Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work Focused Psychological Services

Dr. Whitfield completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a focus in Clinical Neuropsychology at Simon Fraser University. He completed his clinical residency at Riverview Hospital, which was part of the British Columbia Mental Health and Addictions Consortium.  While at Riverview, Dr. Whitfield worked extensively in the provision of neuropsychological and psychodiagnostic assessment, as well as providing evidence based psychological, cognitive, and rehabilitative interventions to individuals with chronic and severe mental health difficulties.  His training focussed on intervention and assessment with individuals with mood disorders, concurrent disorders and addictions, psychosis, and both acquired and developed neuropsychological and/or neurodegenerative impairments.  Dr. Whitfield’s doctoral research focussed on recovery from concussion, and included the development and implementation of a novel treatment for chronic post-concussion symptoms at the clinical psychology centre at SFU.  Doctor Whitfield is the co-author of a number of peer reviewed research papers which focus on recovery from mild traumatic brain injury, and he has won international awards for his research. Dr. Whitfield has been working with Back in Motion since 2007.  Since that time Dr. Whitfield has prioritized the development and implementation of evidence based approaches to return to work focussed assessment and treatment services. Dr. Whitfield has worked in the Comprehensive Assessment Service, Customized Active Rehabilitation program, Occupational Trauma Program, InFocus Long Term Disability treatment service, and the Integrated Care Program. Dr. Whitfield currently manages and directs all psychological services provided at Back in Motion, including both assessment and treatment services; as well as provides supervision, consultation and mentorship for our team of psychologists, clinical consultants, psychotherapists, and clinical counsellors.

Dr. MacDonald is a Registered Psychologist in the province of British Columbia (#0154). He completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Wyoming in 1974.  His clinical work spans over thirty years, and has been in the areas of neuropsychology and rehabilitation.  He has served as senior psychologist at the G. F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, providing neuropsychological and psychological rehabilitation services to client with traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, a neuromuscular disorder or an orthopedic injury.  The services provided have included both neuropsychological and psychological evaluations, individual therapy and individual coaching. He has extensive experience in working with third party payers in addressing a wide variety of rehabilitation and disability management issues. Dr. MacDonald’s rehabilitation therapy focus is to engage clients in a collaborative partnership within a brief intervention framework and concentrates upon the client acquiring beliefs in their capabilities, with a goal of enhancing self-efficacy. John has been working with Back in Motion since 2009, and provides services in the InFocus, Customized active Rehabilitation, and Mental Health Standard treatment programs.

Dr. Williams graduated from the University of Regina’s Clinical Psychology program in 2008. Her focus is on health psychology, working with patients who have chronic pain and other health challenges to achieve their best daily function, including employment. Within this health population, often psychological difficulties in terms of depressed mood, panic, and anxious apprehension are common and she seeks to aid her clients in managing these difficulties. She works extensively with clients who have experienced traumatic events, like an automobile accident or workplace trauma, and complex traumas from repeated events in their past. She offers services to adults of various ages, having an interest in providing care to diverse BIPOC and LGBTQ+ populations. She practices from a goal-oriented, cognitive-behavioural orientation, with emphasis on mindfulness and acceptance and commitment approaches. She worked in academia for several years, conducting research in the areas of health and aging and has published extensively in this area. Dr. Williams has been working with Back in Motion since 2022.

Dr. Law holds a PhD in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia and an MA degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Waterloo.  Dr. Law has worked extensively with injured workers in Ontario and B.C. providing psychological assessment and treatment.  She is also experienced in providing psychological services for adults and youth in the criminal justice system.  She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Simon Fraser University, in which she offered individual and group treatment for young adults with mental health concerns.  Dr. Law joined the Back in Motion team in 2021 as a therapist for the InFOCUS program.  Her approach to therapy is grounded on CBT and ACT techniques delivered through a Rogerian client-centered method.  Dr. Law offers psychological services in Cantonese and Mandarin.  Dr. Law has been providing return to work focussed treatment through the InFocus program at Back in Motion since 2021.

