Caring for the Sleepless in Manitoba

with Dr. Norah Vincent and the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic Team

We typically spend more than one-third of our lives sleeping. Proper rest is an essential part of a healthy life but while everyone needs to sleep, for many the simple act of falling asleep – and staying asleep – can be a struggle. Thanks to Dr. Norah Vincent and her team at the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic, many Manitobans are resting easier.

“It may feel like your sleep problem is hopeless and there’s nothing you can do because you’ve had it for a long time,” said Dr. Norah Vincent, clinical health psychologist, Director of the clinic, and Medical Lead for Adult Treatment Services with Clinical Health Psychology, Shared Health. “People may not anticipate what can happen when they try something new.”

 “People often express to us how much better they feel after addressing their sleep issues, especially in such a short period of time. The change is enduring and transformative,” added Dr. Vincent, who is also a professor in the University of Manitoba’s Department of Clinical Health Psychology, Max Rady College of Medicine, and led the establishment of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic at Health Sciences Centre.

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Dr. Sayma Malik C.Psych.

Child Development Clinic
Specialized Services for Children and Youth Centre (SSCY)

Clinical Health Psychology, Shared Health
18 years in the field

Undergraduate Degree: University of Manitoba
Doctoral Degree: California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, San Francisco, CA, USA
Residency: University of California- San Francisco, California, USA
Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Children’s Hospital at Oakland, California, USA

Manitoba is a place full of opportunity for people to be trailblazers and to forge ahead into uncharted territory depending on their goals. Here, we can truly make a difference and advance different areas of health care and health research. It’s something I find very exciting – and was one of the reasons that brought me back to Winnipeg, after 13 years in California where I  completed my clinical psychology training.

I often spent my vacation time returning home to visit family, and felt as though life was pulling me back to Winnipeg, so I decided to make the move home in 2011.

I’m grateful for the time I spent in California learning from the pioneers of early childhood intervention, and also that I could bring that incredible training back to Manitoba for the benefit of children and families here.  

Early childhood intervention work is fundamentally critical and meaningful. The early years set the foundation for everything in life. It’s the beginning of brain development, learning about the world, and navigating how to connect with others.

When children are young we have a lot of influence to plant seeds for what’s to come. Research shows us that early intervention has an incredible return on investment, not only for mental health but overall health. When we are able to intervene early where children may be experiencing developmental delays, we can help identify what is needed to offset those challenges; we can interrupt problematic behavioural patterns that families might not even be aware of yet. We’re setting the stage for healthy coping down the line and it’s all linked together.

There is never a standard day at the office; I get to witness moments of recovery, connection, and of children reaching new milestones. Many of us in healthcare are privileged to be a part of the support network and bear witness to moments of healing as well as heartbreaking stories. It’s an honour to be invited into a family’s intimate world to support and help them overcome challenges. I do a lot of play-based assessment and a big part of what I do is working with parents to help them see their child differently with more benevolence and curiosity. There are just no words to describe how incredibly rewarding it is to support families in understanding their child’s unique and special needs and to guide them through next steps.

This work truly has a ripple effect of a lifetime. We all are doing our best and sometimes it doesn’t feel like enough. It’s never a question of value, it’s a need for people with passion and the capacity to do the work. If you have a passion for helping others and providing strength and guidance for people through challenging times, clinical psychology could be the career for you.

Dr. Joanna Bhaskaran C.Psych.

Clinical Health Psychology, Shared Health
3 years in clinical practice

Undergraduate Degree: University of Manitoba
Doctoral Degree: University of Manitoba
Residency: St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Ontario

I’m interested in people and their stories. Being there with them through the whole gamut of life is an honour. I am privileged to be able to create safe spaces when someone is going through something hard and also like being on the other side and celebrating together. I feel so fortunate to be there with them through the full spectrum of the human experience, from the depths of suffering to the heights of joy. I’m doing something I love while also making a difference.

I didn’t always know I wanted to be a psychologist. I grew up in the Middle East and psychologists aren’t common there. My family left Sri Lanka during the civil war and I saw first-hand how the trauma of war, discrimination and oppression affect not just your mental health but also your physical health.

Currently, I work out of two clinics and as an Assistant Professor in the College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. In one of my clinical roles, I work with newcomers, through the Newcomer Collaborative Community Mental Health Program. In my other role within an Operational Stress Injury clinic, I provide clinical care to Canadian Armed Forces members, RCMP members, and veterans. Every day at work is different and I’m always learning. That’s one of the best but also challenging parts; there’s always something new to experience.

When people come to Canada, they don’t necessarily have the space and time to navigate psychological care. There are settlement workers who help newcomers meet their physical needs but often there is residual trauma from where they’ve been. Where I think I make the most difference is how I take the structure of evidence-based psychological care in our profession which is used in the formal health care system and adapt it to fit the needs of our newcomer populations within the community, developing trust in the system.   

