Dr. Sharon Arnold,
R. Psych.
Clinic Director, Registered Clinical Psychologist #1602
Background
Dr. Arnold (she/her) completed her Ph.D. at Concordia University in Montreal and her clinical internship at BC Children’s Hospital. In addition to her practice at Dr. Sharon Arnold and Associates, she currently works part-time at Simon Fraser University (SFU). In her capacity as the Associate Director of the Clinical Psychology Centre, Dr. Arnold is responsible for training graduate students in in both assessment and therapy. She also guest lectures on the topics of ADHD, learning differences, and autism. She previously worked as a staff psychologist at both Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children and BC Children’s Hospital.
In recent years, Dr. Arnold has been an invited media contributor with Global News on variety of topics, including the importance of psychoeducational assessments, talking to children about COVID-19, and the challenges the families and children face trying to navigate the education system.
Areas of Speciality
Dr. Arnold has a range of clinical experience in both individual and group therapy, including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), emotion-focused therapy (EFT) and social-skills training. She has co-led groups for children and adolescents with anxiety and social skills challenges. She specializes in treating social, behavioural and emotional challenges in children and teens including: anxiety (separation anxiety generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder), depression, selective mutism, low self-esteem, self-harm behaviour, difficulty adjusting to life’s circumstances and school-related stress. Dr. Arnold also has experience working with parents on issues including family conflict, behavioural concerns, and adjustment to illness, separation and divorce. She is passionate about helping people strive to be their best selves and adopts a strength-based approach in her work. She believes that relationships are the key to growth and therapy and assessment can be accomplished in an atmosphere of fun and laughter.
Dr. Arnold dedicates part of her practice to providing psychoeducational assessments for children, adolescents, and adults presenting with a variety of developmental, behavioural, and learning challenges (e.g., ADHD, learning differences, intellectual delays, giftedness). Dr. Arnold also conducts assessments for children (over 6 years of age), adolescents, and adults suspected of having autism.
Dr. Arnold is a member of several professional organizations, including the BC Psychological Association and the Canadian Psychological Association. She is registered with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia (Registrant #1602).