Kimberly Buchanan, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Clinical Psychologist & Co-director

Dr. Buchanan completed her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Regina in 2009. She worked for eight years as a Clinical Psychologist with the Department of National Defence, where she provided assessment and treatment to members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Dr. Buchanan currently works with veterans, serving members of the RCMP and Canadian Armed Forces, Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services personnel, Correctional Officers, and various civilian populations exposed to trauma and other stressors.

Dr. Buchanan specializes in the assessment and treatment of trauma-related problems such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She is certified as a Quality Provider of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD by the developers of the treatment. She has advanced training and supervision in other evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD including Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (CBCT). Dr. Buchanan has additional expertise in using Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP) to treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. She is an experienced practitioner of empirically supported cognitive-behavioural therapies for a range of other conditions including insomnia, panic, generalized anxiety, worry, and depression.

Dr. Buchanan is an active consumer of research and training in her fields. She prioritizes continuous improvement of the services she offers, guided by scientific data and client feedback. Dr. Buchanan collaborates closely with clients, colleagues, and other health professionals to optimize client care and outcomes.

David Paul, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Clinical Psychologist & Co-director

Dr. Paul completed a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at McGill University in 2009. He worked as Clinical Coordinator at the Veterans Affairs Canada Operational Stress Injury Clinic in Edmonton from 2009 to 2012, and as a Clinical Psychologist with the Department of National Defence between 2013 and 2018.

Dr. Paul’s primary clinical focus is the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) using empirically validated cognitive-behavioural therapies. He is certified as a Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapist, Supervisor, and Trainer by The Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Paul also has training and supervision in the use of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to treat PTSD. Other areas of expertise include Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP) for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and behavioural and cognitive-behavioural treatment of panic, social anxiety, worry, phobias, insomnia, depression, and body-focused repetitive behaviours (e.g., trichotillomania, skin-picking).

Dr. Paul subscribes to the scientist-practitioner model of clinical psychology. His goal is to help clients get the most from therapy by integrating the best available quantitative research with client preferences, clinical expertise, and ongoing professional development. He is also invested in building capacity among other professionals to offer evidence-based treatments to the public.

Bethany Gelinas, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Gelinas completed a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Regina in 2016. Her graduate training included specialization in psychodiagnostic, personality, cognitive, behavioural health, and pension eligibility assessment. Dr. Gelinas worked for three years as a Clinical Psychologist at the Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton, where she provided comprehensive assessment and consultation services to individuals hospitalized for serious mental health conditions. She currently works for the Department of National Defence, where her responsibilities include psychological assessment and treatment of serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

At CPSAT, Dr. Gelinas’ practice is focussed on the assessment and treatment of adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), other trauma-related problems, anxiety and mood disorders, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). She exclusively employs evidence-based treatments for these conditions. Dr. Gelinas has advanced training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP).

Dr. Gelinas takes a strength-based approach to mental health when partnering with clients. She works on the premise that effective treatment capitalizes on an individual’s resilience, lessons learned, and inner strengths, and is tailored to each person’s unique goals and values.

Stephanie Korol, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Korol completed her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Regina in 2021. She was a pre-doctoral resident at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre (ROMHC) from 2020 to 2021. Her primary residency rotation was at the ROMHC Operational Stress Injury Clinic, where she provided assessment and treatment services to veterans and serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP. Over the course of her doctoral degree, Dr. Korol developed proficiency in evidence-based clinical assessment, cognitive assessment, diagnosis, and intervention.

Dr. Korol is certified as a Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapist by The Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania. She has additional training in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP) for the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Dr. Korol is experienced in using empirically supported cognitive-behavioural therapies and transdiagnostic treatments for a range of other conditions, including generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety, depression, and psychosis.

Dr. Korol utilizes a client-centered approach to evidence-based assessment and treatment. Her goal is to meet clients where they are and build upon their strengths, while adhering to the scientist-practitioner model of best practice. Dr. Korol is invested in continuing to build her skillset by engaging in professional development to provide optimal client care.

