TEAM

Dr. Sharon Chan

Dr. Sharon Chan is registered to provide services to children, adolescents, families, and adults with the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) with a specialization in Clinical Psychology.

Training/Work Experience: Dr. Chan received a clinical doctorate from the School and Clinical Child Psychology program at the University of Toronto and a master’s degree in Experimental Lifespan Psychology from the University of Victoria. In addition to working at MindFit, Dr. Chan also works as a clinical psychologist in the Outpatient Psychiatry Department at the Hospital for Sick Children.

Dr. Chan is experienced in providing comprehensive and psychodiagnostic assessments, evidence-based intervention, as well as consultation in community, school, university, hospital, and private settings. She has acquired her clinical training in sites such as the Garry Hurvitz Centre for Community Mental Health (formerly the SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health), the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the University of Toronto/OISE Psychology Clinic, Broadview Psychology, and the Centre for Interpersonal Relationships. In recent years, Dr. Chan has been involved in the development and evaluation of an evidence-based social skills group for young adults and has led Dialectical Behaviour Therapy groups for children and parents of youth and young adults.

Presenting Concerns:  Dr. Chan has significant experience with complex cases and sees children, adolescents, families, and adults with a variety of presenting concerns including:

• Anxiety-related disorders: social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, selective mutism, performance anxiety, separation anxiety
• Emotional and behavioural dysregulation
• Neurodevelopmental disorders: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder, Learning Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Trauma-related disorders: Post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, relational trauma, complex trauma, traumatic invalidation
• Mood disorders: Bipolar Disorder and Depressive disorders
• Personality Disorders: Borderline Personality Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder, Avoidant Personality Disorder
• Relational and parent child attachment disorders: attachment-related difficulties, family conflict, family communication difficulties
• Trichotillomania and Excoriation disorder
• Gender and identity issues
• Disordered eating and body image challenges
• Suicidal behaviour, communication, gestures, ideation
• Non-suicidal self-injury
• High risk behaviour
• School refusal, oppositionality, aggression

Approach: Dr. Chan’s clinical work is guided by a belief in the intrinsic good of others and in the resiliency of the human spirit to thrive in spite of adversity. Working from a foundation of genuine positive regard for her clients, her goal is to empower individuals in becoming active agents of change in their own lives while supporting them through this journey. Sharon draws from a rich background of relational and skills-focused techniques to offer an evidence-based therapeutic process that best fits the individualized needs of her clients. Her therapeutic modalities include:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for children, adolescents, adults, and families
• Trauma informed therapies (e.g., DBT-Prolonged Exposure, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
• Exposure and Response Prevention
• Habit Reversal Training
• Emotion Focused Therapy
• Integrative therapy
• Attachment-based therapy
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Collaborative problem solving
• Gender-affirmative care
• Client-directed therapy
• Family therapy
• Behavioural coaching
• Motivational interviewing

Dr. Chan’s doctoral dissertation focused on understanding the psychology around perceived social status, ingroup and outgroup constructs, and their roles in the development and perpetuation of prejudice. As such, her research background brings a heightened sensitivity towards working with vulnerable populations through a unique multicultural and developmental lens.

Outside of MindFit: Dr. Chan enjoys language learning, sampling dessert menus, turning everyday objects into arts and craft projects, hunting for uncommon collectibles with an interesting story, and fussing over a very spoiled house cat named Toast.