9 - Trinity Western University

TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY
MA COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY NEWSLETTER
Upcoming Events
&
Workshop
Opportunities
Canadian Armed Forces
Senior Psychiatrist at TWU
Colonel Rakesh Jetly, OMM, CD, MD,
FRCPC, senior psychiatrist and mental
health advisor to the Canadian Forces
Surgeon General, will present on the
Mental Health Strategy in the Canadian
Armed Forces
When: Wed, Sept. 24th, 3:00-4:30pm
Where: RNT 123 classroom, TWU
Langley campus
No advance registration required for this
FREE event.
A Therapeutic Approach to
Psychological Assessment
with Youth
Dr. Loren McMaster is a clinical child
psychologist at Ledger House, an
inpatient psychiatry assessment
program for teens in Victoria, and has
been working on how principles of
Trauma Informed Care and Therapeutic
Assessment can be applied to
psychological assessments of teens
hospitalized for psychiatric issues.
Where: Alumni Hall, 2nd floor RSC,
TWU Langley campus
When: Wednesday, October 8th, 2014
9:00am - 12noon
To register:
Email [email protected]
This event is free to participants, but
pre-registration is required as seats are
limited.
Accreditation demonstrates program’s commitment to excellence
Taslim Alani is originally from Toronto, Ontario, and completed her
Honours Specialization in Psychology at Brescia University College,
an affiliated college of the University of Western Ontario. She then
went on to do a Masters in International Development Studies at
Dalhousie University, followed by her Masters in Clinical Psychology
with a Specialization in Women's Studies at Lakehead University. She
is currently completing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Lakehead
University. Her research has broadly focused on understanding the
experiences and empowerment of marginalized and oppressed
peoples. More specifically, she has focused this research in the areas of body image,
dieting, eating disorders, and violence against women. Much of her research has been with
First Nations populations.
The impetus for the internship placement came about as a result of Taslim’s desire to
broaden her clinical experience outside of Thunder Bay, as well as to gain a variety of
clinical skills. Taslim learned about TWU and Dr. Janelle Kwee through the CPA’s Section
for Women and Psychology, of which Taslim is the Student Executive Chairperson. In
2013, Taslim had the honour of awarding Janelle with a Feminist Mentorship award - an
award given to mentors in psychology who have had a profound impact on their graduate
students. A few months after their initial meeting, Taslim & Janelle began developing a
workshop together, exploring Motherhood in Academia. As Taslim observed firsthand what
Janelle’s nominees for the mentorship award had been describing in their nomination
letters, Taslim decided to ask Janelle if she would be interested in taking on a practicum
student.
During her time with MA-CPSY, Taslim primarily received supervision and feedback from
Dr. Janelle Kwee, and was able to engage in a variety of clinical activities, including seeing
clients, doing comprehensive mental health assessments, supervising students, offering
clinical workshops, co-teaching, consulting, and program development. Moreover, although
Taslim had engaged in numerous clinical placements before coming to Trinity Western
University, she feels this was one of the best training opportunities she has received so far,
and it offered the best supervision she has experienced to date. Taslim feels very fortunate
to have been able to train with the students, staff and faculty at TWU MA-CPSY, and she
looks forward to having opportunities to collaborate in the future.
CPSY On-line
Visit TWU’s MA Counselling Psychology website at www2.twu.ca/cpsy/
Check out the TWU MA Counselling Psychology Facebook page:
A great way for alumni, students, and community members
to connect and share ideas!
TWU’s Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MA CPSY) has now received accreditation from the Canadian
Counselling and Psychotherapy Association’s Council for Accreditation of Counsellor Education Programs (CACEP).
While the official notification arrived in April 2014, the accreditation has been backdated to March 15, 2012 and is
valid for a period of six years.
“We are thrilled to join counsellor educators across Canada in strengthening the counselling profession in all
provinces and territories. This is great news, and we are grateful for this recognition, as our graduates serve
communities in many Canadian provinces and several countries around the world.” - Program Director and Research
Coordinator Marvin McDonald, Ph.D.
The designation means TWU’s MA CPSY students have covered all of the required curriculum and course content
needed to certify as a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
(CCPA), with the added bonus that graduates from CACEP accredited programs are able to “fast-track” their
applications.
The MA CPSY program has been accredited since 2002 with a U.S. body, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling
and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), as there was no formal accreditation process in place for masters
level counsellor education programs in Canada until 2003. In addition to its accreditation with CACEP and CACREP,
TWU’s MA CPSY program is registered with the International Registry of Counselor Education Programs, a division of
CACREP that provides international quality assurance reviews for counselling degree programs outside the United
States.
