Dr. Dale Dirkse

Clinical Psychologist, R.Psych

I have expertise in evidence-based psychological therapies and strategies. You are the expert on your life. Together, we can reduce your distress and improve your quality of life.

We might be a good fit if you are looking for help with any of the following issues:

Depression and Mood Issues

Do you struggle with feeling down, have little interest or motivation, feel tired, and/or experience feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness? Or do you rather experience fluctuating moods? I provide evidence-based treatment for mood issues, with an approach tailored to you.

Anxiety

If you find it difficult to control worries, experience physical symptoms of anxiety (e.g., heart racing, sweating, breathlessness), and/or if you notice you avoid certain situations due to fear, I treat a wide range of anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety and worry, panic, social anxiety disorder, and OCD.

Sleep Difficulties

Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep? Experiencing repeated nightmares or terrors? Sleep is so important for physical and mental wellbeing. I have expertise in treating sleep concerns including insomnia and parasomnias.

Stress Management

Do you find yourself stressed or overwhelmed often? Are there too many things to do and you don’t know where to start? Or is life just really hard right now? While I might not be able to change a specific stressor, I can help you work with difficult thoughts, feelings, and sensations that arise in ways that allow you to feel better, more confident, and be able to do the things that matter to you.

Work-Life Balance

Does it feel impossible to balance work and life responsibilities? Do you feel like you never have time to relax, or if you have time you have difficulty being present? I am passionate about helping people manage their lives in ways where they feel connected to themselves and develop an internal compass to help them navigate hurdles in the future.

Perfectionism

Do you have high standards? Think in all-or nothing terms? Are you quite critical of yourself or others? Having high standards and striving for achievement are not problematic in and of themselves; but if you find that you are not enjoying life, find yourself spending an inordinate amount of time on tasks to avoid making a mistake, or are experiencing burnout, I am here to help you find ways to live more at ease.

What to Expect

  • Assessment

    I will ask many questions about your presenting problem, your life, and what you are hoping for from therapy.

  • Conceptualization

    Next, I will provide my impressions about what are causing and maintaining your difficulties. I will explain what evidence-based therapy might look like for your concerns.

  • TREATMENT

    We start the work. It’s not always easy, but you will to learn to work with (not against) difficult emotions, thoughts, behaviours, or situations. We want you to be able to have the confidence in managing difficult areas of life while continuing to engage in doing things that matter to you, so you can live a meaningful life. Think of this as your new beginning.