Dr. Patricia Zimmerman
Dr. Patricia Zimmerman is a Clinical Psychologist registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. She is also the Psychology Training Director at Dr. Angela Fountain & Associates and manages the Psychology Doctoral Residency Program and other psychology training opportunities in the practice. She has over 10 years of experience in the field of mental health working with children, adolescents, parents and families.
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Dr. Zimmerman has always enjoyed working with children. Prior to her professional career she taught swimming and sailing at camp, led teen travel programs and volunteered in schools and hospital pediatric clinics. It was this passion that led her to pursue graduate training in Clinical Developmental psychology at York University where she earned her Doctorate and Master’s degrees. During her graduate training she conducted program evaluation research and clinical work with high risk and often marginalized young children and mothers who experienced histories of trauma and substance-use problems. She also obtained additional clinical training in placements at Southlake Regional Health Centre, Reach Out Centre for Kids, and JVS Toronto’s Psychoeducational Assessment clinic. Dr. Zimmerman completed her psychology internship at the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, a child and adolescent mental health agency in Toronto. More recently, Dr. Zimmerman worked as a staff psychologist in the Day Hospital and Outpatient Mental Health Programs at Markham Stouffville Hospital where she provided clinical services in addition to developing group clinical programs, conducting program evaluation research, supervising psychology trainees and providing consultation to multidisciplinary teams. She has also held consulting positions at private and public children’s mental health clinics in Toronto.
Dr. Zimmerman works with clients experiencing challenges related to learning, anxiety, depression, social difficulties, behaviour problems, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, parenting and family relationships. Her clinical work draws on a range of therapeutic modalities, particularly attachment/psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT). Regardless of therapy modality, Dr. Zimmerman believes that the foundation of all productive clinical work lies in a strong working alliance with her clients. With empathy and compassion, Dr. Zimmerman strives to create a safe and understanding environment to earn the trust and respect of the clients she works with to help them achieve the growth and change they are hoping for.
At Dr. Angela Fountain & Associates, Dr. Zimmerman is a staff psychologist providing psychological therapy (i.e., parent consultation, individual, family and play therapy) and psychological assessment (i.e., psychoeducational and clinical assessments) services to clients. She also provides clinical supervision and consultation to staff and trainees in the practice.
Outside of work, Dr. Zimmerman enjoys reading, being active and going camping with her husband and two children.