Poster Presentation by MA-CPSY thesis student
Sandeep Bhandal with Dr. Marvin McDonald
during the CCPA Conference held in Victoria, BC,
May 7-9, 2014
TWU MA Counselling Psychology
7600 Glover Rd.
Langley, BC V2Y 1Y1
604-513-2034
Website: www2.twu.ca/cpsy/
Counselling services are available to the community at a reasonable cost
through Fraser River Counselling. Call 604-513-2113 for more information.
Lifespan Integration (LI) Therapy
Lifespan Integration Therapy (LI) is relatively new psychotherapy which is said to target the underlying neurological
structures affected by developmental trauma. In the past decade, there has been enthusiastic anecdotal support for
the effectiveness of LI from within the clinical counselling community, yet almost no systematic research has been
conducted or published.
Psychotherapy outcome research for LI is currently taking place at TWU under the supervision of Dr. Janelle Kwee,
with an initial thesis research project being conducted by MA-CPSY student Monica Hu, utilizing a multiple case
design including outcome measures for 3 clients over three months of weekly therapy. This project is the first to
evaluate shifts in adult attachment style as the dependent variable. Since one's pattern of attachment is considered
to be stable, hypothesized to shift only with long term and intensive therapeutic modalities, any evidence that points
to the effectiveness of LI in influencing attachment patterns would be significant. Building a research base about the
utility of LI is the next phase in establishing it as a viable resource for the psychotherapeutic and counselling communities. Changes in symptoms associated with adult attachment classifications and/or on the subscales of the Adult
Attachment Interview would offer preliminary empirical support for the theories and constructs on which LI is focused.
The rich clinical data derived from the mixed method hermeneutic case study design utilized in this study will
advance our current understanding of LI.
Over ten years of anecdotal evidence suggests that LI is a viable method for addressing complex and enduring
distress. Formal research about the efficacy of LI may offer initial empirical evidence for this therapy, opening doors
for clinical services and further research. The question of whether LI is effective is provoking, timely, and relevant to
the scholarly developments in attachment theory and interpersonal neurobiology. Advances in multiple fields have
increasingly demonstrated how essential early attachment processes are for a person's overall development,
focusing especially on regulatory systems that affect physiological as well as psychological functioning across the
lifespan. Developments in neuroscience and related fields, including developmental psychology, provide insight into
the mechanisms by which developmental trauma and sub-optimal attachment environments influence the
psychological states and patterns that LI addresses. It is generally accepted, and confirmed by clinical experience
and psychotherapy outcome data, that problems which have developed over a lifetime and are based in early
development, do not have quick or simple solutions. LI represents a new therapy with good anecdotal results for
complex and chronic forms of psychological distress.
The results of treatment methods specifically attempting to address underlying mechanisms, such as neural
integration, are rare and may contribute to directions for future research. Two research questions were addressed in
this initial research study: first, whether there is evidence for the efficacy of LI therapy, particularly for chronic and
complex client problems that are treated with variations of the Birth to Present protocol; and second, whether any
evidence can be found supporting LI as an effective intervention employing methods targeting constructs and
theories based on recent findings in interpersonal neurobiology.
Initial findings indicated that each of the three participants who presented with chronic issues linked to childhood
abuse and trauma experienced significant clinical change in the issues that brought them to therapy. The data
collected also indicates strong alignment between LI treatment goals and methods and the underlying theory, which
supports the claim that LI works to foster integration, coherence, and other markers associated with secure
attachment, higher functioning, and mental health. These promising findings warrant further research with different
populations, presenting problems, and methods. As part of ongoing research in the MA in Counselling Psychology
program at TWU, Dr. Kwee is currently working with other graduate students and professional colleagues in
launching the next phase of LI research. Two upcoming projects include a pilot study of LI with children and a pilot
study of LI which will measure neuro- and bio-feedback data, including changes in brainwave activity, heart rate
variability, and breathing patterns.
“Completing my MA in Counselling Psychology at TWU provided me with an opportunity to work as a
clinical counsellor first for Child and Youth Mental Health, and then as a School counsellor. My
experience with the MA CPSY program played an invaluable role in preparing me to undertake this
academic challenge at UBC and pursue a PhD program.
Presently I have completed the second year of my doctoral program in Human Development, Learning,
and Culture in the department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special Education in the
Faculty of Education at The University of British Columbia (UBC). My research interests are focused on
school to post-secondary transitions and creative education. Dr. J. Vadeboncoeur (UBC) is my
research supervisor; her area of expertise is working with youth who have experienced marginalization
in school settings. Dr. José Domene (Canada Research Chair at UNB, and former TWU MA-CPSY
faculty member and alumnus) is a committee member; his area of expertise is in youth career development and social factors that influence successful completion of education and entry into the workforce.
