Melisa Robichaud, Ph.D., R.Psych

Dr. Melisa Robichaud received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Concordia University in Montreal. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry at UBC Hospital where she was involved in research on cognitive therapy for OCD (Primary Obsessions subtype). She is currently an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), a clinical instructor in the UBC Department of Psychiatry, and a clinical associate in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University (SFU). She is also certified as an expert in cognitive-behavioural therapy by the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (CACBT).

Dr. Robichaud worked in the former Anxiety Disorders Clinic of UBC Hospital, where she provided assessment and treatment to anxiety disorder patients. She also trained and supervised psychiatry and psychology residents in how to assess, diagnose, and treat anxiety disorders.

Dr. Robichaud has been actively involved in non-profit organizations dedicated to the dissemination of best practice treatment for individuals struggling with anxiety disorders. She is a former President of CACBT (2016-2019), and is on the CACBT Certification Task Force. She also served on the Board of Directors of Anxiety Canada (formerly AnxietyBC) from 2006 to 2010, was the Director of Programs (2007-2010), and is currently on the Anxiety Canada Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Robichaud’s area of specialization is cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders. She has established expertise in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), health anxiety (also called illness anxiety or hypochondriasis), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, body-focused repetitive behaviours (e.g., hair pulling, skin picking), and post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Robichaud’s particular area of expertise is CBT for GAD. She ran the GAD treatment program at the former Anxiety Disorders Clinic of UBC Hospital, and has provided workshops to professionals internationally on how to recognize and treat GAD. She has published numerous scientific articles and book chapters on the subject, as well as co-authoring several books on the treatment of GAD, including “Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: From Science to Practice” (2ndedition), "The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Workbook: A Comprehensive CBT Guide for Coping with Uncertainty, Worry, and Fear", and “The Worry Workbook: CBT Skills to Overcome Worry and Anxiety by Facing the Fear of Uncertainty”.