What’s a Health Psychologist Anyways? The Importance of Integrated Physical and Mental Health in Paediatric Care and Well-Being

Presented by: Dr.Stella Dentakos, Ph.D., C.Psych. and Elizabeth Wanstall, M.A. 

Paediatric health psychology takes a whole-person approach to the psychological care of children and youth with co-occuring physical and mental health needs.

Despite the important needs that these services aim to address, the unique field of health psychology is often poorly understood. In this workshop, we aim to discuss the role of health psychologists in the care of children and youth with complex needs.

Through a review of the current evidence, clinical experiences and sample cases, best practices in paediatric health psychology will be discussed. We will also teach tangible psychological strategies that clinicians and practitioners can incorporate in their practice. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze the scope and importance of health psychology and its role in paediatric care.
2. Describe how to take a whole-person approach to the care of children and youth with co-morbid physical and mental health needs by adopting an integrated developmental, emotional, social, physical, and environmental lens.
3.  Evaluate the overview of evidence-based care and best practices in paediatric health psychology.
4. Describe psychological strategies to support increased mind-body awareness, reduce stress, cope with chronic physical symptoms, and promote adjustment to acute and/or chronic illness, as well as medical diagnosis and prognosis.

                          

About Dr. Stella Dentakos:

Dr. Stella Dentakos is a paediatric Clinical and Health Psychologist registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario.

Dr. Stella has extensive experience working with children and youth with both physical and mental health needs including somatization and somatic symptoms, chronic pain, functional interference, procedural fears, and coping with a medical diagnosis and prognosis, as well as acute and chronic illness. She also sees children and youth presenting with anxiety, low mood, difficulties with emotion and behavioural regulation, and trauma.

Dr. Stella values collaborative and interdisciplinary care, working closely with medical and allied health professionals and educational teams. She provides consultation, support, and advocacy within the community and across healthcare services. Dr. Stella also delivers comprehensive parenting and caregiver support and is a certified Circle of Security Parenting™ (COSP) facilitator.

Dr. Stella obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical-Developmental Psychology at York University. She then completed a Pre-Doctoral Residency and Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children, where she remains as a staff Psychologist. Dr. Stella also works in private practice at Step Stone Psychology where she leads the clinic’s Health Psychology Service. Dr. Stella also received training at The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the York University Psychology Clinic.  

Outside of direct clinical care, Dr. Stella provides supervision and mentorship to psychology trainees, is involved in clinical research, and delivers lectures and trainings to interdisciplinary audiences. Dr. Stella is dedicated to advancing the field of Health Psychology and to supporting best practices and care. 

   

About Elizabeth Wanstall:

Elizabeth Wanstall is a doctoral student in Clinical-Developmental Psychology at York University, where she also completed her M.A. Under the supervision of Dr. Maggie Toplak, her research focuses on children and youth with ADHD and attentional concerns.

Clinically, Elizabeth has received training in the Tourette Syndrome Neurodevelopmental Clinic at Toronto Western Hospital, the Better Behaviours Service at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the York University Psychology Clinic. 

Elizabeth works in private practice at The Feelings Place, where she provides psychological services to children and youth with selective mutism. She also works at Step Stone Psychology, where she provides psychological assessments and intervention to children and youth with co-occurring physical and mental health needs in the Health Psychology Service. Fluently bilingual in English and French, Elizabeth is passionate about providing accessible psychological services to the Franco-Ontarian community.

Target Audience: Allied health professionals, medical professionals, researchers, clinical case managers, students. 

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