Psychology
Psychology is defined as the scientific study of psychic phenomena affecting the mind, thought, mental life. It is a discipline that allows to decrypt behavior, psyche and feelings of an individual to become self-aware.
Psychology rationally determines a solution allowing the individual to understand himself and the practitioner psychologist helps him to find by himself its own solutions without bringing them clearly nor explicitly.
The psychologist is trained to understand human’s behavior and mental processes. He uses multiple techniques, including psychotherapy, to help the patients solve their own psychological problems, to improve their health, well-being, and quality of life.
The psychologist is yield to a code of conduct and ethics ensuring discretion, respect and confidentiality to anyone consulting and is member of the College of Psychologists of Quebec.
Services offered at the Polyclinique Centre-Ville
At the Polyclinique Centre-Ville, the psychologist offers a complementary treatment to patient with pathologies such as tinnitus, vertigo, imbalance, vestibular disorders, instability after head injury, dehiscence of superior semicircular canal, head and neck cancer and others…
A therapeutic evaluation helps to understand and measure the impact on patient’s medical condition affecting the different spheres of his life, such as professional, personal and relational. This evaluation time will define the objectives, the necessity and nature of the therapy.
Other symptoms can be added to those of the disease being treated; they require psychological therapy. These include:
- In the personal sphere:
o Loss of self-esteem
o Loss of identity
o Devaluation
o Disturbed sleep
o Anger and aggression
- In the professional sphere:
o Difficulty understanding the workplace
o Fear of falling and fainting
o When in crisis, the fear of being judged by others
o Workplace Concentration problems
o Fatigue
o Loss of performance and motivation
o Risk of financial loss (absence of work caused by sickness…)
- In the relational sphere:
o Change in lifestyle habits
o Restricted social life
o Isolation
Our Specialists
After completing a bachelor’s degree of two years in the fields of psychology and cognitive sciences in France, Gaëlle decided to continue her university education in Quebec in 2009. She first completed a master's degree in psychology at the Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine of the Hôpital Sacré-Cœur de Montréal (HSCM) and has recently graduated with a PhD in Psychology / Neuropsychology, Research and Intervention Profile. She conducted her thesis’ project at the Laboratory of Neurobiology of Traumatic Brain Injury at the HSCM. Through her training and clinical experiences, including an internship in the CHUM's neurology department, Gaëlle has acquired solid skills in neuropsychological evaluation of various neurological disorders (eg intellectual disability, dementia, stroke, epilepsy, brain tumors, etc.) sometimes dominated by complex medical conditions (eg HIV, cancer, intoxication, etc.). Her field of doctoral research and her second internship at the Institut de Réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay de Montréal have enabled her to develop a thorough expertise in neuropsychological assessment, monitoring and rehabilitation of people with traumatic brain injury. Her clinical approach is integrative (psychological support, counselling, cognitive remediation, help with the development of compensatory strategies, psychoeducation, etc.) and aims primarily at helping her patients acquiring a better understanding of themselves, based on their personal strengths and vulnerabilities from psychological, cognitive and functional perspectives, to feel more in control of their situation and more involved in their process of rehabilitation after brain damage.
Mathew holds a D. Ps. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Neuropsychology. He is also completing a Diploma of Specialized Graduate Studies (D.E.S.S.) in Insurance Medicine and Medicolegal Expertise. His training and experience with clients in trauma and rehabilitation has enabled him to develop specific skills and expertise in the neuropsychological monitoring and assessment of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). He also works with clients of young adults, adults and geriatrics in various neurocognitive conditions (stroke, brain tumor, neuro-developmental syndromes, high intellectual potential). In terms of psychological intervention, he is primarily interested in the conditions that have the effect of accentuating the consequences of cognitive impairment such as Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders and Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders. He adopts a cognitive behavioral therapy that is centered on the patient and his active participation. In addition, he intervenes with his patients in terms of cognitive remediation related to the rehabilitation of an acquired deficit or to develop compensatory strategies in order to find better functional abilities related to their previous lifestyle. His specialty among young people and adults with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), led him to design intervention plans in academic, professional and sports contexts. Mathew also offers neuropsychological assessments as part of forensic expertise, where his role is to accurately assess the nature and extent of the difficulties, as well as their impact on the patient's daily life.