I plan to undertake my comprehensive exams in September 2014 and begin working on my dissertation
in January 2015.
My proposed dissertation is focused on high school completion and transition to post-secondary
education for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth who experience a successful educational trajectory.
Last fall, with the support of my committee members, I submitted an application for a SSHRC Doctorate
scholarship and was recently awarded the Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarship with
funding for 3 years. This is an amazing opportunity that allows me to fully focus on my studies and
acquire more teaching experience at the post-secondary level. I am very excited to be a recipient of
this award!
I am also developing my expertise in the area of Aboriginal post-secondary
program development and have completed a chapter for the National Society
for the Study of Education (NSSE), where I present a review on some diverse
educational programs in Canada addressing the needs of Aboriginal learners.
This NSSE issue is expected to be published in the fall of 2014. Another
research interest of mine is in the area of creative education and Vygotsky’s
theoretical perspective on creativity, imagination and play in relation to our
conceptual understanding of what creative learning is and what type of individual and collective processes must take place to facilitate creative learning. My
interest in play and the impact it has on child development and mental health
is also driven by my experience of working with children as a clinician.”
The 4th Health and Wellbeing in Children, Youth, and Adults with Developmental
Disabilities Conference: Life Transitions. October 22-24, 2014 in Vancouver
interprofessional.ubc.ca/HealthandWellbeing2014
The Canadian Group Psychotherapy Association (CGPA) 2015 Annual Conference
May 6th to 9th, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario. This year’s theme is “The Brain in Group; How Individuals
Flourish Together”. Deadline for abstracts is November 16, 2014. Visit cgpa.ca for more info.
BC Play Therapy Association (BCPTA) - AGM and Workshop presented by Garry L.
Landreth, LPC, RPT-S and Sue C. Bratton PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S on Child Parent Relationship
Therapy. May 29 & 30, 2015 in Vancouver. bcplaytherapy.ca
Get PSYCHED MA Counselling Psychology Newsletter
CPSY alum Natalia (Natasha) Panina-Beard (2009) receives Bombardier CGS scholarship!
Lifespan Integration (LI) Therapy
Lifespan Integration Therapy (LI) is relatively new psychotherapy which is said to target the underlying neurological
structures affected by developmental trauma. In the past decade, there has been enthusiastic anecdotal support for
the effectiveness of LI from within the clinical counselling community, yet almost no systematic research has been
conducted or published.
Psychotherapy outcome research for LI is currently taking place at TWU under the supervision of Dr. Janelle Kwee,
with an initial thesis research project being conducted by MA-CPSY student Monica Hu, utilizing a multiple case
design including outcome measures for 3 clients over three months of weekly therapy. This project is the first to
evaluate shifts in adult attachment style as the dependent variable. Since one's pattern of attachment is considered
to be stable, hypothesized to shift only with long term and intensive therapeutic modalities, any evidence that points
to the effectiveness of LI in influencing attachment patterns would be significant. Building a research base about the
utility of LI is the next phase in establishing it as a viable resource for the psychotherapeutic and counselling communities. Changes in symptoms associated with adult attachment classifications and/or on the subscales of the Adult
Attachment Interview would offer preliminary empirical support for the theories and constructs on which LI is focused.
The rich clinical data derived from the mixed method hermeneutic case study design utilized in this study will
advance our current understanding of LI.
Over ten years of anecdotal evidence suggests that LI is a viable method for addressing complex and enduring
distress. Formal research about the efficacy of LI may offer initial empirical evidence for this therapy, opening doors
for clinical services and further research. The question of whether LI is effective is provoking, timely, and relevant to
the scholarly developments in attachment theory and interpersonal neurobiology. Advances in multiple fields have
increasingly demonstrated how essential early attachment processes are for a person's overall development,
focusing especially on regulatory systems that affect physiological as well as psychological functioning across the
lifespan. Developments in neuroscience and related fields, including developmental psychology, provide insight into
the mechanisms by which developmental trauma and sub-optimal attachment environments influence the
psychological states and patterns that LI addresses. It is generally accepted, and confirmed by clinical experience
and psychotherapy outcome data, that problems which have developed over a lifetime and are based in early
development, do not have quick or simple solutions. LI represents a new therapy with good anecdotal results for
complex and chronic forms of psychological distress.
