Qualifications

 

Dr. Shelly O’Connor is a Psychologist (College of Psychologists of B.C. Registration #1178) registered to practice independently in the province of British Columbia. She has been conducting a successful private practice in the West Shore area for 23 years. By virtue of a wide range of educational and professional experiences Dr. O’Connor has a dual specialty in clinical psychology (e.g., therapy, psychological disorders) and psychological/neuropsychological assessment. 

 

 

Qualifications related to therapy:

Following a Bachelor’s degree (1st Class Honours) at the University of Victoria, Dr. O’Connor received her Masters Degree from the Clinical Psychology Program at Simon Fraser University and her Ph.D. from the University of Victoria. Both programs are American Psychological Association (APA) and Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) accredited. This accreditation indicates that the institution is carefully monitored by these bodies to ensure the highest standard of educational and professional experiences during training. As a Registered Psychologist Dr. O’Connor also must be actively engaged in ongoing educational and professional upgrading experiences to ensure an updated knowledge base. 

Qualifications related to assessments:

Dr. O’Connor specialized in the area of neuropsychology for two additional years at the doctoral level. This advanced training prepared her to conduct comprehensive Psychoeducational and Neuropsychological Assessments. Relevant professional experiences have included:

• Conducting court-ordered forensic assessments of youth for 15 years at Forensic Psychiatric Services
  

• Internship rotations at Victoria General Hospital in pediatrics and at Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health (pediatrics). The latter placement focussed on pediatric psychological assessments.
  

• Employment as a Pediatric Psychologist at Victoria General Hospital for two years. 
  

• Publication in the Journal of Learning Disabilities.
  

• Completion of over 1200 Psychoeducational and Neuropsychological assessments on a contract basis for School Boards and Independent Schools in the Victoria area, and at the request of Pediatricians and Family Doctors. 

• Dr. O’Connor has been qualified as an expert witness in the area of Neuropsychology by the Supreme Court of B.C. 
  

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Dr. Raquel Graham obtained her PhD in Clinical Psychology through the University of Victoria andcompleted her pre-doctoral residency with Eastern Health in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Dr. Graham has provided psychological services in a variety of settings including community mental health, hospitals, private practice, and university counselling centers. She provides therapy and assessment services and has experience working with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, relationship challenges, emotional dysregulation, difficulties coping with stress, and low self-esteem. Dr. Graham is warm and empathic and her approach is client-centered, collaborative, and non-judgmental. She draws from a variety of treatment modalities including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based practices. In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Graham also teaches at the University of Victoria and conducts research on PTSD. Her research has been published in scientific journals and presented at national and international conferences. Dr. Graham has applied for registration with the College of Psychologists of BC and is working under the supervision of Dr. O’Connor during the registration process.

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A word of advice: When choosing a Psychologist, you may wish to ask about qualifications. One important consideration is whether they have graduated from an American Psychological Association and Canadian Psychological Association accredited institution. This indicates that the program has met the rigorous requirements enforced by APA and CPA, and the individual has been exposed to a broad range of educational and professional experiences prior to graduation. Another important consideration is whether they are a Registered Psychologist, as many extended health benefits insurers will only cover therapy services conducted by a Registered Psychologist.

(Note that Psychological services conducted by a Registered Psychologist can also be claimed as a health care expense on your income tax.)