ROBIN FOSTER, Ph.D., C.Psych.

Dr. Robin Foster received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of British Columbia in 1985. Prior to this, she attended York University in Toronto, where she received her B.A. She is trained in a number of therapies, including psychodynamic therapy and behavioural therapies, such as cognitive behaviour therapy. Her doctoral research focused on developing a better understanding of, and comparing treatment interventions for, adults with extreme social anxiety disorders. Dr. Foster studied under J.S. (Jack) Rachman, Jerry S. Wiggins and Lynn Alden. She completed a pre-doctoral internship under the supervision of Dr. Peter McLean at the Health Sciences Centre Hospital in Vancouver, a short-stay acute care adult psychiatric facility. Other internships included working at the Vancouver Children’s Hospital and Children’s Diagnostic Centre, as well as providing clinical intervention to excessive social drinkers as part of an extensive research and treatment study for the Vancouver Health Department.

Dr. Foster has been in private practice since 1982 in Vancouver and 2001 in Ontario (Toronto and Hamilton). She has been a licensed member of the College of Psychologists in Ontario since 1987 and is a member of the Canadian Psychological Association.

Dr. Foster has served as Senior and Chief Psychologist in a facility for adolescents in the criminal justice system. She presently consults for a children’s mental health centre, providing assessment, consultation and clinical intervention to young persons with severe mental health concerns. She has worked extensively in the area of assessing and treating suicidal adolescents and young adults. Her private work includes both adolescents and adults. She works with a variety of presenting problems, including depression; adjustment issues; difficulties in communication and interacting with others; relationship and couples issues; anxiety and stress; low self-esteem; social anxiety and avoidance; substance abuse; anger management; ADHD; oppositional behaviour and conduct disorder; and, helping individuals and their families learn to live with mental health challenges, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and personality disorders. Dr. Foster’s approach is a flexible one in that she matches her mode of treatment to a client’s strengths, needs and presenting problems. She believes that the establishment of rapport is key to developing an effective therapeutic process.