The results of treatment methods specifically attempting to address underlying mechanisms, such as neural
integration, are rare and may contribute to directions for future research. Two research questions were addressed in
this initial research study: first, whether there is evidence for the efficacy of LI therapy, particularly for chronic and
complex client problems that are treated with variations of the Birth to Present protocol; and second, whether any
evidence can be found supporting LI as an effective intervention employing methods targeting constructs and
theories based on recent findings in interpersonal neurobiology.
Initial findings indicated that each of the three participants who presented with chronic issues linked to childhood
abuse and trauma experienced significant clinical change in the issues that brought them to therapy. The data
collected also indicates strong alignment between LI treatment goals and methods and the underlying theory, which
supports the claim that LI works to foster integration, coherence, and other markers associated with secure
attachment, higher functioning, and mental health. These promising findings warrant further research with different
populations, presenting problems, and methods. As part of ongoing research in the MA in Counselling Psychology
program at TWU, Dr. Kwee is currently working with other graduate students and professional colleagues in
launching the next phase of LI research. Two upcoming projects include a pilot study of LI with children and a pilot
study of LI which will measure neuro- and bio-feedback data, including changes in brainwave activity, heart rate
variability, and breathing patterns.
“Completing my MA in Counselling Psychology at TWU provided me with an opportunity to work as a
clinical counsellor first for Child and Youth Mental Health, and then as a School counsellor. My
experience with the MA CPSY program played an invaluable role in preparing me to undertake this
academic challenge at UBC and pursue a PhD program.
Presently I have completed the second year of my doctoral program in Human Development, Learning,
and Culture in the department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special Education in the
Faculty of Education at The University of British Columbia (UBC). My research interests are focused on
school to post-secondary transitions and creative education. Dr. J. Vadeboncoeur (UBC) is my
research supervisor; her area of expertise is working with youth who have experienced marginalization
in school settings. Dr. José Domene (Canada Research Chair at UNB, and former TWU MA-CPSY
faculty member and alumnus) is a committee member; his area of expertise is in youth career development and social factors that influence successful completion of education and entry into the workforce.
I plan to undertake my comprehensive exams in September 2014 and begin working on my dissertation
in January 2015.
My proposed dissertation is focused on high school completion and transition to post-secondary
education for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth who experience a successful educational trajectory.
Last fall, with the support of my committee members, I submitted an application for a SSHRC Doctorate
scholarship and was recently awarded the Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarship with
funding for 3 years. This is an amazing opportunity that allows me to fully focus on my studies and
acquire more teaching experience at the post-secondary level. I am very excited to be a recipient of
this award!
I am also developing my expertise in the area of Aboriginal post-secondary
program development and have completed a chapter for the National Society
for the Study of Education (NSSE), where I present a review on some diverse
educational programs in Canada addressing the needs of Aboriginal learners.
This NSSE issue is expected to be published in the fall of 2014. Another
research interest of mine is in the area of creative education and Vygotsky’s
theoretical perspective on creativity, imagination and play in relation to our
conceptual understanding of what creative learning is and what type of individual and collective processes must take place to facilitate creative learning. My
interest in play and the impact it has on child development and mental health
is also driven by my experience of working with children as a clinician.”
The 4th Health and Wellbeing in Children, Youth, and Adults with Developmental
Disabilities Conference: Life Transitions. October 22-24, 2014 in Vancouver
interprofessional.ubc.ca/HealthandWellbeing2014
The Canadian Group Psychotherapy Association (CGPA) 2015 Annual Conference
May 6th to 9th, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario. This year’s theme is “The Brain in Group; How Individuals
Flourish Together”. Deadline for abstracts is November 16, 2014. Visit cgpa.ca for more info.
BC Play Therapy Association (BCPTA) - AGM and Workshop presented by Garry L.
Landreth, LPC, RPT-S and Sue C. Bratton PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S on Child Parent Relationship
Therapy. May 29 & 30, 2015 in Vancouver. bcplaytherapy.ca
Get PSYCHED MA Counselling Psychology Newsletter
CPSY alum Natalia (Natasha) Panina-Beard (2009) receives Bombardier CGS scholarship!
TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY
MA COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY NEWSLETTER
Upcoming Events
&
Workshop
Opportunities
Canadian Armed Forces
Senior Psychiatrist at TWU
Colonel Rakesh Jetly, OMM, CD, MD,
FRCPC, senior psychiatrist and mental
health advisor to the Canadian Forces
Surgeon General, will present on the
Mental Health Strategy in the Canadian
Armed Forces
When: Wed, Sept. 24th, 3:00-4:30pm
Where: RNT 123 classroom, TWU
Langley campus
No advance registration required for this
FREE event.