Dr. Oates holds a PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Adler University. She completed her clinical internship at Adler Community Health Services in B.C. providing trauma-informed group and individual psychotherapy (i.e., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) to men and women participating in an intensive residential treatment program for substance abuse. She also conducted psycho-diagnostic and neuropsychological assessments to men and women in a variety of settings (e.g., Fraser Health, WorkBC, Mood Disorders Association) with diverse presenting issues (e.g., complex mental health, brain injuries, physical disabilities, chronic health problems). Her doctoral research focused on exploring outcomes of participating in an adjustment to vision loss group facilitated by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Jacqueline has a grounded understanding regarding the impact of trauma, substance abuse, and chronic health problems on one’s physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. Dr. Oates joined the team at Back in Motion in 2021, and has worked in the InFocus and Integrated Care Programs, as well as Comprehensive Assessment Services.

Dr. Cohen completed a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She completed her clinical residency at the University of Victoria Counselling Services. While at UVic Counselling Services, Dr. Cohen provided evidence-based treatments for anxiety, depression, personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phase of life, identity development, and relational issues. Dr. Cohen also led group counselling and provided career assessments. Dr. Cohen’s doctoral research focused on the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and including the family system into recovery. Dr. Cohen is trained in cognitive-behavioural therapy and is experienced in mindfulness, exposure and response prevention, and works from a trauma-informed lens. Dr. Cohen is passionate about mental health and believes each person is capable of growth in order to meet their goals. Dr. Cohen has provided return to work-focused treatment services through the InFocus program at Back in Motion since 2020.

Dr. Christi Nagy completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Fielding Graduate University. She also holds a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She completed her pre-doctoral residency with British Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Her clinical experience has included both assessment and treatment of individuals with complex mental health issues in both forensic and non-forensic contexts. She takes pride in her ability to connect with clients from diverse backgrounds and varied clinical presentations. 

While Dr. Nagy has been highly influenced by her clinical training, her personal experiences have also been highly transformative. With a keen sense of adventure, she has spent several years living in the United States and in the Middle East in Bahrain. These experiences have well prepared her to form relationships with individuals from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Clinically, Dr. Nagy is grounded in a cognitive behavioural approach to therapy. Teaching clients that their behaviours make sense within their learning contexts reduces shame, stigma, and defensiveness. She also has an appreciation for the acceptance and mindfulness based approaches of dialectical behavior therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy.  

Dr. Nagy’s priority in working with a new client is to develop rapport and build connection. She uses humor and a client-centered approach to building rapport. She later capitalizes on this relationship to challenge clients in session to make difficult steps towards change. She looks forward to helping clients at Back in Motion to overcome barriers to returning to work and improving their quality of life. Dr. Nagy joined the team at Back in Motion in 2022, and works in the InFocus program.

Shola Akingbala is a professional member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and an Ontario Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). Shola utilizes an integrative approach in her therapy sessions which is based on evidence-based treatment such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused Therapy, Mindfulness Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (MCBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Counselling. 

Shola has worked in the NHS in the UK for almost 10 years, working in a wide range of settings including mental health secure units, various community mental health services including Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services. Shola also has experience with working with adults with complex mental health difficulties in Canada. 

Shola constantly looks for opportunities to provide mental health support to individuals through her caring, empathetic, and attentive nature, providing a confidential space to help individuals to cope better with their difficulties. Shola is a firm believer in the importance of developing a strong therapeutic relationship in therapy and focuses on the here-and-now to facilitate change and provide helpful tools and skills to adjust thoughts and behaviours to become healthier and more in control.

Shola provides return to work focused treatment through the InFocus program.  She joined the team at Back in Motion in 2022.

Rimal has a Masters of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology and has been working in the field of counselling as Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) since 2005.  She is also a Canadian certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional registered with the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals.  Rimal has been working at Back in Motion since 2010.  She has extensive experience working in return-to-work-focused environments.  She has worked in the WSBC-sponsored Occupational Rehabilitation program, which is a multidisciplinary treatment program for clients with musculoskeletal injuries resulting from a workplace injury. In this role, she provides individual therapy services, typically based on Cognitive Behavioral Treatment and Motivational Interviewing, focusing on issues such as pain, depression, anxiety, insomnia, anger, and workplace difficulties.  She also works in the Occupational Trauma Program, which is WorkSafeBC sponsored multidisciplinary treatment program designed to provide evidence-based interventions for clients with trauma-related disorders.  She has been an integral part of the Survivors of Violence Counselling Program, which is employment readiness counselling program sponsored by WorkBC. Rimal takes great pride in providing counselling services in English and Panjabi in a culturally sensitive manner with cognitive behavioural, psycho-educational and solution focused approaches. Rimal has been providing return to work focused treatment services in the InFocus and Occupational Rehabilitation Programs since 2010.

