Dr. Michelle Haring offers compassionate, evidence-based care for adults and perinatal women experiencing anxiety, mood and stress-related concerns. She works collaboratively with her clients to develop effective coping strategies to reduce symptoms, achieve personal goals, and enhance overall well-being.
Dr. Michelle Haring (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Psychologist and Director at the North Shore Stress and Anxiety Clinic. For over 20 years, she has specialized in the assessment and evidence-based treatment of anxiety, depression, and stress-related challenges in adults. Her clinical areas of expertise include anxiety and related disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder and worry, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, health anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. She also treats mood disorders and depression as well as working with individuals who are having difficulties coping with stressful life events or transitions.
Dr. Haring is one of the first clinicians certified in CBT by the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (CACBT-ACTCC). She has a faculty appointment in the Department of Psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. She is the Senior Clinical Consultant for the Canadian Mental Health Association’s BounceBack: Reclaim Your Health Program and a registered provider for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Dr. Haring works collaboratively with her clients to gain a clear understanding of their unique circumstances and needs, creating a personalized treatment plan that addresses their concerns and strengthens resilience. She uses a primarily Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approach to support meaningful progress towards a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Special Focus on Perinatal Mental Health
Dr. Haring has a special interest and extensive experience in helping women experiencing challenges throughout the reproductive life cycle, including depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum, as well infertility challenges and infant loss. She previously served as the Provincial CBT Consultant for the BC Reproductive Mental Health Program at BC Women’s Hospital, and co-authoring two free downloadable CBT-based self-help guides for women (see Resources page). Dr. Haring also co-authored the award-winning CBT-based Enjoy Your Baby Course with Dr. Chris Williams, which is offered in BC as well as at various sites in the UK. She is also a co-author for the Canadian Psychological Association’s Psychology Works Fact Sheet on Perinatal Anxiety.
Ensuring Improved Access to Treatments through Consultation and Training
Throughout her career, Dr. Haring has worked to increase access to CBT-based approaches through developing and disseminating low-cost or free programs such as the Worry Management Program at UBC Hospital, working with community mental health organizations such as the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), and offering outreach virtual assessment and treatment services to remote BC communities. Since 2008 she has served as the Senior Clinical Consultant for the CMHA’s award winning BounceBack: Reclaim Your Health Program.
In addition, for over two decades, she has taught mental health professionals in BC and across Canada about the assessment and treatment of anxiety, mood, and stress-related problems as well as perinatal mental health, delivering CBT workshops and presenting her research at international conferences. Her publications focus on topics such as stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and perfectionism.
Educational Background and Clinical Training
Dr. Haring earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of British Columbia. She completed a year-long APA-accredited residency in Clinical Psychology at the Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre. Her residency focused upon treatment of anxiety, mood and stress-related disorders and included rotations in specialized treatments for anxiety, behavioural medicine, emergency inpatient psychiatry, and eating disorders.
Life Outside Work
Outside of work, Dr. Haring enjoys spending time outside with her family and friends hiking and snowshoeing in the North Shore mountains as well as further in afield in the Canadian Rockies, England and Scotland. She also loves her time in the beautiful Gulf Islands - beachcombing, going to farmer’s markets, cooking, kayaking, reading, and learning more about our natural world.
