Dr. Dunkley received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from University of British Columbia. She completed her pre-doctoral residency at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Ontario, where she focused on the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, and women’s health concerns. She primarily uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), complimented by other evidence-based treatments, such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and dialectal behaviour therapy.
Dr. Dunkley specializes in treating adults with anxiety, sexual trauma, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Specifically, she provides evidence-based treatments for: generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, illness/health anxiety disorder, and specific phobia; acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder following recent or remote sexual trauma; obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), including OCD with primary obsessions (e.g. sexual, religious, or harm-based themes), OCD with mental contamination, and relationship OCD. She has received specialized training in treating mental health concerns during the menopausal transition and the prenatal/postpartum period. Dr. Dunkley also treats concerns that commonly occur alongside these conditions, such as insomnia, depressed mood, perfectionism, emotional dysregulation, and sexual difficulties.
With regards to sexual concerns, Dr. Dunkley provides treatment for individuals of all genders and orientations looking for help with low desire, sexual pain, erotophobia, performance anxiety, erectile function, and difficulties with orgasm. She also works with couples experiencing intimacy concerns and couples navigating infidelity. As sexual difficulties often accompany symptoms of anxiety and trauma, Dr. Dunkley has particular expertise in treating presentations where these concerns intersect. Dr. Dunkley is a “kink-aware” clinician, experienced in working with individuals with alternative sexual interests and consensual forms of non-monogamy. Her open and non-judgmental stance creates a safe space to discuss deeply personal and sensitive subjects.
Dr. Dunkley’s goal as a clinician is to improve quality of life through movements towards meaningful and lasting change. Her warm, genuine interpersonal style promotes a strong therapeutic relationship, and her compassionate approach to therapy creates a calm and confidential atmosphere for clients to express themselves. She believes in client-centered care and collaboratively tailors treatment to meet the individual needs of each of her clients.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Dunkley is actively engaged in clinical research on generalized anxiety disorder and on sexual concerns among individuals with anxiety disorders. She has published her research on sexual function, alternative sexual interests, and mindfulness in several peer-reviewed journals, as well as presented her research at national and international conferences.
Dr. Dunkley offers telehealth/virtual sessions only.
