Dr. Davina Bakerman

Clinical Psychologist

I have experience working in a variety of clinical settings where I have gained experience with individual and group therapy and conducting psychological assessments. I have many years of experience helping people who are struggling with anxiety, mood, and trauma related difficulties and other life challenges or transitions. I have worked extensively with a variety of populations, including active military, veterans, and first responders (paramedics, police officers, firefighters, and correctional officers). I am a registered provider with VAC/Blue Cross and WSIB.

It is important to me to be open, authentic, and warm with all of my clients. I provide a collaborative, genuine, compassionate and non-judgmental approach with all of my clients. I believe that everyone has a personal set of experiences, individual strengths and qualities that make them unique. With this in mind, I use an integrated and tailored approach to therapy to ensure that I can meet your individual needs.

I believe in continuing education and stay up-to-date with the latest literature in clinical psychology and related practice issues. I also enjoy participating in workshops and training opportunities.

I use a collaborative approach to help you identify specific therapy goals and develop effective strategies to support you in reaching them. I believe in the importance of using evidence-based treatments that are well-researched and shown to be helpful for treating many different areas of concern. I often combine elements from various approaches to ensure that each client receives a tailored approach to therapy. These include:

• Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Cognitive Processing Therapy
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy
• Mindfulness Based Therapy
• Schema Therapy

Clinical Experience

I have worked in different settings including private practice and primary health care. I completed extensive clinical training in tertiary care, community mental health clinics, and the Department of National Defense. I provide individual therapy, psychodiagnostic assessments, group therapy, and consultation to other professionals. I have also assisted clients with managing symptoms that have been barriers to returning to work and have developed successful return-to-work plans.

I believe in collaborating with other health professionals to ensure that clients receive the most effective and efficient care. I have provided consultation services to a number of professionals such as physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, occupational therapists, and case managers.

I am a strong advocate of promoting mental health education within the community. I have provided educational talks to health professionals, members of the public, and organizations on the topics of stress management, caring for loved ones with mental health challenges, trauma/PTSD, assertiveness, and professional ethics in the workplace.

I have experience providing clinical supervision to PhD-level students and psychologists registering with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. I have also taught a variety of university classes at the undergraduate level. In addition to my clinical training, I have experience working on program evaluation and have worked with several community organizations in the area of program development.

I am extremely passionate about my work and I look forward to working with you and helping you reach your goals.

Services Offered

I provide individual therapy and psychodiagnostic assessment services to adults, first responders, active military, and veterans for the following concerns:

• Relationship/Communication Difficulties
• Assertiveness
• Managing and Tolerating Emotions
• Life Adjustments/Transitions
• Low Self-Esteem