About Dr. Felicity Sapp, PHD. Psychologist
I am a Registered Clinical Psychologist in both Alberta and Ontario, Canada. I have worked in the area of mental health for close to 20 years with particular expertise in the area of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Anxiety Disorders and working with children and adolescents. I am accredited as a Cognitive Behaviour Therapist by the Canadian Association of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and on the Board of the Scientific Advisory Committee of AnxietyCanada. As a faculty member of the Behaviour Therapy Training Institute of the International OCD Foundation, I provide training and supervision to therapists learning how to effectively treat OCD. I also present annual OCD and Anxiety-Related workshops and presentations in the US and Canada.
Throughout my career, I have practiced in a variety of different clinical settings with clients of all ages, however, my passion and natural instinct for treating clients with Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Related Disorders soon became apparent to me. So in 2006, I decided to specialize my practice and gained international experience treating a diversity of people and cultures with moderate to severe anxiety disorders, (in particular Obsessive Compulsive Related Disorders). I worked as a staff psychologist in an intensive Out Patient program at a leading private anxiety treatment center in Sacramento, California where I treated clients who came from not only California but from across the United States. I saw a wide diversity of clients whose anxiety was extremely debilitating, such that they were unable to function in their everyday lives. In addition, I had a thriving private practice specialising in the treatment of clients of all ages with Anxiety and OC Related Disorders.
I also have extensive experience working with children and adolescents with mental health issues. Prior to working abroad, I was a staff psychologist in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston, Ontario for 8 years. In this role, I treated children/teens with a variety of complex psychiatric issues including, mood and anxiety disorders. I also worked in the area of Pediatric Oncology providing assessment and treatment services to children/teens diagnosed with cancer. In addition, I worked at Queen’s University Counseling Center, and in various private practices. I was affiliated with both the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology at Queen’s University as a lecturer and provided teaching and supervision to students.
I obtained my Bachelor of Science (with Honours in Psychology) Degree from Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario with my Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis on developmental (child) psychology. I completed my clinical internship at the IWK Children's Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
I have academic papers published related to child development. I have collaborated with leading clinicians in the area of Obsessive Compulsive Related Disorders and published and presented internationally at conferences in the United States and Canada. I also provide teaching and supervision to trainees as part of the faculty of the Paediatric Behaviour Therapy Training Institute for the International OCD Foundation. Closer to home, I have provided anxiety workshops in Calgary schools for both teachers and parents.
Currently. I treat clients of all ages with both OCD and anxiety disorders, including adults, adolescents and children in my private practice, OCD and Anxiety Psychological Services which I founded in 2008. I offer evidence based treatment in the form of cognitive-behavioural therapy (including exposure therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy and habit reversal training). I use an approach that is respectful and supportive by easing my clients into learning to face their fears at their own pace to ensure that you do not become overwhelmed. I will often use humour, when appropriate, to teach clients the necessary skills to manage their anxiety and OCD symptoms.
When treating children and adolescents, I provide a safe, supportive and caring environment and use a cognitive behaviour therapy approach that takes into account the child's age. Parents are involved in treatment as OCD and anxiety disorders affect the whole family. As a mother of two, I enjoy and understands the stresses and challenges of raising a family. I am dedicated to helping individuals and families struggling with OCD and the effects of anxiety.
In addition, I am passionate about educating and raising awareness of of the impact that OCD and anxiety can have on an individual's ability to function in everyday life. In an effort to give back to my community, raise awareness and provide support for children, adolescents and their families suffering from OCD, I created a team - The OCD Challengers and in September 2018 we participated in the RBC Race for the Kids in support of the Alberta Children's Hospital and raised over $ 20K. I have participated in advocacy efforts speaking to representatives of the Alberta government in order to raise awareness and gain support for the treatment of anxiety disorders in Alberta.
I am available to provide OCD and anxiety disorders information or workshops to communities, schools or groups. If you would like to know more about setting up a presentation or workshop with Dr. Sapp, please contact me directly at fsapp32@gmail.com or by calling (403) 404-6310.