Dr. Tamara Meixner, Ph.D., C. Psych.

Registered Psychologist

Even at the best of times, parenting can feel like a challenging endeavour. Parenting children and adolescents who are navigating mental health difficulties or who experience big emotions can feel especially daunting. There is no single, best way to do it and an abundance of (sometimes conflicting) information out there about how to try. Wading through can feel confusing and it can be hard to know if you and your child(ren) are on the right track.

I work with parents to engage differently with their children, strengthen their parent-child dynamic, and create environments that are optimal for growth and change. Similarly, I work individually with children and adolescents to foster curiosity about their inner world and assist them in building a skillset that moves them closer to their goals. When we know better, we do better for ourselves and for those we care about.

The specific outcomes of this work are deeply individual. My broad goals, however, are to assist families in making adjustments that reduce suffering, increase fulfillment, and instill confidence that members can respond flexibly and effectively to adversity or otherwise. 

Dr. Tamara obtained her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Victoria, followed by her M.A. and Ph.D. in the Clinical Psychology Program at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson). She completed her predoctoral residency at BC Children’s Hospital with a combined focus on mental health and medical psychology. Prior to this she received training in a variety of settings including McMaster Children’s Hospital, the Toronto District School Board, and within a community-based program offering prevention and early intervention services to pregnant and parenting women and their young children. For the past number of years she has worked at a private clinic offering comprehensive Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) to clients across the lifespan.

Dr. Tamara also works part-time in the Department of Pediatrics at St. Michael’s Hospital where she conducts multidisciplinary assessments in the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder diagnostic clinic. 

Dr. Tamara draws on a combination of evidence-based approaches and clients’ lived experiences to facilitate meaningful change in the here and now. Her style is warm, active and collaborative, and grounded in the belief that wellbeing across the lifespan is strongly influenced by past and present environments, including early relationships. Dr. Tamara is committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space, and to developing a genuine and trusting working relationship with her clients. Dr. Tamara acknowledges that her perspectives are informed by aspects of her own identity and she strives to work from identity and culture-affirming lenses.

Client Focus:  Children, Adolescents, Parents, Families, Adults

Types of therapy: 

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

• Attachment-focused Interventions

• Motivational Interviewing 

Issues: 

• Anxiety

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Behavioural Challenges

• Low Mood & Depression issues

• Emotional Dysregulation

• Trauma

• Self-esteem/Confidence concerns

• Coping with life transitions or stressors

• Parenting

• Early Intervention