A Therapeutic Approach to
Psychological Assessment
with Youth
Dr. Loren McMaster is a clinical child
psychologist at Ledger House, an
inpatient psychiatry assessment
program for teens in Victoria, and has
been working on how principles of
Trauma Informed Care and Therapeutic
Assessment can be applied to
psychological assessments of teens
hospitalized for psychiatric issues.
Where: Alumni Hall, 2nd floor RSC,
TWU Langley campus
When: Wednesday, October 8th, 2014
9:00am - 12noon
To register:
Email [email protected]
This event is free to participants, but
pre-registration is required as seats are
limited.
Accreditation demonstrates program’s commitment to excellence
Taslim Alani is originally from Toronto, Ontario, and completed her
Honours Specialization in Psychology at Brescia University College,
an affiliated college of the University of Western Ontario. She then
went on to do a Masters in International Development Studies at
Dalhousie University, followed by her Masters in Clinical Psychology
with a Specialization in Women's Studies at Lakehead University. She
is currently completing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Lakehead
University. Her research has broadly focused on understanding the
experiences and empowerment of marginalized and oppressed
peoples. More specifically, she has focused this research in the areas of body image,
dieting, eating disorders, and violence against women. Much of her research has been with
First Nations populations.
The impetus for the internship placement came about as a result of Taslim’s desire to
broaden her clinical experience outside of Thunder Bay, as well as to gain a variety of
clinical skills. Taslim learned about TWU and Dr. Janelle Kwee through the CPA’s Section
for Women and Psychology, of which Taslim is the Student Executive Chairperson. In
2013, Taslim had the honour of awarding Janelle with a Feminist Mentorship award - an
award given to mentors in psychology who have had a profound impact on their graduate
students. A few months after their initial meeting, Taslim & Janelle began developing a
workshop together, exploring Motherhood in Academia. As Taslim observed firsthand what
Janelle’s nominees for the mentorship award had been describing in their nomination
letters, Taslim decided to ask Janelle if she would be interested in taking on a practicum
student.
During her time with MA-CPSY, Taslim primarily received supervision and feedback from
Dr. Janelle Kwee, and was able to engage in a variety of clinical activities, including seeing
clients, doing comprehensive mental health assessments, supervising students, offering
clinical workshops, co-teaching, consulting, and program development. Moreover, although
Taslim had engaged in numerous clinical placements before coming to Trinity Western
University, she feels this was one of the best training opportunities she has received so far,
and it offered the best supervision she has experienced to date. Taslim feels very fortunate
to have been able to train with the students, staff and faculty at TWU MA-CPSY, and she
looks forward to having opportunities to collaborate in the future.
CPSY On-line
Visit TWU’s MA Counselling Psychology website at www2.twu.ca/cpsy/
Check out the TWU MA Counselling Psychology Facebook page:
A great way for alumni, students, and community members
to connect and share ideas!
TWU’s Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MA CPSY) has now received accreditation from the Canadian
Counselling and Psychotherapy Association’s Council for Accreditation of Counsellor Education Programs (CACEP).
While the official notification arrived in April 2014, the accreditation has been backdated to March 15, 2012 and is
valid for a period of six years.
“We are thrilled to join counsellor educators across Canada in strengthening the counselling profession in all
provinces and territories. This is great news, and we are grateful for this recognition, as our graduates serve
communities in many Canadian provinces and several countries around the world.” - Program Director and Research
Coordinator Marvin McDonald, Ph.D.
The designation means TWU’s MA CPSY students have covered all of the required curriculum and course content
needed to certify as a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
(CCPA), with the added bonus that graduates from CACEP accredited programs are able to “fast-track” their
applications.
The MA CPSY program has been accredited since 2002 with a U.S. body, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling
and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), as there was no formal accreditation process in place for masters
level counsellor education programs in Canada until 2003. In addition to its accreditation with CACEP and CACREP,
TWU’s MA CPSY program is registered with the International Registry of Counselor Education Programs, a division of
CACREP that provides international quality assurance reviews for counselling degree programs outside the United
States.
Poster Presentation by MA-CPSY thesis student
Sandeep Bhandal with Dr. Marvin McDonald
during the CCPA Conference held in Victoria, BC,
May 7-9, 2014
TWU MA Counselling Psychology
7600 Glover Rd.
Langley, BC V2Y 1Y1
604-513-2034
Website: www2.twu.ca/cpsy/
Counselling services are available to the community at a reasonable cost
through Fraser River Counselling. Call 604-513-2113 for more information.

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