User:Drjotisamra/sandbox



Dr. Joti Samra, Organizational + Media Consultant

Dr. Joti Samra is a Canadian-born registered clinical psychologist, organizational and media consultant and TV host. She is considered an innovator in the area of psychological health and wellness, and develops strategies for coping with life’s most common and difficult challenges, reaching beyond the clinic and classroom to spread coping tools as widely as possible. Dr. Samra presents her work extensively at the invitation of public and private sector organizations across North America.

Dr. Samra is a frequent media commentator and writes prolifically for a wide range of scholarly, professional and popular publications. Dr. Samra is available to consult with writers, producers and directors on a wide range of creative issues relating to psychology and human behaviour, including script and character development.

1. Early Life + Education

Dr. Samra was born and raised in a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She obtained her BA (Psychology, Honours) from the University of British Columbia; her MA (Clinical Psychology) from the University of Regina; her PhD (Clinical-Forensic Psychology) from Simon Fraser University; and competed her Clinical Residency at the University of Washington Medical Centre.

2. Career

Speaker and Media Consultant

Dr. Samra’s talent for presenting innovative psychological research in an entertaining and accessible way ensures a busy schedule of speaking and interview engagements. Dr. Samra is a featured clinical expert in all three seasons of the Animal Planet docu‐reality series “Confessions: Animal Hoarding”, developed by the producers of the critically acclaimed A & E series “Intervention.” She is a host and financial expert in the docu-reality series “Million Dollar Neighbourhood”, developed for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada) and is a Psychological Consultant in CityTV's The Bachelor Canada. She has authored a weekly “Ask the Health Expert” column for the Globe and Mail since 2010.

Dr. Samra is regularly called upon by the media to comment on a range of issues relating to human behaviour. She has conducted numerous interviews for a number of media outlets (TV, radio and print) including CTV, Global National, Global BC, CBC News, Channel M, Shaw TV, CBC Radio One, News 1130 and CKNW. She appeared as the resident psychological expert on a weekly show for Omni BC between 2008 and 2009.

Dr. Samra has also written for a wide range of scholarly, professional and popular publications, including the Globe and Mail, National Post, Vancouver Sun, Georgia Strait, the Province, and Vancouver Courier. A sampling of her media interviews/topics are listed at www.drjotisamra.com and include topics such as: financial stresses; recession‐related anxiety; sex addiction; hoarding behaviours; emotional impact of bed bug infestation; psychology behind ‘Canucks fever’; Olympic‐related anxiety; speaking to children about violence; holiday stress; video game addiction; and more mainstream topics such as depression, anxiety, relationship stress, and suicide.

Professional Practice

Dr. Samra specializes in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She is a leader in the conceptualization and communication of psychological health issues and the creation of related treatment manuals, clinical tools and training resources. Dr. Samra is a passionate advocate for organizational change with a particular interest in these issues as they pertain to the workplace context. Her applied research and clinical work catalyzes fundamental improvements in the psychological health and safety of work environments throughout Canada as they apply to mental health and addiction.

General Areas of Practice''

•	Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace •	Emotional Intelligence •	Career Transition / Workplace Stress •	Sleep Difficulties •	Chronic Pain •	Health Behavior Change •	Depression/Dysthymia •	Panic/Anxiety Attacks •	Social /Generalized Anxiety •	Relationship Difficulties/Couples Therapy

Professional Affiliations, Associations and Academia

Dr. Samra is active in a range of clinical, professional and academic activities/appointments and has held a number of leadership committee roles at the provincial and national level, including the following:

•	Clinical Expert Spokesperson, Bell’s “Let’s Talk” Day •	Standard Development Technical Committee Member, National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (BNQ/CSA) •	Steering Committee Member, Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division’s annual Bottom Line Conference for Mental Health in the Workplace •	Speaker, LifeSpeak Inc. •	Past-President, British Columbia Psychological Association •	Awards Development Committee Member, National Quality Institute’s Canada Awards for Excellence (Mental Health at Work Award) •	Adjunct Faculty Member, Adler School of Professional Psychology •	Mental Health Advisory Board Member, Morneau Shepell •	Former Chair, BC Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards Committee •	Former Clinical Associate at the SFU Clinical Psychology Centre •	Former Adjunct Professor and Research Scientist, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University •	Expert consultant for the British Columbia Family and Supreme Courts

Publications''

Dr. Samra has written or co-authored a number of treatment books and resources for individuals, families and clinicians. She has created a number of evidence-based resources in the areas of depression, suicidality, chronic health conditions, emotional intelligence and workplace psychological health and safety.

Dr. Samra pursues a full spectrum of research, consulting and educational activities in the field of workplace health. She is the lead developer of Guarding Minds @ Work (GM@W): A Workplace Guide to Psychological Safety and Health, an innovative and multi-faceted online resource used by employers and organizations to detect, target, address and resolve psychosocial threats in the work environment. She is also the principal developer of Managing Emotions, a set of online, interactive assessment and training resources that strengthen the interpersonal competence and emotional intelligence skills of managers.

Dr. Samra’s co‐authored manuals include Coping with Suicidal Thoughts (which has been adapted for use by the US Department of Veterans Affairs); Positive Coping with Health Conditions; and Antidepressant Skills @ Work: Dealing with Mood Problems in the Workplace. Click here for full listing of Dr. Samra’s publications.

Awards

•	The British Columbia Psychological Association’s Advancement of the Profession of Psychology Award (2011) •	Canadian Psychological Association’s New Researcher Award (2002)

3. Media Appearances

•	OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada)’s “Million Dollar Neighbourhood” (host and financial/psychological expert) •	Animal Planet’s “Confessions: Animal Hoarding” (psychological expert on all three seasons of the series) •	The Globe and Mail’s “Ask the Health Expert” column (weekly columnist) •	Other print, audio and video appearances (these can be viewed in detail at www.drjotisamra.com)

4. References + External links

•	OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) Million Dollar Neighbourhood •	Animal Planet - Confessions: Animal Hoarding •	Ask a Health Expert column, The Globe & Mail •	Dr. Joti Samra