Staff Spotlight
Dr. Brad Hallam, Psychologist
February is Psychology Month! These health care professionals help diagnose and treat people of all ages with mental health concerns, and foster behavior change.
We’re excited to feature Dr. Brad Hallam, a Psychologist with the BC Operational Stress Injury (OSI) Clinic, and the Coordinator of the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Psychology Residency Program in Professional Practice.
Professional development at VCH
Prior to his current roles, Brad worked in geriatric neuropsychology at Vancouver General Hospital for five years, and in neuropsychology and rehabilitation psychology at GF Strong for 12 years.
Brad was motivated to apply to the BC OSI Clinic so he could return to his roots in clinical psychology. It also gave him the opportunity to take a deeper dive into psychodiagnostic assessment, and trauma-specific psychotherapy with RCMP service members and veterans.
Brad took on the Residency Coordinator role, because he was a VCH Psychology Resident from 2001-2002. He says, “I am very proud of our CPA-accredited Residency Program that has been part of VCH for more than 30 years. I am passionate about student training and it felt like a natural fit for me.”
Aligning with the VCH work culture and values
Brad has spent a large portion of his career at VCH, so we asked how he felt about the work culture. Brad explains, “the community of psychologists at VCH is top-notch. I feel very supported by my colleagues, and often consult with them about complex cases and ethical issues in clinical practice.” Brad talks about the opportunity to work with in-house experts and being able to reach out to them for assistance. “For example, if I have a question about seizures, I know that I can pick up the phone and call Dr. Jing Tan at the Epilepsy Clinic or if I have a question about eating disorders, I can pick up the phone and call Dr. Theo Elfers, Dr. Jelica Todosijevic or Dr. Josie Geller at the Eating Disorders Program.”
Additionally, Brad says that collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team he works with makes VCH a special place to work, compared to working in private practice.
The BC OSI Clinic is committed to providing ongoing education for the staff, aligning with the VCH values (We Care for Everyone, We Are Always Learning, and We Strive for Better Results).
Evidence in psychology is constantly evolving, so it’s important to stay up to date to provide the best possible client care. Brad shares that since starting his role at the BC OSI Clinic, he has had training in Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. Brad says, “I am proud of being a part of a clinic that is constantly learning, and striving for the best possible care for its clients.”
Fueled by inspiration
We asked Brad what he enjoys most about his role, in which he responds, “I find it incredibly rewarding to help individuals who are suffering from trauma and stress-related disorders to help them understand their symptoms, and recognize there are evidence-based pathways to recovery. Watching clients find the fortitude to face their traumatic history and improve their mental health is really inspiring.”
In his role as the Residency Coordinator, Brad enjoys working with an extremely talented group of psychology supervisors to train the next generation of psychologists. “It’s rewarding to see psychology residents grow into respected colleagues here at VCH,” Brad says.
Additionally, he speaks about some of his other most inspirational moments, which occurred when he was working with his spinal cord injury in patients at GF Strong. Brad explains, “facing a catastrophic and life-altering injury has a profound psychological impact. Some of my clients have demonstrated incredible resilience in building a new life that is rich and meaningful. I had the pleasure of sitting with some of them in the early days of their injuries when they felt lost and hopeless, and follow them as outpatient clients as they built their lives again.”
We asked Brad to share a fun fact about himself, to which he shares, “I feel like I’ve lived a lot of different lives. I worked as a chartered accountant for five years, and I attended seminary and have a Master’s degree in Theology. As a psychologist, I have worked in neuropsychology, rehabilitation psychology, and clinical psychology. I enjoy new challenges and it probably shows in my history of trying so many different things.” We can definitely agree to that!
Join our team
Explore the current career opportunities for Psychologists at Vancouver Coastal Health.