Dr Katherine Fretz
Registered Psychologist
My areas of practice
I provide evidence-based, individual psychotherapy for adults facing various mental health and health-related difficulties. I have experience in the treatment of emotional challenges such as anxiety (i.e., generalized anxiety, phobias, panic), depression, and stress management issues. I have a keen interest and particular expertise in treating sleep problems, namely chronic insomnia (i.e., difficulties falling or staying asleep leading to dissatisfying sleep quantity or quality). Additionally, I have extensive experience working with individuals facing health-related challenges such as coping with illness (e.g., chronic pain, diabetes, cancer, GI conditions such as Crohn’s and colitis, cardiovascular conditions), injury (e.g., spinal cord injury, burns), as well as difficulties adjusting to, and managing, disease and/or disability.
My approach to therapy
My primary aim is to approach therapy with warmth, compassion, and collaboration. Using evidence-based treatments as the foundation, I work with each client to tailor treatments to their individual goals, preferences, and strengths. My primary therapeutic approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Of note, I have in-depth experience in the gold-standard, first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I). Where appropriate, I will creatively and flexibly incorporate other treatment elements such as motivational interviewing to enhance behaviour change as well as self-compassion and mindfulness strategies.
My background
I am a Registered Psychologist (#2932) with the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia. I completed my Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. I then completed my residency in Health Psychology at Nova Scotia Health in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I am a post-doctoral fellow with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Sleep Research Consortium. I have published research and presented widely in the areas of health psychology (i.e., examining the intersection of mental and physical health) and sleep (i.e., chronic insomnia). I am extremely passionate about translating scientific knowledge into communities, clinical practice and health policy, and have therefore been involved with numerous program development and knowledge translation initiatives. In addition to my work at Changeways Clinic, I am a staff psychologist at a neurorehabilitation hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia.
About me
Outside of work, I aim to “practice what I preach”. I am an avid mindfulness practitioner, yogi, and lover of the outdoors. I enjoy spending time with family and friends and singing in a community choir.