Dr. Alicja Dobrzanski
Dr. Dobrzanski completed her Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree at Adler University in Vancouver and her pre-doctoral internship at UVic’s Student Wellness Centre (CPA accredited). She identifies as a first generation Canadian of Polish heritage who was born in Ontario and presently resides in Victoria, BC. She uses she/her pronouns. Over the last several years, Dr. Dobrzanski amassed a wealth of experience from having worked in a variety of settings (Downtown Eastside, community mental health clinic, transitional housing for young men in recovery, university wellness center) with adults of diverse gender, sexual, cultural, religious, and spiritual identities. The presentations that she has most often worked with include depression, anxiety, stress/burnout management, complex PTSD, difficulties with emotion regulation, relationship challenges, low self-esteem, identity exploration, and overall feeling “stuck” in life. She has also run groups for processing grief, improving sleep, and learning skills to manage periods of emotional overwhelm.
Dr. Dobrzanski approaches her clinical work by integrating theories from multiple evidence-based approaches (e.g., DBT, ACT, CBT, and psychodynamic therapies) while regularly checking in with you in pursuit of gaining a deeper understanding of your challenges and the context within which you (and they) are situated. She often enriches this exploratory work with the invitation to learn skills/techniques tailored to your needs (e.g., getting unstuck from critical or defeating thoughts; breaking out of painful emotional spirals; sourcing motivation to work towards frustrated goals; making requests and/or setting boundaries). Dr. Dobrzanski offers both short-term and longer-term psychotherapy, recognizing that individual preferences and access to resources are important considerations. She frequently uses humour, validation, and metaphor in sessions. She also places a lot of value on being authentic, transparent, and collaborative with her clients.
In addition to psychotherapy, Dr. Dobrzanski has experience in providing diagnostic assessments to individuals aged 16+ for a variety of presentations (e.g., mood issues, anxiety, panic, OCD, ADHD, personality challenges, and substance use).
Dr. Dobrzanski is currently in the process of applying for registration with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC). During this process, she provides psychological services under the supervision of a Registered Psychologist at VIPS.