As a clinical psychologist in Manitoba, I have so much flexibility with the range of clients I see and the challenges I take on. I’m passionate about finding ways to create wrap around care and building the bridge between our health care system and the community. Clinical Psychology allows you to develop your own niche and follow your own path of interest; it is such a versatile and rapidly evolving field.

Dr. Valerie Krysanski C. Psych.

Depression Services | Inpatient Mental Health Consult
Victoria Hospital

Clinical Health Psychology, Shared Health
20 years in the field

Undergraduate Degree: University of Manitoba
Doctoral Degree: University of North Dakota
Residency: Ottawa Hospital
Post-Doctoral Fellowship: University of Ottawa

I first came across the field of psychology in high school – but didn’t really set my sights on it until I took an introductory course in my first year at the University of Manitoba. It quickly became my favorite class, studying human behavior and understanding the brain was so interesting and, just like that, I was hooked. I had always known I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to help people and I love the analytical, problem-solving side of working in psychology. But I also knew I wanted a profession that allowed me to teach and do other things that interest me, like research. Clinical Psychology offered a meaningful way for me to integrate these personal interests and skills.  

Psychologists work in diverse settings, including hospitals, universities, schools and private practice. I have been at  Victoria Hospital for 14 years and love the work, as it combines the full range of my psychologist skills including hospital-based clinical services, teaching/supervision of residents/trainees, and research. I am very enthusiastic about clinical supervision and teaching, and I find this to be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable aspects of my work.

In Clinical Health Psychology, psychologists are medical staff like our physician colleagues and also have faculty appointments to do teaching with medical students and psychology and medical residents –  – a unique appeal to working in our department. These were two contributing factors that  drew me back to Manitoba after completing my training out of province.

Another great aspect of our department is collaboration.  We often  consult each other on clinical cases, share practice resources to best support one anot and work together in clinically relevant research projects.   I have also appreciated opportunities to connect on a personal level with colleagues at fun departmental social events.  

I love that I am continually engaged in my everyday work by the diversity of what I do.  I enjoy the fast-paced work environment balancing clinical work with patients, putting the puzzle pieces together in challenging psychodiagnostic assessments, supervising psychology residents and trainees, and teaching medical students – there’s never a dull moment!

Dr. Jeremiah Buhler C.Psych.

Consulting Clinical Psychologist, Southern Health‐Santé Sud

Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Manitoba

2 years in clinical practice

Undergraduate Degree: B.A. (Hons.) University of Manitoba
Doctoral Degree:  PhD University of Manitoba
Residency: Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Manitoba

My path to clinical psychology started unexpectedly.

While volunteering at a drop-in center in Winnipeg’s inner city, I had the opportunity to mentor several teens but soon realized that despite my good intentions, my support lacked the depth I hoped for. I found myself wanting to do more than simply listen. I wanted to offer meaningful support that led to lasting change.

This longing for specialized training led me to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology, a decision that, at the time, felt unusual. Having never excelled academically in primary and secondary school, or envisioning a post-secondary path for myself, applying to a university program was a turning point.

Today, I work as a consulting clinical psychologist with Southern Health/Santé Sud and as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Manitoba. I also serve as the Research Coordinator for the Military, Veteran, and Police Health Research Lab, where I supervise students and explore the physical and mental health of military personnel, first responders, and those living in rural communities.

In my clinical role, I provide psychological treatment, assessment, and consultation for children, teens, and adults across southern Manitoba.

I am excited for a long career as a rural psychologist, where I can make a tangible difference in underserved communities.

I especially enjoy the variety of my clinical work. For example, in one day I might conduct an assessment, collaborate with community mental health workers on complex cases, and develop group interventions to increase therapy access for rural residents. Although I work outside of Winnipeg, my connection to the Department of Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Manitoba keeps me engaged with a supportive network of colleagues, making it easy to stay connected and continue growing as a psychologist.

Clinical psychology is an incredibly versatile and fulfilling profession, offering opportunities to make an impact both at the individual level and within broader systems. I am proud to be part of this field and look forward to continuing my work to positively affect the communities I serve.

Toward health: the broad reach of Clinical Health Psychology

We can’t instantly change the way we feel. We can’t simply decide ‘I’m going to feel differently now’. But we can try to work on how we behave, the things we do, the situations we put ourselves in and, to some degree, how we think about situations. This in turn will have an effect on our feelings, and ultimately how we handle challenges.”

Clinical psychologist Dr. Laine Torgrud compares cognitive behavioural therapy, the most common type of treatment for patients accessing psychology care, to the three points of a triangle representing our behaviour, our thoughts, and our emotions.

“The work of psychologists revolves around looking at ways we can change behaviour that is critical to better health,” explains Dr. Torgrud. “When we work to change our behaviour and work to change the way we think, it will ultimately affect how we feel about a situation or issue.”

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