Our CBTm Team
CBTm was created with the aim of reducing wait times and increasing access to Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) based programs for prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use problems to all Manitobans.
The CBTm Team brings together individuals from psychiatry, epidemiology, psychology, and social work with expertise in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. We are committed to supporting the mental health community through the promotion and implementation of the CBTm Classes. The CBTm Team offers training and support to facilitators through mentorship and operates as a centralized support, including assisting with adaptations and program updates. Research on CBTm is ongoing, including a centralized evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the CBTm program.
CBTm Hub – Program Leads
Dr. Sareen is Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba, Medical Director for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) Mental Health Program and Provincial Co-Lead of the Mental Health Addictions Team for Shared Health. Dr. Sareen holds the rank of Professor of Psychiatry in the Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology and Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Sareen has published extensively in the areas of military mental health, posttraumatic stress disorder, homelessness, and First Nations mental health. He has extensive experience in providing cognitive behaviour therapy and supervision.
Dr. Shay-Lee Bolton is an early career researcher, epidemiologist, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba. She is the Research Coordinator for the Manitoba Population Mental Health Research Group led by Dr. Jitender Sareen. Dr. Bolton’s research expertise lies in the area of psychiatric epidemiology, suicide and suicidal behaviors, traumatic life events, at-risk populations (Indigenous populations, sexual minorities, public safety personnel, military), randomized controlled trials, and program evaluation. She has received 25+ local, national and international awards for her research. Most recently, Dr. Bolton was awarded a national-level research award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to evaluate virtual cognitive-behaviour therapy classes for mental wellness in public safety personnel using a randomized controlled trial design. She is also leading the evaluation of virtual and web-based CBTm classes.
CBTm Hub – Clinical & Facilitator Team
Clinical Lead
Irene is a Clinical Specialist with the CBTm Hub through Shared Health. She is also a psychotherapist, and a mental health consultant in private practice. Irene has a keen interest in the intersectionality and the biopsychosocial interactions in populations, she promotes culturally appropriate care through holistic and evidence-based practices that foster resilience, growth, and healing. Irene specializes in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Her creativity, leadership, and mentoring skills enable her to collaborate effectively within inter-professional teams and diverse cultures. She has facilitated MBSR, DBT, and CBTm groups, organized mental wellness retreats, presented at conferences, and led community development projects. Irene adapted CBTm classes for cancer patients, delivered online by oncology counselors at CancerCare Manitoba. She is committed to life long learning, holding a Master’s Degree in Counselling and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work.
Cheryl Maxsom has over 20 years of therapy experience with individuals, couples and groups, specializing in traumatic stress. Cheryl has been a CBTm trainer and facilitator since 2015 and has trained facilitators across Canada. Previously, she worked with military members, RCMP and veterans at 17 Wing Winnipeg and the OSI Clinic in Winnipeg. Cheryl works with individuals including first responders and couples dealing with a wide variety of issues including relationships, work and traumatic stress as well as managing mood. She has extensive training in evidence-based treatments for PTSD, depression and anxiety including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Cognitive Behavior Conjoint Therapy (CBCT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). Cheryl is also trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method.
Dr. Whitney was a psychologist at the Operation Stress Injury Clinic of Winnipeg and an assistant professor with the Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Manitoba. With over 30 years of experience providing CBT, she has expertise in working with individuals, couples and families. Her research focuses on recovery from traumatic stress, effectiveness of therapy via interactive videoconference, and secondary traumatic stress in trauma therapists. Dr. Whitney was a founding member of the CBTm program.
Dr. Kinley is a consulting psychologist with the Interlake Eastern Regional Health Authority (Selkirk) and Assistant Professor with the Department of Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Manitoba. She completed a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Manitoba. She has been providing CBT services for over 15 years to individuals across the lifespan. Areas of research include situation cognition and emotion, epidemiology of mood and anxiety disorders, and community program evaluation.
Dr. Mota is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Clinical Health Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba. She is a Clinical Psychologist at the Operational Stress Injury Clinic in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Dr. Mota’s research focuses on understanding the psychological and physical impacts of trauma exposure in military, first responder, and general populations, and on studying resilience factors that mitigate the negative effects of traumatic stress. She has over 10 years of experience providing Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), including facilitating CBT classes and workshops.
Dr. Pamela Holens has over 20 years of experience providing psychological services, with 13 years of specialization in the areas of traumatic stress and chronic pain. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Health Psychology in the Rady Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba (U of M), as well as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology. For the past 12 years she has worked with military, RCMP, and Veterans who have Operational Stress Injuries (OSIs) at the OSI Clinic at Deer Lodge Centre. In her private practice, she has been treating first responders and other public safety personnel (e.g., firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, and correctional officers) for the past 10 years, and has helped many who have been off work due to psychological and/or physical injuries to regain their pre-trauma level of functioning and return to work.
Andrew Keyes has been working as a mental health counsellor for over 10 years. He graduated with a Master’s in Education from the University of Ottawa in 2014 and began his career working as a counsellor with the Student Academic Success Service, providing psychotherapy services to students at the university. He moved to Winnipeg in 2016 and has since been working as a mental health counsellor at Centre de Santé Saint-Boniface. He works with a diverse client population and serves the residents of Saint-Boniface as well as the francophone community of Winnipeg. Andrew is a trained CBTm facilitator and he frequently uses CBT as a therapeutic modality with his clients.
Dr. Sala is a Psychiatrist at Health Sciences Centre and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. She serves as the Medical Director of Adult Mental Health for the Health Sciences Centre, the Medical Director of the Mood & Anxiety Disorders Program, and the Medical Director of the Student Mental Health Service at Bannatyne Campus. Dr. Sala has more than 15 years of experience providing cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and has received specialized training at the Beck Institute. She has co-authored papers on anxiety and CBT and wrote a book chapter on comorbid anxiety disorders and physical health conditions.
Dr. Wong works in community mental health supporting individuals and families across the lifespan. Her research focuses on mental health interventions, mood and anxiety disorders, and program evaluation. Dr. Wong completed a PhD in Clinical Psychology, and has over 5 years of experience providing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). She also specializes in offering CBTm Classes for youth and young adults. Dr. Wong was a founding member of the CBTm program.
CBTm Hub – Research & Administrative Team
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CBTm Hub – Steering Committee Members
The CBTm Hub was established in October 2021 as a provincial collaborative team of facilitators and other professionals from different sites to address the need for increasing access to CBTm. The work of the CBTm Hub has been funded by the Manitoba Government in partnership with Shared Health. Additional members of the CBTm Hub are listed below: