Dr. Ellie Bolgar, PsyD
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) #2566
About Ellie
Dr. Bolgar has been practicing psychotherapy since 1998 in the lower mainland of British Columbia. She is the owner and director of Dr. Ellie Bolgar & Associates Counselling and Family Mediation. She provides Psychotherapy, Counselling, and Divorce Coaching. Dr. Bolgar offers expertise in relationship counselling, child therapy, parent-teen conflict, post-divorce adjustment (i.e. parenting after separation), treatment of anxiety, depression, stress, narcissistic and borderline personality disorders.
Dr. Bolgar graduated from California Southern University with a Doctor of Psychology degree in Clinical Psychology in 2015. Prior completion of her doctoral degree, she practiced as a Masters level Registered Clinical Counsellor. She worked in clinical settings such as child and youth mental health, child and family counselling centers as a clinical supervisor for over 15 years.
In addition to her private practice, Dr. Bolgar is a professor at Adler University, teaching Family Therapy, Couples Counselling and Ethics to Masters students.
Among her professional involvement Dr. Bolgar finds time to research chronic stress and individual’s reactions to experiences. She authored a workbook “Stress-less more balanced”. She was invited to present her research titled “Stress is based on Perception” to the 4th World Congress of Positive Psychology in Florida in 2015.
Dr. Bolgar considers herself an Attachment Analyst who attempts to capture the uniqueness of each individual based on their early relational experiences. She focuses on integrating what is known from empirical research in attachment studies into practice. She researched extensively how the neuro-bio-psycho-social experiences of early attachment relationships influences individual’s perception and emotional reactions. In essence Dr. Bolgar utilizes an attachment focused psychology that is more than simply using techniques. It is an understanding to a way of perceiving life, correcting biases, repairing ruptures, and forming a profound connection to the self and others, which installs a greater sense of security.
Modern psychotherapy, based on both neurophysiology and neurobiology, has been increasingly oriented towards the creation of a therapeutic relationship where the therapist has a mindful attitude to his/her patient, while the latter can make new experiences, which are able to change his/her neural patterns of functioning and to make them healthier.
Dr. Bolgar approaches each client with abundant curiosity and a desire to understand and appreciate their uniqueness and creative ways of coping with stress. Drawing upon her experience Dr. Bolgar guides her patients in a gentle, empathic and respectful style, maintaining the equality of the relationship and jointly searching for insight and knowledge. Clarity, making sense of one’s emotions, perceptions and behavioral reaction results better choices, and behavioral response. Dr. Bolgar believes that people have the natural ability to heal under the right circumstances