Meredith Evans, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Evans completed her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Massachusetts at Boston in 2010. She also holds Master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology from UMass Boston and the University of Central Florida. While in Boston Dr. Evans completed two Harvard Medical School appointments at the Cambridge Health Alliance hospital in Cambridge, MA, including one as a therapist in the Victims of Violence program. This placement ignited her passion for working with trauma survivors, and since then she has pursued her interest in assessing and treating posttraumatic stress in a variety of settings, including a local sexual assault centre and Millard Health in Edmonton (where she completed her pre-doctoral internship and returned to work following graduation).   

After finishing her doctoral degree, Dr. Evans narrowed her clinical focus further to specialize in treating posttraumatic stress in military and emergency response personnel. She worked for two years at the Edmonton Operational Stress Injury Clinic and has been employed with the Department of National Defense for the past eight years, where she has acted as the clinical lead for the Operational and Trauma Stress Support Centre/General Mental Health Program for the last three years. For 10 years prior to joining CPSAT, Dr. Evans operated her own private practice in Edmonton, which catered primarily to veterans, police officers, paramedics, correctional staff, and firefighters.

Dr. Evans has advanced training in gold-standard, evidence-based treatments for PTSD including Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She has additional specialized training in cognitive-behavioural treatment of insomnia and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Dr. Evans grounds her practice in empirical evidence, theory, and a belief that education is never complete, but requires ongoing improvement through training, consultation and collaboration. She aims to engage her clients in a genuine and transparent manner, and works to foster a sense of hope and to build on clients’ existing strengths and resiliencies.

Kelsey Vig, Ph.D.
Registered Provisional Psychologist

Dr. Vig completed her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Regina in 2024. As a Provisionally Registered Psychologist, she works under the supervision of Dr. Paul and Dr. Buchanan. Her training and past work experience include outpatient psychological assessment and treatment of a variety of mental disorders.

Currently, Dr. Vig’s practice is focused on the assessment and treatment of clients with anxiety disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders, somatic symptom and related disorders, and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Her approach to treatment is client-centred and evidence-based. Dr. Vig uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) primarily, while also integrating elements of other empirically supported treatments based on each client’s presentation, preferences, and strengths. Specific treatment modalities include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP), CBT for insomnia (CBT-I), Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT).

Vanessa Peynenburg, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Peynenburg completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology through the University of Regina in 2023. As part of her doctoral training, she worked with members of the RCMP as well as other public safety personnel, including correctional officers, firefighters, paramedics, and local police officers. During her pre-doctoral residency at the University of British Columbia’s Counselling Services, she assisted clients with a variety of presenting concerns including anxiety and mood disorders, eating disorders, trauma, personality disorders, adjustment difficulties, and grief.

Dr. Peynenburg works primarily from a cognitive-behavioural model and has training and experience in evidence-based approaches for the treatment of posttraumatic stress, depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and insomnia. Further, she has training and experience in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy-Enhanced (CBT-E) for eating disorders, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and CBT-I for insomnia, and is committed to expanding her professional skill set in trauma-focused care. Dr. Peynenburg also has a passion for working with those experiencing disordered eating and has worked as a research assistant (University of Oxford; King’s College London) and mental health consultant (BridgePoint Centre for Eating Disorder Recovery) in this area.

Dr. Peynenburg is also actively involved in ongoing research trials on the delivery of internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) for a variety of mental health concerns. She integrates her research expertise into her clinical work to provide optimal care for clients based on the presenting concerns and strengths.

Robert Valela, M.Ed.
Registered Provisional Psychologist

Mr. Valela earned a Master of Education degree in Counselling Psychology at the University of Alberta in 2023. His training included a practicum at the University’s Counselling & Clinical Services centre, where he provided support to clients navigating various challenges including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), suicidality, depression, trauma and anxiety. Mr. Valela worked for the IMPACT Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University from 2019 to 2023, where he focussed on online evidence-based trauma support for couples, particularly those affected by Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) within the military, police, correctional, emergency medical, and fire rescue services. From 2019 to 2021 he provided virtual emotional support, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention for the Distress Centres of Greater Toronto and Crisis Services Canada. Mr. Valela is Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves, in which he served as an Intelligence Officer, including at Canadian Forces Intelligence Command. In this role, he used his psychological expertise and military experience to enhance research capabilities and improve the well-being and skills of intelligence professionals.

