Dr. Deborah Bell, Registered Psychologist #1649

Dr. Bell is a registered psychologist who has specialized in empowering children and parents for over 15 years. Dr. Bell's work includes providing therapy to individuals, families, and parents as well as assessments. She has a background working with children and adults who have histories of trauma. These clients have come to Dr. Bell with a wide background of experiences, for example: physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and foster care.

Dr. Bell has specialized training in the area of Infant Mental Health. Dr. Bell has been trained in a wide range of approaches in this area, and is able to provide clinical service to families as well as supervision and training to professionals. This work focuses on the early relationships between parent and caregiver, as well as in depth understanding of early development. She takes great joy in working with the relationships between infants (ages 0-5 years) and their caregivers and seeing the transformation of little ones' behaviour as their caregiver gains confidence and understanding.

In addition, Dr. Bell works with clients living with anxiety, depression, behavioural challenges, and family roadblocks to healthy relationships. Dr. Bell brings an attachment lens to all she does. This means that, in both therapy and assessment, Dr. Bell pays attention to the relationships in a person's life and how those relationships may be impacting how they are feeling. Dr. Bell has extensive training in play therapy, and utilizes play and attachment therapy techniques in her approach to counselling.

Dr. Bell is pleased to offer full psychoeducational assessments for children, youths and adults, providing comprehensive reports that take into account the essence of the person beyond what is found in the school setting. Dr. Bell believes in assessments that go beyond reporting test scores, but to reflect the circumstances and characteristics of the person assessed. These assessments are used in all different contexts: Learning Disability Diagnosis; Giftedness; University Admission; Private School Admission; IQ Testing.

Dr. Bell enjoys sharing her love of clinical work and the spirit of children through teaching and supervising practitioners in their clinical work. She teaches at the graduate level and supervises clinicians at all levels of career development. She is pleased to training for community care providers and providing parent education seminars as well.

Dr. Bell works with a dedicated team of professionals who believe strongly in the importance of attachment, the sacred bond between children and parents, and the celebration and protection of the spirit of children and youth. The team at Sand Story Psychology Services work closely together to provide each client with specialized attention in order to provide the best support and meet each person's needs.