Dr. Megumi Iyar, C.Psych.

Dr. Megumi Iyar is a registered psychologist with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario. Her area of specialization is in adult mental health, and she is registered to provide services in the areas of Clinical, Counselling, Rehabilitation and Health Psychology. Dr. Iyar adopts a collaborative approach to deliver client-centered care, tailoring treatment to meet the individual needs of her clients.

Her therapeutic style is warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental. Dr. Iyar collaborates with clients to establish meaningful goals for therapy, that move them towards the life they want to live. She fosters a safe environment, setting the stage for guided self-exploration and reflection. Utilizing a strengths and skills based approach, Dr. Iyar works to empowers clients with the goal to enhance client autonomy, bolster resilience, increase motivation, promote feelings of self-efficacy, and facilitate meaningful and lasting behaviour change. As such, in therapy, clients can expect to gain a deeper understanding of their problems, to identify and harness their own strengths as a catalyst for change, to learn evidence-based strategies to navigate challenges, and to practice engaging in new target behaviours that improve one’s quality of life and well-being.

Dr. Iyar is well-versed in working with a diverse range of client populations, specializing in complex mental health, neurological, and medical health conditions. She has extensive experience in the provision of treatment and assessment for anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social anxiety, as well as in the treatment of mood disorders, and substance use. Dr. Iyar also holds notable expertise working with clients and their families in the domain of eating disorders, a field where she has devoted over ten years conducting clinical research across the developmental and weight spectrum. Her clinical proficiency extends to addressing chronic pain, stroke and neurological illnesses, spinal cord injury, and amputation. Moreover, her psychological training equips her to effectively assist individuals with various life concerns, such as managing stress, addressing sleep concerns, adapting to change, coping with grief, improving body image, and navigating other aspects of mental and emotional health. Dr. Iyar’s clinical experiences emphasize her versatility in addressing both specific health-related issues and the broader spectrum of psychological challenges that individuals may encounter.

In her therapeutic practice, she is committed to delivering efficient and effective evidence-based treatment, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). This diverse skill set enables her to customize her approach to the unique needs and preferences of each client.

Dr. Iyar’s educational journey is a testament to her dedication to the field of psychology. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, where she also earned her Master of Arts degree in counselling psychology. She was granted her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at UBC-O. Dr. Iyar’s pre-doctoral residency was completed at the Edmonton Consortium for Clinical Psychology.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Iyar has a robust research background. She is a published author of chapters focusing on motivational interviewing, showcasing her expertise in this area. Her research endeavors span over a decade, with a significant focus on health care innovation and examining best clinical practices and treatment efficacy. This includes a decade of research in eating disorders, particularly emphasizing the integration of self-compassion, client autonomy, and factors that promote change with the aim of improving adherence to eating disorder treatment. Dr. Iyar’s contributions to the field extend to the national and international stage, having presented her research findings at various respected research conferences. This blend of clinical expertise and research acumen, ensures that Dr. Iyar’s practice is grounded in the latest evidence-based approaches, providing her clients with the highest quality of care.