this tradition for a number of years. It is a wonderful way to give back to our community.

Relief Kits for Refugees

Organized by Dr. Elizabeth Nilsen, clinical faculty, graduate students, and staff from the Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR) in the Department of Psychology gathered items for Refugee Relief Kits in lieu of exchanging gifts at their recent holiday party. Items for the Relief Kits included blankets and sheets, as well as soaps, shampoo, towels, combs, bandaids, etc. 

 Dr. Lynn Alden Presentation 

The CMHR was proud to host Dr. Lynn Alden, Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, presenting at the University of Waterloo on "Social Anxiety Disorder and the Relational Self". 

In November 2015, CMHR faculty and students were delighted to attend the 49^th annual convention of the Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (ABCT) in Chicago. ABCT’s mission is to advance “scientific approaches to the understanding and improvement of human functioning through the investigation and application of behavioural, cognitive, and other evidence-based principles to the assessment, prevention, treatment of human problems, and the enhancement of health and well-being.” 

CMHR Supports Mental Health Wellness Day

This past Tuesday, the CMHR was proud to participate in the University of Waterloo’s 7^th annual Mental Health Wellness Day to raise awareness about mental health. 

This important day is set aside by the campus community to highlight the supports and resources at the university for those with mental health issues.