Dr. Karla Saruk is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia. She completed her master’s degree in clinical psychology at Boston University (2001) before going on to complete her doctorate in psychology at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois (2006).
Dr. Saruk has worked in a variety of settings over the course of her career. She has worked in an array of clinical settings, including hospital settings offering psychological services for children and youth with acute needs, MCFD Child and Youth Mental Health working with children and families, and in private practice settings offering a variety of treatment and assessment services.
Dr. Saruk offers counselling services for children and youth. Her treatment approach draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) . The ACT approach helps clients develop greater cognitive flexibility to manage emotional discomfort and life’s challenges. The aim of therapy is to support clients acknowledge and accept unwanted feelings, while empowering them to engage in life with a greater sense of agency.
Dr. Saruk deeply values supporting families managing developmental challenges by offering services geared towards early-intervention (i.e., social, emotional, and learning) and strengthening parenting strategies for navigating challenges associated with neurodivergence.
Parenting support is also geared towards helping moms and dads gain more knowledge about neurodivergence and the remarkable strengths neuordivergent children/youth possess.
In addition to offering counseling services, Dr. Saruk also offers assessment services that include ADHD/psycho-educational assessments, psychological assessments, and autism assessments.
She is happy to offer consultation services to parents who may be uncertain of what services their child/youth may benefit from. The consultation focuses on obtaining information related to the presenting concerns so that next steps can be suggested and resources offered.
Dr. Saruk has been living on Bowen Island for the past 12 years with her husband, Dr. Graeme Saruk, and their four children (two dogs and two cats).
