Dr. Collins trained in the United States, where she had access to top-notch programs and mentors. She brings this deep experience into every session, along with a down-to-earth philosophy that she credits to growing up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She believes in therapy that’s non-judgmental, practical, and rooted in relationship.
Dr. Collins completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of North Texas, in Denton, Texas, followed by a Residency at IUPUI School of Medicine, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her Residency training experiences were diverse, and included work across multiple hospital, correctional/forensic, and private clinic settings. Clinical rotations included work within an Anxiety Disorders Clinic (e.g., conducting Social Anxiety treatment groups, treatment for OCD and Panic Disorder, etc.), Neuropsychological assessment clinic, Inpatient Psychiatric and Outpatient Hospital clinics, and a private practice therapy clinic with adults. Following Residency, Dr. Collins completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Centre (UTSW) in Dallas, Texas, with a specialty in Consult-Liaison Psychology and Behavioral Medicine (i.e., Health Psychology). In this role, she learned to efficiently assess and treat psychological problems of medical patients during their hospital stays (e.g., needle phobias, traumatic injuries, depression and suicide, evaluation of organ transplant candidacy, pain management, etc.). She also frequently consulted with patients’ Physicians to enhance their care, and learned through these experiences to really appreciate the fragility and strength of being human, as well as the importance of kindness and connection.
Following completion of her Fellowship, Dr. Collins stayed on as Faculty at UTSW, as an Assistant Professor of Psychology. In this role, she worked with diverse medical patients, developed programs, as well as participated in research and provided Clinical Supervision to graduate students and Residents in training. Dr. Collins ultimately transitioned to private practice, in order to have longer-term connections with her clients and more creative freedom in her work. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Collins has worked in private practice for herself, as well as for a group practice here in Ottawa (i.e., Ottawa Centre for Cognitive Therapy). She opened CBT Wellness Clinic with the hope of expanding access to expert CBT care within her community, as well as cultivate a “Wellness” approach to treatment that includes collaboration with other Allied professionals in her clients’ care journey (e.g., Nutritionists, Massage Therapists, Acupuncturists, Physical Therapists, Personal Trainers, Spiritual guides). In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, playing the piano, yoga, and spending time with her family and friends.