Jandy completed her Master of Counselling degree at City University of Seattle and is registered with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors.  Jandy is a trauma-informed, functional analytic psychotherapist who has provided therapeutic services for Back in Motion since 2016 across multiple, return-to-work focused programs.  In Survivors of Violence, a WorkBC employment readiness program, and the Occupational Trauma Response program, which is a WorkSafeBC return-to-work program for workers who experience psychologically traumatic injuries at work, Jandy has provided solution-focused, individual counselling support to help clients overcome the impacts of trauma including emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, and PTSD as well as improve their interpersonal skills, time management and goal setting. Jandy utilizes sensorimotor psychotherapy, somatic experiencing, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), to help clients process their traumatic experiences and improve their daily functioning.  Jandy has also facilitated psycho-educational workshops for Back in Motion including Recognizing, Understanding, and Overcoming the Impacts of Abuse, Stress Management, Pain Management, and relaxation classes.  Jandy has been providing return to work focussed treatment in the Resiliency Support Service, Standard Mental Health Service, Occupational Trauma Service and InFocus program since 2016.

Anita Petrovic has completed her Masters in Vocational Rehabilitation Counselling at UBC and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. At Back in Motion, she currently provides therapy services to both WorkBC clients and WorkSafeBC claimants to assist them in decreasing employment barriers and facilitating return-to-work readiness. Topics addressed include anxiety, pain, depression, interpersonal issues, and sleep and mood management. In addition to her educational background, Anita has extensive experience in the disability field, having worked as an Employment Counsellor/Case Manager for clients with various developmental and intellectual disabilities, along with facilitating psychoeducational groups on disability-related topics. She utilizes CBT, Rogerian, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approaches when structuring individualized treatment plans to help clients move forward in their employment goals. Anita enjoys working with clients of differing backgrounds and is able to establish rapport using a mixture of respect, humour, and empathy. Anita has been working with Back in Motion since 2017, and has provided return-to-work focused services in the comprehensive assessment program, InFocus program, and Occupational Rehabilitation. Program. 

Heike holds a Master’s Degree in Applications in Clinical Psychology from Leicester University, UK, and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. She has provided rehabilitation services to Back in Motion clients within the context of various WorkSafeBC traumatic brain injury programs since 2008 while also providing services through private practice. With a background in neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience, her expertise lies in cognitive rehabilitation, which she has utilized in Back in Motion programs and private practice. In 2022, she became engaged in the Occupation Rehabilitation Program (OR2), and InFocus Program at Back in Motion, where she utilizes an eclectic approach to fit a client’s needs. Within this context, her approaches generally include CBT, Rogerian, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to address any psychosocial challenges that may impede clients’ rehabilitative efforts and successful return to work. Heike has been providing return-to-work-focused treatment in the Occupational Rehabilitation and InFocus programs since 2022.

Mercedes obtained a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University in 2019.  She is a Registered Clinical and a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.  Mercedes has experience working with adults experiencing a diverse array of psychological, emotional, behavioural and social problems.  Mercedes predominantly works from a client-centred, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy model and also utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy to help her clients meet their goals.  Mercedes has been providing return-to-work focused therapy with Back in Motion since 2021.

Tiffany completed her Masters of Education Degree in Counselling Psychology, with a special focus in Vocational Rehabilitation Counselling, at the University of British Columbia. Tiffany has worked in the vocational rehabilitation field for over 17 years. In addition to Clinical and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselling, Tiffany is a qualified Expert Witness in Vocational Rehabilitation for the Supreme Court of British Columbia. She has experience in providing both medical-legal and non-medical legal vocational assessments, transferable skills analysis, and vocational counselling. She has significant experience in working on interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams comprised of medical specialists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, recreational therapists, and social workers. Tiffany has provided specialized vocational rehabilitation counselling to patients with a range of health issues, including acquired brain injuries including stroke, spinal cord injuries, neuromuscular skeletal conditions amputations, arthritis, and rheumatoid diseases. Tiffany worked with Back in Motion for over 11 years in various employment programs where she provided vocational rehabilitation counselling to clients with a wide range of disabilities (physical and mental health). Tiffany enjoys providing clinical and vocational rehabilitation counselling to clients, while providing a supportive, and non-judgmental environment for clients to feel safe to explore and work through their issues. She provides services using Client-centred, CBT, Solution-Focused, Mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing modalities.