Dr. Kenneth Y. W. Kwan
PhD, C.Psych
Executive Director and Chief Psychologist
Dr. Kenneth Kwan is the Founder and Executive Director of Psychological & Counselling Services Group (PCSG), a multifunctional clinical group which serves the communities of Durham Region and York Region in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). PCSG is made up of Whitby Psychological and Counselling Services (originally Oshawa Psychological and Counselling Services), Ajax Psychological and Counselling Services, Woodbine Psychological and Counselling Services (Markham) as well as the Program Using Psychoeducational Intervention for Learning (PUPIL) and the Oshawa Psychotherapy Training Institute (OPTI) which provides mental health clinicians with professional training 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. He 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.
During more than 30 years of clinical counselling experience, Dr. Kwan has held various clinical positions and leadership roles including the Clinical Director of Family Services of York Region. Dr. Kwan provides clinical consultation to practicing mental health clinicians, psychologists, and agencies. He received his Ph.D. in Community Psychology from the University of Toronto in 2002. He 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. 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.
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 and an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Faculty of Education at Western University.
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 is also passionate about cross-cultural and diversity issues. He has an 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 a Volunteer Clinical Consultant and a Founder 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.