Deborah Bird, MSc.
Registered Psychologist
Deborah received her Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Capella University in 2003 after completing her Bachelor of Arts at St. Thomas University. She has over 19 years’ experience providing assessments and treatment to children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples in schools, outpatient mental health facilities, and private practice settings. Deborah is a registered clinical psychologist with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners (NSBEP) in Psychology, #R0637
Deborah’s Therapy Approach
Deborah prides herself on using evidence-based techniques specific to her client’s difficulties to assist her in supporting a collaborative and holistic approach to her treatment practices. Among the many evidence-based therapeutic approaches, Deborah mainly focuses on using: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Dedication to Life Long Learning
Deborah believes that life long learning is important in order to remain up to date with evidence-based practices. Most recently, she has focussed on gaining in depth training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adolescents and Adults.
Ashley Gallant, MC
Registered Psychologist
Ashley Gallant returned back home to Nova Scotia from Alberta to practice as a Registered Psychologist. She has been providing mental health services to adolescents, adults, families and couples since 2009.
Her current areas of focus include issues related to anxiety, phobias, depression, perinatal mood disorders, relationship conflict, couples work, complex trauma and abuse, additictions, grief and loss, as well as personal growth and wellness.
Among the many evidence based therapeutic approaches, she primarily focuses on using: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Ashley believes that empathetic understanding is essential in developing a therapeutic relationship and supporting personal change and growth. In a safe and judgement free environment, she hopes to assist her clients in gaining an understanding of their emotions, thoughts, and life patterns as a way to optimize functioning and well-being.
Breanna Young, PsyD
Registered Psychologist
Breanna is a licensed Registered Clinical Psychologist. After completing her Bachelor of Science (Bsc) with Honours in Psychology at Acadia University, Breanna entered the Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD) program in Clinical Psychology at Adler University. Breanna’s doctoral dissertation examined the positive impacts that can result from a trauma. Throughout her doctoral program, Breanna is grateful to have gained a variety of clinical experiences in private practice, community, and hospital settings.
Breanna’s practice includes, but is not limited to, working with those who may be experiencing: anxiety, depression, behavioural dysregulation, struggles with co-parenting, adjustment to medical diagnoses, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, and workplace or school stressors.
She uses an integrative and supportive approach in her work, primarily incorporating an attachment-based perspective to understand an individual’s concerns. She uses therapeutic techniques that are appropriate to each client she sees, integrating modalities such as Interpersonal Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Mindfulness.
Breanna is continually learning and growing from her clients, and believes in using a client-centered, culturally sensitive approach to form strong connections and relationships. By acknowledging the system an individual exists in and bearing witness to their difficulties, Breanna aims to lend insight and guidance to sustained personal growth. Breanna offers a safe, inclusive, and queer-friendly space, and is very open to learning from her clients and adapting to meet their needs.
Nadine Haddad M.Psych
Registered Psychologist
Nadine received her Bachelor of Science degree from Dalhousie University and her Master of Psychology degree from Adler Graduate Professional School. Throughout her master’s program, Nadine focused on counselling psychology and cultural considerations in therapy.
Nadine draws from evidence-based therapies and interventions such as Mindfulness-Integrated Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Dialectical-Behavioural Therapy, and EMDR to support her clients. Nadine works with those who experience anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, complex trauma, self-esteem issues, and those experiencing adjustment issues to life transitions. Nadine believes authenticity, compassion, and empathy are essential for establishing a solid therapeutic relationship. She takes a client-centred approach to ensure her clients feel seen and heard.
Nadine is dedicated to lifelong learning through continuing education. Additionally, she continues to learn and grow from her clients in order to provide a welcoming and safe environment for all.
Anne Sophie Champod, Ph.D
Registered Psychologist
Her research, clinical, and teaching activities are focused on brain-behaviour relationships in health and disease. Clinically, she has expertise in neuropsychological assessment and in the treatment of chronic pain in adults of all ages. Her current clinical practice is focused on the treatment of chronic pain that occurs in the context of a wide range of health conditions. Chronic pain induces changes in the central nervous system that amplifies the pain signal sent to the brain. Dr. Champod uses an active biopsychosocial approach that targets the brain and the body to provide pain relief. She uses a variety of evidence-based techniques from cognitive-behavioural and mindfulness approaches tailored to the individual’s needs that have been shown to help turn down the pain signal and improve quality of life.
