Dr. Deanna Drahovzal
Psychologist

Dr. Drahovzal provides psychotherapy and assessment services to children, adults, couples, and families. In her practice, she treats individuals with a wide variety of challenges, including: anxiety, depression, anger, low self-esteem, issues of body-image, learning difficulties, identity issues, adjustment to major life changes, and interpersonal problems. She maintains a particular interest in helping those who struggle with managing their health problems, such as headache, arthritis, diabetes, obesity, and gastrointestinal disorders. In her work with youth, Dr. Drahovzal also treats children experiencing difficulties with school refusal, urine and bowl control, bullying and behavioural problems. With regards to her work with couples, Dr. Drahovzal provides help in communication, conflict resolution, sexual problems, intimacy issues, and parenting skills.

Her prevailing theoretical orientation integrates cognitive-behavioural, emotionally-focused, and systems theories. Dr. Drahovzal works to provide a nurturing, collaborative and accepting atmosphere that will promote her client’s personal motivation to change. She helps her clients in identifying possible emotional, psychological, relational, and environmental barriers that may be getting in their way. To support her clients getting what they want out of life, Dr. Drahovzal works with her clients to modify their interactions with themselves, others and their environment. In her practice, she is especially thoughtful of her client’s knowledge about themselves and their unique situation. For example, she strives to appreciate and advocate for those of different races, sexual orientations, social status, religions, body sizes, personalities, and abilities.

Dr. Drahovzal received her training from a variety of sites across Canada. She completed her B.Sc. in Biopsychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, and her pre-doctoral internship at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa. Dr. Drahovzal was awarded two national doctoral scholarships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Her doctoral research examined children and adolescent’s motivation for choosing physical activity and healthy foods. During her degrees, Dr. Drahovzal served on student council, sat on a number of departmental committees, and maintained academic teaching roles.

Her clinical psychology training experiences have included work at various university-affiliated community clinics and hospitals. During this time, Dr. Drahovzal gained experience working with children, adolescents and families in the areas of Health Psychology, Mood and Anxiety, Family Therapy, Individual Therapy, Crisis Intervention, Rehabilitation, Psychoeducational Assessment, and Neuropsychology. With adults, she has experience in the areas of Diabetes Management, Gastrointestinal Disorders, and Eating Disorders. Dr. Drahovzal has conducted a number of workshops for university students covering topics such as study skills, time management, exam anxiety and managing stress. She has also conducted professional-development workshops for medical doctors and personal trainers to help them enhance their client’s motivations for health behaviour.

In support of the profession, Dr. Drahovzal maintains memberships in each of the national, provincial, and local psychological associations. These associations encourage the scientific pursuit of greater understanding of human behaviour and the better provision of quality health care to the public. Dr. Drahovzal continues her professional development through regular supervision, lectures, workshops, conferences, and keeping current with the scientific and clinical literature.