As a Registered Provisional Psychologist at CPSAT, Mr. Valela works under the supervision of Dr. David Paul. His primary therapeutic approach is cognitive-behavioural; he treats adult individuals and couples for concerns including panic, anxiety, PTSD, depression, grief, anger, insomnia, stress, and relationship problems. He is trained and gaining experience in cognitive-behavioural therapies including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Cognitive-Behavioural Conjoint Therapy (CBCT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy for PTSD.

Mr. Valela is committed to the scientist-practitioner model, and actively participates in training and research to enhance his services. He provides evidence-based therapy tailored to client preferences, integrating the latest research and technology into effective interventions. Mr. Valela collaborates efficiently with clients, colleagues, and health professionals to improve the quality of care and outcomes for his clients.

Lauryn Vander Molen, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Vander Molen completed a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of New Brunswick in 2024. She completed her pre-doctoral residency at the University of Ottawa Centre for Psychological Services and Research from 2021 to 2022.

Throughout her doctoral degree, Dr. Vander Molen received training in evidence-based assessment and intervention for individuals across the lifespan presenting with a range of needs, including mood and anxiety disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), trauma and adjustment, emotion regulation difficulties, behavioural challenges, gender and sexuality, parenting, and neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). Dr. Vander Molen has received training in several empirically supported treatments, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT), Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and attachment and family system approaches.

Currently, Dr. Vander Molen’s primary clinical focus is the assessment and treatment of children, youth, and young adults with mood and anxiety disorders, OCD, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma- and stressor-related disorders. Dr. Vander Molen subscribes to the scientist-practitioner model of clinical psychology and regularly reviews the literature to ensure she is providing the most effective services to her clients. She has a strong focus on risk reduction and enhancing individual client strengths, while working closely with clients, caregivers, and other supports to build resilience. Dr. Vander Molen is invested in furthering the discipline of psychology and engaging in advocacy to increase the accessibility of evidence-based services to the public.

Carissa Augustyn, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Augustyn completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan in 2022. Her training includes a post-doctoral residency at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (2020-2021) in Toronto and a post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Ottawa Integrated Mental Health Research at the Royal Ottawa Hospital (2022-2024). She is currently a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at MacEwan University (Assistant Professor).

As a result of her training, Dr. Augustyn has developed proficiency in clinical and cognitive assessment, diagnosis, and cognitive-behavioural-based interventions. She has assisted clients with a variety of presenting problems including anxiety and mood disorders, psychosis, substance use, trauma, and behavioural challenges resulting in conflict with the law. As a post-doctoral resident and fellow, she developed a special interest in clinical services for people with atypical sexual interests (known as paraphilias). She is actively involved in ongoing research trials for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-based programs for people concerned about their risk of perpetrating sexual harm. She is passionate about evidence-based practice and the role of research for clinical practice.

At CPSAT, Dr. Augustyn’s practice is focused on the assessment and treatment of adults with anxiety and mood disorders, emotion regulation difficulties, behavioural challenges and impulsivity, and paraphilic sexual interests. Her approach to treatment is evidence-based, utilizing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as a foundation while integrating elements of other empirically supported treatments based on the unique preferences and needs of each client. Dr. Augustyn strives to work collaboratively with clients to reach their therapeutic goals.

Fatima Nashman, B.A.
Office Administrator

Ms. Nashman graduated from MacEwan University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Psychology. She is currently enrolled in a Master of Arts program in Counselling Psychology. Prior to joining CPSAT, Ms. Nashman spent seven years working as a medical office assistant with a variety of Edmonton family physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other medical specialists. She also has experience working as a Behavioural Interventionist assisting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In her spare time, she continues to coordinate programs for children and youth with cognitive and developmental disabilities to help them improve their social skills.

Theresa Severin, B.A.
Office Administrator

Ms. Severin completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Alberta in 2024, with a double major in linguistics and psychology. She worked previously for six years in various roles at a local swim school, where she developed strong leadership, administrative, and communication skills. During her time at the University of Alberta, Ms. Severin also volunteered with children and families in an organization that promotes lifelong music education and appreciation. Her future plans include pursuit of a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.