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Clinical Health Psychology
The Clinical Health Psychology (CHP) program, Shared Health, has a broad scope, providing consultation, assessment and treatment services across the lifespan from toddlers to seniors, for individuals with developmental disorders, medical disease, mental health conditions, and injury. Teaching of medical learners and clinically applied research are integrated with clinical services. The Child & Adolescent Psychology section is one of 5 sections of the CHP program.
The science of psychology studies the interplay between brain and behavior, encompassing how we think, feel and behave. Psychologists understand and treat complex human problems, integrating the science of psychology to prevent, treat and manage illness and disability. Clinical health psychologists in Manitoba are licensed for independent practice through the provincial regulatory college, the Psychological Association of Manitoba; those working in hospitals and health facilities also hold medical staff privileges through the Clinical Health Psychology program.
What We Do
Clinical health psychologists in CHP’s Child and Adolescent Psychology Service provide psychological assessment, which includes complex neuropsychological and psychodiagnostic assessment, to help guide how a medical condition or brain injury impacts a child’s learning and behavior, or for the purpose of diagnostic clarification of developmental and mental health concerns.
We provide evidence-based treatments for a wide range of clinical conditions, delivering the treatment through different approaches including individual treatment, group-based, parent-mediated, and family-based, as appropriate. We have also been able to offer care virtually through video appointments where feasible. The clinical treatments encompass interventions related to the management of health-related problems (e.g., pain, feeding difficulties, health worries), chronic illness adjustment and coping (including support for treatment adherence), and mental health concerns (e.g., behavior problems, anxiety) which are directly related to a medical condition.
Our Programs
Specialized psychological services for children and adolescents as described above are available through the Clinical Health Psychology Child and Adolescent Psychology Consult Service, located on the 1st floor Psychealth Center, Health Sciences Centre.
Psychologists from our Child and Adolescent Psychology section also have dedicated time in a number of Child Health & Pediatrics services for children and youth. We work with pediatric teams in the Child Development Clinic, Manitoba FASD Center, Child Protection Centre, and Diabetes Education & Resource Centre (DERCA), and can be accessed through those clinics for coordinated care.
How to Refer a Patient
Pediatricians from the Children’s Hospital inpatient units and pediatric specialist clinics can fax referrals to the C & A Psychology General Consult service: 204-787-4975. The referral form can be found at www.wrha.mb.ca/psychology/referral-information/ Enquiries may also be directed to our administrative assistant at 204-787-7469.
Research
Our research is closely linked to our clinical work with the children and families we see through the Child and Adolescent Consultation Service and the populations we serve across our specialized clinics, including, for example, Diabetes Education Resource for Children and Adolescents (DERCA), Gender Dysphoria Assessment and Action for Youth (GDAAY), and the Manitoba FASD Centre. We welcome collaborative opportunities with colleagues in other specialties and disciplines.
Education & Training
Clinical Health Psychology (CHP) is a clinical department in the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. Our faculty teach undergraduate medical students and train postgraduate residents. The CHP residency program was established over 50 years ago, and is accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association. Residency training tracks include pediatric, adult, neuropsychology, health (behavioral medicine) and rural psychology. The department also provides didactic and clinical skills training in the UGME curriculum for undergraduate medical students, resident teaching with other clinical departments, and clinical practica for advanced doctoral psychology trainees.
Key Staff & Contacts
Dr. Jo Ann Unger
Medical Lead, Child & Adolescent Psychology Section
204-787-7469