Dr. Champod provides clinical services in both English and French.
Will Shead, Ph.D.
Psychologist (Candidate Register)
Dr. Shead completed his Ph.D in Clinical Psychology at the University of Calgary and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at McGill University in 2010. He is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology at Mount Saint Vincent University and his primary area of research is in gambling and addiction. We are lucky to have Dr. Shead join our team as he can walk along side of clients who experience anxiety and depression. Dr. Shead’s fun, easy going demeanor quickly can put clients at ease so they can get down to work and learn strategies to get unhooked. Dr. Shead’s primary therapeutic modality emphasizes cognitive behaviour therapy, motivational interviewing and accessing clients stages of readiness for change.
Noémie Bergeron-Germain, BSC (Hons)
Practicum Student
Noémie (pronounced No-Emmy) is a Master of Science Candidate of Caribbean descent currently pursuing her training in Clinical Psychology at Acadia University. Prior to her graduate studies, Noémie received her Bachelor of Science (honours) degree from Mount Saint Vincent University. During her time at Mount Saint Vincent University, Noémie co-developed the Race Stress Study for her honours thesis which looked at how racial stress affects brain functioning in BIPOC folks. Her Master’s thesis focuses on testing a home-based rehabilitation treatment for stroke survivors who sustain post-stroke cognitive difficulties.
Before beginning her training in clinical psychology, Noémie worked as a specialized tutor for children aged 5 to 12 years, as well as a non-licensed substitute teacher for Halifax Regional Centre for Education. She also worked as a research assistant for the MSVU ELM laboratory.
During her graduate studies, Noémie has gained experience providing psychoeducational assessments and delivering Cognitive Behavioural treatment for adults with specific phobias. Noémie will join Bird and Associates as part of her clinical practicum, during which she looks forward to gaining experience in assessing ADHD for both adults and adolescents. She is also excited to learn more about providing evidence-based therapeutic treatments with a focus on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Noémie firmly believes that systemic factors have a strong influence on mental health and on general functioning, and that culturally-sensitive approaches to assessment and therapy are therefore crucial. She is dedicated to learning from her clients to create the safest space for them to learn, grow, and heal.
Isaac Hahn, MA
Psychologist (Candidate Register)
Isaac is a Psychologist (Candidate Register), registered with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology (registration #C10836).
Isaac’s Training
Isaac completed his Master of Arts (MA) degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Regina, following his Bachelor of Science (honours) degree in Psychology from Saint Mary’s University. His MA research focused on relationships between anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, and chronic pain. His honours research examined social identity and group bias.
Isaac’s Professional Experience
Prior to beginning his career in private practice, Isaac completed a full-time internship in Community Mental Health here in Nova Scotia as part of his clinical training. There, he gained experience providing psychological interventions with a diverse client population. In 2019, Isaac joined Bird & Associates Psychological Services, and has continued providing psychological therapy to adults with a broad range of concerns and difficulties.
Isaac’s Therapy Approach
Isaac provides individual therapy for adults with a variety of concerns. Areas of practice include academic difficulties, anger management, assertiveness, chronic musculoskeletal pain, communication skills, emotional expression, depression, generalized anxiety, grief, insomnia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, panic disorder, self esteem issues, social anxiety, specific phobias, transition to university, and solution-focused therapy.
Isaac uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and related, evidence-based techniques to help clients successfully address their difficulties. He works collaboratively with clients in a respectful, caring manner.
Dedication to Life Long Learning
Isaac is a firm believer in the importance of continuing education, attending scientific conferences and professional development workshops to further his therapeutic skillset and keep up to date with current research.
Outside the Office
Outside of private practice, Isaac likes to read, spend time outdoors, and play music.