Dr. Patricia Behnke
Dr. Patricia Behnke, C.Psych.
Dr. Behnke has been a registered clinical psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario since 2007. She provides psychological services to children, adolescents, and families. In her practice, she conducts psychological and psycho-educational assessments of children and adolescents presenting with learning difficulties (e.g., Learning Disability, Dyslexia), developmental differences (e.g., Intellectual Disability), behavioural concerns, social adjustment difficulties, and gifted abilities. She also conducts diagnostic assessments for Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Dr. Behnke also provides individual psychological therapy for children and adolescents experiencing a range of difficulties, including anxiety (separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, specific phobia), obsessive-compulsive disorder, tic disorders, selective mutism, depression, learning difficulties, low self-esteem, anger, interpersonal difficulties, and difficulties adjusting to major life changes. As part of providing assessment and therapy services, Dr. Behnke also collaborates actively with parents and teachers, and provides recommendations pertaining to parenting and behaviour management strategies.
Dr. Behnke obtained her Master of Arts (2002) and Doctorate (2006) degrees in School and Clinical Child Psychology from the University of Toronto, completing her pre-doctoral internship at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa. She has gained her experience working in multiple settings, including schools and outpatient mental health settings, through her involvement with community-based agencies and professional associations, and through training and supervision of supervised practice members.
Dr. Behnke is passionate about building warm and empathic relationships with her clients and adhering to an evidence-based approach to assessment and intervention to permit her to support clients in reaching their goals. Her therapeutic orientation is primarily cognitive-behavioural (CBT), but she also draws on her training in and knowledge of other well-established approaches, such as dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and supportive parenting for anxious childhood emotions (SPACE), and comprehensive behavioural intervention for tics (CBIT) in order to permit her to meet her clients’ needs. She actively keeps herself informed and up to date on developments in the field through participation in professional development activities.