Dr. Kara Turcotte

Psychologist

Dr. Turcotte is a clinical psychologist committed to creating a safe, compassionate, and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment where clients feel truly heard and understood. She takes a collaborative, strengths-based approach, taking time to understand each person's unique history, strengths, and goals before working together to build a plan of care.

Dr. Turcotte conducts individual psychotherapy and psychological assessment with adults, with particular expertise in chronic pain, cardiac rehabilitation, trauma, and anxiety and mood disorders. She has a strong interest in supporting people, including first responders, who have felt dismissed by the healthcare providers and systems they turned to for help. Her integrative approach draws from a range of evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), tailored to what each client needs.

Dr. Turcotte is deeply committed to culturally responsive care, particularly for Indigenous clients, and maintains an active program of research focused on health equity, trauma- and violence-informed care, and improving pain assessment for people whose pain has historically been overlooked or undertreated.

Dr. Turcotte completed her undergraduate degree at York University and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of British Columbia. She completed her pre-doctoral residency at the London Clinical Psychology Consortium and recently completed a Primary Care Psychology competency through the BC Psychological Association. She has worked across hospital inpatient and outpatient programs, outpatient mental health services, university campuses, research settings, and private practice.

Dr. Turcotte is licensed with the College of Health and Care Professionals of B.C.