Psychologist

Unit Profile

The Anxiety Treatment and Research Centre (ATRC) is an outpatient program dedicated to providing clinical service, education, and research in the area of anxiety disorders. The ATRC receives over 2000 referrals each year. The multidisciplinary team includes health professionals from psychology, psychiatry, nursing, and social work health as well as administrative staff. Comprehensive assessment services are provided for a full range of anxiety-based problems.

In addition, the ATRC has group treatment programs for individuals suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. In some cases, brief treatments are also available for individuals suffering from other anxiety disorders. Treatment programs include cognitive-behavioural therapy, medications, or combinations of these approaches.

The psychologist plans, conducts and supervises psychological services including evidence-based assessment, treatment, and consultation, in line with the mission and values of St. Joseph's Healthcare. The psychologist plans, coordinates and provides related research and program evaluation activities. Specific roles and tasks will be shaped by program needs and client population. The psychologist takes a leadership role in education, clinical training and other academic activities within the program.

The psychologist practices within the scope of declared competencies registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Given that St. Joseph's Healthcare is affiliated with McMaster University, the psychologist is expected to engage in appropriate teaching and research activities and hold a faculty appointment within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences.

• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from an APA or CPA accredited graduate program (or equivalent)
• Registered, or eligible for registration, through the College of Psychologists of Ontario with identified competency in clinical psychology with adults and seniors.
• Demonstrated compliance with the ethical and professional practice standards of the profession.
• Minimum of one-year post-doctoral clinical experience is an asset.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in treatment, assessment, and research in relevant areas of practice, including the provision of cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders and related disorders including obsessive compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and Illness Anxiety Disorder.
• Experience in providing written exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy or prolonged exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder.
• Demonstrated interpersonal and supervisor skills required for the supervision of students, interns, residents, psychometrists, staff from other healthcare disciplines, and psychologists and/or psychological associates registered for supervised practice by the College of Psychologists of Ontario.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team, to collaborate with community resources and services, and to advocate for the needs of clients.
• Teaching and supervisory experiences at the undergraduate and graduate level.
• Knowledge and proficiency in clinical research design and analysis.
• Skills and experience in clinical teaching, education, and research consistent with the requirements for faculty appointment to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University.
• Advanced oral and written communication skills required for assessment reports, scholarly presentations, and scholarly publications.

• Plans, conducts, monitors, and documents cognitive behavioural therapy and related evidence-based psychological treatments for individuals with anxiety and related disorders (i.e., obsessive compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder), using individual, group, or family-based modalities, with specialized treatments required within certain program service areas. Uses evidence-based measures to assess outcome.
• Plans, administers, and documents evidence-based psychological assessments using an appropriate range of psychological tests, measures, and assessment methods. Specialized assessment skills in the administration of semi-structured diagnostic assessments including the DART and/or SCID and anxiety-based assessment measures (e.g., Y-BOCS, PDSS, etc.) is required.
• Providing assessment and intervention to an older-adult population, including assessment of mild cognitive impairment to inform care pathway within the ATRC or referral.
• Supervises and trains learners (e.g., psychology practicum students, interns, and residents, psychiatry residents, post-doctoral fellows, candidates registered for supervised practice with the College of Psychologists of Ontario, etc.) to provide assessment and treatment services.
• Supervises, consults with, and trains professional staff (e.g., psychologists, psychological associates, psychometrists,…