Dr. Janine Giannelli, R.Psych.
Dr. Janine Giannelli is a Registered Psychologist who specializes in the assessment and treatment of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents (ages 6-18) as well as in parenting struggles and behavioural concerns in younger children (ages 3-12). She also addresses problems related to body image, disordered eating, social skills and functioning (i.e., bullying, isolation), sleep, chronic pain, stress, anger problems, and family conflict. The anxiety disorders she has expertise in treating include Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Social Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Separation Anxiety Disorder, and Specific Phobias. The behavioural concerns she has expertise in are Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and noncompliance and tantrums. Dr. Giannelli uses evidence-based (scientifically supported) techniques, primarily cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and behavioural interventions, within the context of a client-centered ('personalized') approach. She also incorporates emotion-focused and interpersonal therapy techniques as well as motivational interviewing as needed. At younger ages, she works with both children and their parents.
In addition to therapy, Dr. Giannelli performs psycho-educational assessments with children and adolescents (ages 6-16) for the purpose of diagnosing social, emotional, behavioural, learning, and cognitive/intellectual concerns. The aim of these assessments is to identity a child's strengths and weaknesses, gain an understanding of how their struggles are impacting different facets of their life, and make home and educational planning recommendations. Diagnoses may be made in such areas as Learning Disabilities, Communication Disorders, ADHD, Intellectual Delay, and Internalizing and Externalizing mental health problems.
Dr. Giannelli completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) with an emphasis in child clinical psychology. In her dissertation research, she explored the needs of families coping with pediatric cancer as well as the roles that positive thinking styles play in the emotional adjustment of these patients and their caregivers. Dr. Giannelli has also been involved in various research projects at UBC, the BC Cancer Agency, McMaster Children's Hospital, and at BC Children's Hospital in areas of behavioural cardiology, psycho-oncology, neuropsychology, and eating disorders. She has published research articles in scholarly journals in the areas of psychophysiology and psychosomatic medicine and she has given research presentations at several national and international conferences. During her graduate training, Dr. Giannelli worked in a variety of inpatient and outpatient realms, including at BC Children's Hospital (Oncology-Neuropsychology), the Maples Adolescent Treatment Centre (a provincial tertiary care facility for troubled youth), St. Paul's Hospital (Chronic Pain Clinic), the Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia, and the UBC Psychology Clinic. She has also worked in private practice settings in both Vancouver and Surrey and has lectured at UBC on a variety of topics, including behavioural disorders, psychotropic medications, brain-behaviour relations, and the psychology of gender. Dr. Giannelli completed her full-time pre-doctoral residence at McMaster Children's Hospital/Hamilton Health Sciences in Hamilton, Ontario. During her residency, she completed major rotations in the child and family outpatient service as well as in eating disorders and adolescent medicine. She also completed minor rotations in inpatient psychiatry, emergency psychiatry, the community parent education service, the infant parenting program, the child advocacy and assessment program, the specialized developmental and behavioural service, and pediatric oncology-neuropsychology.
