Ms. Carly Parsons,
Clinical Psychology, PhD Candidate
Carly A. Parsons (she/her) is a Clinical Psychology PhD Candidate at the University of British Columbia. At the North Shore Stress & Anxiety Centre, she provides in-person and virtual psychological services to both adolescents and adults. At the present time, Carly works under the supervision of a registered psychologist.
Carly specializes in the evidence-based treatment of concerns related to anxiety, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, low mood, trauma, physical health, and emotion dysregulation. For example, Carly supports individuals with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, health anxiety, chronic and/or medically unexplained health conditions, intense emotions, and harmful coping strategies (e.g., self-harming behaviours, binge eating). Carly also has experience supporting clients with concerns related to perfectionism, identity, body image, interpersonal relationships, pregnancy & postpartum, and sexual functioning.
Carly has in-depth training in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). She works flexibly and collaboratively with clients to integrate these and other evidence-based approaches (e.g., Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing), informed by client goals and preferences. Carly has a warm, gentle, and nonjudgmental approach to therapy, which she balances with structured accountability in order to help clients make progress toward meaningful goals and bring their actions in line with their values. Carly believes that desired changes are most likely to occur in a context of acceptance and self-compassion.
Carly completed her predoctoral residency with Alberta Health Services at the CPA-accredited Calgary Clinical Psychology Residency. In her three clinical rotations, she provided therapeutic services to diverse populations in the Women’s Health Clinic, Allied Health Outpatient Neurology, and the adolescent inpatient units at Foothills Hospital.
Prior to her residency, Carly completed clinical practicum placements in a range of settings including the OCD Clinic at BC Children’s Hospital, the Maples Adolescent Treatment Centre, and the DBT Centre of Vancouver. Carly also completed practica at the West Coast Centre for Sex Therapy and UBC Sexual Health Research Laboratory, where she provided evidence-based individual and group therapy for sexual functioning concerns.
In addition to her work at NSSAC, Carly is involved in clinical research, and has given presentations and published scientific articles on topics related to social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and online behaviour (e.g., social media use). Carly also volunteers on the board of the Canadian Group Psychotherapy Foundation and engages in environmental advocacy through the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.
Outside of work, Carly enjoys dancing, cooking, reality TV, spending time outdoors, and exploring the many wonderful neighbourhoods, restaurants, and cafes of Greater Vancouver.
