Dr. Kenneth Y. W. Kwan
PhD, CPsych
Executive Director and Chief Psychologist
Dr. Kwan is the Founder and Executive Director of Oshawa Psychological & Counselling Services (OPCS) serving Oshawa and surrounding communities in Durham Region, of Woodbine Psychological & Counselling Services (WPCS) serving Markham and surrounding communities in York Region and of the Learning Disabilities Psycho-Education Clinic at OPCS. He is also the founder of the Oshawa Psychotherapy Training Institute (OPTI), a unique training division of Oshawa Psychological & Counselling Services that focuses on providing mental health clinicians with both professional and personal quality learning as well as peer and clinical support. Dr. Kwan is a registered psychologist in clinical and counselling psychology with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families as his primary client groups. During more than 30 years of clinical counselling experience, Dr. Kwan has held various clinical positions and leadership roles including Clinical Director of Family Services York Region. Dr. Kwan provides clinical consultation to practicing mental health clinicians, psychologists, and agencies.
Dr. Kwan was first registered as a chartered psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists in 1988 and with the College of Psychologists of Ontario in 2003. Dr. Kwan received his Ph.D. in Community Psychology from the University of Toronto in 2002. He also completed additional post-doctoral training for his registration in Clinical and Counselling psychology with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Prior to that, Dr. Kwan completed his M.Ed. in Educational Psychology in Special Education with an added focus in Counselling Psychology in 1986. He is also trained in couple, family and sex therapy.
Dr. Kwan has worked with clients on issues that include anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, personality disorders, ADHD, conduct and school problems, family relationship conflicts, couple relationship difficulties, coping with chronic illness and injuries, domestic violence and child abuse, and sexual dysfunctions. He uses a variety of therapeutic modalities including emotion-focused therapy (EFT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), Structural Family Therapy, and narrative therapy.
In addition, Dr. Kwan has provided extensive clinical training in the academic arena both as a lecturer and clinical supervisor. Dr. Kwan was an associate graduate faculty member in School and Clinical Child Psychology programs at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto (OISE), an adjunct professor with the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT, now called Ontario Tech University), and an adjunct professor with the Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto. Dr. Kwan is currently a sessional lecturer and clinical supervisor in Counseling Psychology at OISE, University of Toronto.
Dr. Kwan has a strong interest and training in sport psychology. He has worked with elite athletes in a wide range of clinical and performance issues. He completed the National Coaching Certificate Program (Karate), Level I (Certified) and Level II (Theory) and has taught Health Psychology at the School of Kinesiology & Health Science, York University.
Dr. Kwan has been passionate about his involvement in cross-cultural and diversity issues. He has an additional M. Ed. in Inter-Cultural Education from the University of Alberta in 1981 and completed the Human Rights Summer Program by Canadian Human Rights Foundation at the University of Prince Edward Island. Dr. Kwan’s research for his Ph.D. in Community Psychology from OISE/University of Toronto was in the implication of a client’s social experience of psychotherapy on therapeutic alliance and treatment outcome. Dr. Kwan is the Volunteer Clinical Consultant and one of the Founders of the Chinese Mental Health Initiatives of York Region. He helped to develop counseling services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) People in York Region at Family Services York Region.
Dr. Kwan is fluent in English and Chinese (Cantonese) and can offer services in either language.