ANDERSON ADKINS - Key Persons

Caleb Meller (B.A. (Hons.), M.Ed., Psychological Associate, Independent Practice) completed his M.Ed. in Counselling Psychology at the University of Alberta. Caleb worked as a Registered Psychologist in Alberta where he provided psychological intervention for children, youth, and adults in community, private practice, and in-patient settings. He is now registered with the Psychological Association of Manitoba to practice independently as a Psychological Associate. He has experience providing individual and group psychotherapy, as well as psycho-educational assessment services. Caleb's therapeutic orientation is client-centered. He uses Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, self-compassion strategies, and mindfulness-based training to help clients deal with anxiety, mood, and behavioural disorders, and general life stressors. Caleb has particular interest in psycho-educational assessment and intervention for ADHD, FASD, specific learning disabilities, mood and anxiety disorders, and intellectual disability.

Candace Kosack (B.A. (Hons), M.Sc.) has been a Clinical Associate with Red Ladder Optimized Learning since 2008. She is permanently certified as a School Psychologist by Manitoba Education and active with the Manitoba Association of School Psychologists. She has practiced in the Winnipeg School Division and River-East Transcona School Divisions with elementary, middle, and high school age students. She is interested in working with learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and behavioural issues, and she has a special interest in ADHD and Anxiety Disorders. She is passionate about supporting children and teens toward growth and positive change in their lives.

Chris E. Tysiaczny (M.A., Ph.D., C. Psych.) completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Manitoba and is a Registered Psychologist. He provides a variety of psychological services to children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Tysiaczny's practice includes psychological and psycho-educational assessment and psychological treatment for difficulties with anxiety, mood, learning disorders, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, FASD, and various health-related concerns. Dr. Tysiaczny's approach to treatment involves the use of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Client-Centered approaches to help empower individuals to make positive changes in their lives.

Daniel Buchanan (M.A.) completed his Masters Degree in School Psychology at the University of Manitoba, with training experiences in two public school divisions and the Manitoba Youth Centre. He currently divides his professional time between Red Ladder Optimized Learning and Seven Oaks School Division. He conducts psychoeducational and psychological assessments with elementary, middle and high school students, as well as adults. Areas of particular interest include assessment and intervention for depression and anxiety, learning disabilities, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and FASD.

Elizabeth M. Adkins (M.A., Ph.D., C. Psych.) is a Registered Psychologist and Partner in Anderson Adkins and Associates / Red Ladder Optimized Learning. Since completing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Manitoba and an internship at Yale University in 1982, she has been Staff Psychologist at the St. Boniface Hospital and a Psychologist with the Child Guidance Clinic of Winnipeg, and Executive Director of New Directions for Children, Youth, and Families, a large Winnipeg-based community service agency. As an Assistant Professor of Clinical Health Psychology with the University of Manitoba, she provides training to Clinical Health Psychology interns. Dr. Adkins' practice includes individual, couple, and family psychotherapy, as well as assessment of learning difficulties, trauma, and addictions. Areas of particular clinical interest include trauma, mood disorders, anxiety, sexuality and work with people who are intellectually disabled.

Lisa M. Wright (B.A. (Hons.), M.A., Ph.D.) holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Manitoba, and has been an Associate with Red Ladder Optimized Learning since 2004. She has a special interest in the assessment and treatment of learning disorders in adults, including ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Nonverbal Learning Disability, and other specific learning disabilities. She has worked extensively in the areas of ADHD coaching, career planning, and the evaluation and treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorders.

Job Titles:

• Office Manager and Intake Coordinator for Red Ladder Optimized Learning

Marianne Wiens is the Office Manager and Intake Coordinator for Red Ladder Optimized Learning and Red Ladder Optimized Learning. She is normally in her office between 10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Neal D. Anderson, (MFA, Ph.D., C. Psych.) is a Registered Psychologist and Partner in Anderson Adkins and Associates / Red Ladder Optimized Learning. He has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute (Carpinteria, California), and is registered with the Psychological Association of Manitoba. He provides a variety of psychological and consultation services including psychological and psycho-educational evaluation, psychological management and treatment of learning disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, family relational difficulties, parenting issues, as well as educational and occupational difficulties. Since 2009, he has been Divisional Psychologist for Royal Canadian Mounted Police D Division (Manitoba) Health Services.

Nicole Taylor (Ph.D., C.Psych.) is a Registered Clinical Psychologist and Pediatric Neuropsychologist. She completed her Masters in Neuropsychology at the University of Western Ontario and her Ph.D. at the University of Manitoba. She is also Assistant Professor in the Child & Adolescent section of the Clinical Health Psychology program, with cross-appointments to the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Dr. Taylor provides a variety of child & adolescent psychological and consultation services including cognitive, developmental, psychoeducational, behavioural, and neuropsychological assessment and intervention. Additional areas of practice include individual and parent-based therapy for children and adolescents. Some areas of particular interest include traumatic and acquired brain injury, epilepsy, stroke, FASD, and other cognitive, learning, behaviour, and developmental disorders.

Robyn Legge (M.A., Ph.D., C.Psych.) is a Registered Clinical Psychologist. She completed her Masters and Ph.D. at the University of Toronto. Before joining Anderson Adkins and Associates / Red Ladder Optimized Learning, Dr. Legge was Team Lead and Psychologist of the Adolescent Eating Disorders Day Hospital at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. She has also practiced at York University's Counselling and Disability Services. Areas of practice for Dr. Legge include individual psychotherapy for adolescents and adults and family therapy. Some areas of special interest are treatment of eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, and trauma, family and relationship difficulties, assistance with self-esteem, management of anger and stress, grief and loss, and life transitions.