Chronic Pain & Psychological Injury
Thank you in advance for reaching out. By way of background, I have both a specialist and general psychological practice. The “specialist practice” focuses upon assessment and treatment of those individuals with chronic pain and/or “psychological injury,” namely, depression, anxiety, fears or phobias, adjustment disorders, PTSD, and so on.
The “general practice” is less specific in nature and geared to more general individual and couples therapy.
Both practices, to the extent possible, are rigorously evidenced-based. It is my job (and intent) to offer superlative psychological service and care.
- Peter Joy, Ph.D., R. Psych., CPBC Reg. #1003
Meet Dr. Peter Joy
Dr. Peter Joy has worked as a psychologist in British Columbia for over 30 years. Initially, he worked as a consulting psychologist at the Thorson Pain Rehabilitation Clinic (1991-1992), and then for seven years as a psychologist at WorkSafeBC. At WorkSafeBC, he conducted psychological-legal assessments of injured workers for medical, claims, rehabilitation, pension, and Board of Review purposes. He conducted research, and he worked within in the PACE Program, a then WorkSafeBC Interdisciplinary Pain Program.
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He has had a full-time private practice since 1999, specializing in the assessment and treatment of individuals with acute and chronic pain and related disability plus co-existing (or unrelated) anxiety, depressive, sleep, neurocognitive, substance, and trauma-and stressor-related disorders. More commonly, the reference would be to anxiety, depression, problems with sleep, fears, phobias, PTSD, and so on.
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He is informed by a bio-psycho-social understanding of physical and psychological health. This understanding informs his approach to both assessment and treatment. Both practices are rigorously evidence-based.
Primary treatment modalities include CBT (Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction). In-session treatment is supplemented by links to multiple self-help and educational online resources. Different client strengths, weaknesses, capabilities, and preferences are recognized: treatment is individualized. Individual, couple, family, and group approaches are accommodated.
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He has been a long-standing member of the British Columbia Psychological Association, the Canadian Psychological Association, the Canadian Pain Society, the American Pain Society, and the International Association for the Study of Pain.
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He has acted as the psychological representative on the PainBC Project ECHO for Chronic Pain. He has worked as a psychological consultant with the Canadian Pain Regenerative Institute (CPRI Health) and Restore Sports Medicine.
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He has presented and published widely in his area of interest. He has been qualified on numerous occasions over the course of 32 years as an expert in psychology in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and in the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta.​​
Areas of Focus
In my practice, I assess and treat individuals with a number of conditions or concerns including:
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Chronic Pain & Pain Management
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Anxiety (including Panic, GAD, Social)
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Depression, Sadness, Low Mood
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Trauma, Phobias, PTSD
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Stress and Stress Management
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Emotional Regulation
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Adjustment Disorders
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Relationship Issues/Challenges
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Workplace Disability
Treatment Approach
Types of Therapy:
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Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
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Attachment-based
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Cognitive Behavioural (CBT)
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Existential
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Family / Marital
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Family Systems
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Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)
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Motivational Interviewing
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​Client-Centred
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Trauma Focused/Trauma Informed
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Transactional Analysis
Insurance Details/Financials
To be discussed. Individual clients should check extended benefits coverage before initial contact. Receipts will be provided for insurance purposes. Psychology services are not covered by MSP.
*Pay by ACH Bank transfer
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BlueCross
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Canada Life
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Desjardins
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Great-West Life​
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Green Shield Canada
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ICBC
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Manulife
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Pacific Blue Cross
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​Royal Canadian Mounted Police
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SunLife
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Veterans Affairs Canada