Dr. Dawn C. Knapton

Welcome to Yale Therapy!

I am Registered Clinical Psychologist providing counselling and psychological services to Chilliwack and surrounding areas. I have over three decades of clinical experience as a therapist using a variety of therapy models including Mindfulness, Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

I am a member of the College of Psychologists of B.C. (#1439) and the British Columbia Psychological Association (BCPA). I have provided clinical supervision to graduate students at the Master’s and Doctoral level and I have taught at Queen’s and Trent Universities in Ontario and UFV in British Columbia.

We all experience challenging times in our lives and taking that first step in deciding to come to therapy can be difficult. I have great admiration for those who choose transformation. I know it takes strength, courage, and vulnerability to begin the process of self-discovery and healing.

My approach is flexible and tailored to meet each individual where they are at, drawing on the personal values and internal resources one brings to the therapy work. I am curious about your unique lived experiences, how you make sense of your history. I wonder with you about how this might have a role in what is happening now. My role as guide and inquisitive explorer assists in your discovery of why you do the things you do. With this knowledge in mind, we work together to uncover and remove the barriers that prevent you from living the best life you can. With the focus on acceptance, present-moment awareness and clarity of one’s values, strategies for growth, and healing occurs.

Therapy is about growth and change. Changing behaviours, changing how we think about and respond to what is happening in our life. Learning to do something different. Learning new skills. Understanding the barriers that we have constructed to avoid something that we do not want, or do not like allows us to consider new possibilities. As those possibilities become committed actions a new path emerges. A path where the barriers are visible. A path that connects you to the values that you hold in your heart.

“The work that we will do together is like walking across a wild hillside. This work is brand new, so there is no path to walk on. Every step may be effortful, and deliberate effort is needed to keep taking steps. Then you look over to your right and see a well-worn path. It looks like it would be so much easier to walk on that path than to keep persisting on this unmarked route across the tall, overgrown grass. The thing is, you know exactly where that well-worn path goes because you’ve walked it so many times before. Where does the path lead in your life, where do you want to be” (David Gillanders, 2013)

I work with individuals (adolescents, adults,) parent and children together, and families who are experiencing difficulties with:

As a Registered Psychologist, extended health care benefits or insurance companies often cover my services. Please check your insurance plan to determine your coverage for psychological services

I am in the office on Saturdays, and I provide Telehealth Services during the week and some evenings. You can reach me by text or phone call at 604-792-8454, or by email at: drdawnknapton@shaw.ca.