Dr. Meriel Ballard
Psychologist
Dr. Ballard completed her Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) at Adler University in Vancouver and her CPA-accredited doctoral residency through the South Island Residency program with Child and Youth Mental Health.
Dr. Ballard's clinical approach is strength-based, person-centred, and tailored to each client's unique needs, goals, and circumstances. She draws from a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness-based interventions, Play Therapy, and Filial Therapy. Recognizing that every individual is unique, she considers each client's developmental stage, attachment relationships, culture, identity, lived experiences, and the impact of trauma. Dr. Ballard strives to create a therapeutic environment that is safe, collaborative, and non-judgmental, bringing empathy, authenticity, creativity, and appropriate humour to her work with clients and families.
Dr. Ballard provides assessment and therapeutic services for adults, adolescents, children, and parents. She has extensive experience working with first responders, healthcare professionals, military veterans, and their families. Her areas of practice include the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders (including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, separation anxiety, selective mutism, and obsessive-compulsive disorder), depression and mood disorders, non-suicidal self-injury, grief and loss, borderline personality traits, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
In addition to providing therapy, Dr. Ballard offers a range of psychological assessment services, including comprehensive ADHD assessments, psychoeducational assessments for school-aged children, adolescents, and post-secondary students, and pre-employment psychological assessments.
Dr. Ballard is a licensed as a Psychologist with the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia.