Meet Dr. Kaylee Misener, Registered Psychologist

College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC) #2941

I'm Dr. Kaylee Misener and I'm glad you're here!

I am of mixed Métis and settler ancestry. My Métis family trace our lineage to the Red River Settlement and my settler family largely originate from Germany and the Netherlands.

I provide virtual treatment services adults and older adolescents (16+). While trained as a generalist, I have a special interest in working with young adults and older adolescents with a focus on body image, disordered eating, self-esteem, and anxiety.

Much of my work has used the cognitive-behavioral model, also known as CBT, and I have seen how well it works. However, my approach is also strongly shaped by feminism, an understanding of cultural influences, and a focus on how people develop over time. I believe that people’s challenges are heavily influenced by the systems around them, their personal relationships, how they think, and how they react to their environment. So, when I conceptualize a client's issues, I always think about the context in which their problems started. I believe that mental health issues often develop as a way to cope, even if those same behaviours later create more problems. This perspective shows how important it is to provide clients with a safe and accepting space in therapy, so they can overcome the personal and mental barriers to change.

I work together with clients to set goals early on, while also staying open to changes as our relationship develops and new themes come up. I encourage clients to take the lead in setting these goals and deciding the order in which they work through them. My goal is to create a supportive environment where clients can learn to be kinder to themselves. While I use many different therapeutic tools, compassion and acceptance are always at the heart of my approach.

With a compassionate and client-centered approach, Kaylee Misener aims to create a safe and supportive environment where individuals can explore their concerns and work towards positive change.

Education and Training

Dr. Misener completed her undergraduate degree in psychology, Master's degree in clinical psychology, and her PhD in clinical psychology all at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Dr. Misener's research explored body image and disordered eating. She is an established researcher in the field of body image, with several peer-reviewed publications. Her dissertation research involved the development and exploration of a novel body image program for adolescent girls. Dr. Misener also designed and taught a university course on the psychology of body image.

She completed her residency with the Vancouver Coastal Health Clinical Psychology Residency Program, with placements at the Foundry (general young adult mental health), the Carlile Youth Concurrent Disorders Centre (adolescent in-patient assessment), BC Operational Stress Injury (veteran mental health), and the Solid Organ Transplant Unit of Vancouver General Hospital (transplant assessment).

Dr. Misener has training and experience in evidence-based treatment approaches, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), self-compassion therapy, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing, among others.

Dr. Misener's areas of focus include body image, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, self-esteem, stress management, depression, and trauma.