About
Dr. Poon (she/her) was born and raised in Surrey, British Columbia. She completed her bachelor of science in psychology, cum laude, at the University of North Florida, in Jacksonville, Florida. As part of her honors thesis, she conducted research on differences in perceptions of female and male coaches and athletic performance. While in university, she competed on the varsity NCAA Division I swim team. She also volunteered as a foster for rescued cats.
Dr. Poon went on to complete her master of science in clinical psychology and doctor of philosophy in clinical psychology, with an emphasis in diversity and community mental health, at Palo Alto University, in Palo Alto, California. Her dissertation research utilized a community-based participatory action model, which emphasizes collaboration and integrates valuable community knowledge into the process of scientific exploration. Her dissertation was in partnership with a service campus for individuals experiencing homelessness, where she worked with staff and residents to identify factors contributing to the high suicide rate among individuals experiencing homelessness and develop culturally-sensitive suicide prevention protocols for the shelter. She completed her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral residency in Anchorage, Alaska, where she worked with indigenous peoples in both Anchorage and in remote communities. She was licensed as a psychologist in Alaska and Washington before becoming registered as a psychologist in British Columbia and Alberta.
In her spare time, Dr. Poon enjoys photography, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her many adorable (but naughty) animals.
Experience
Dr. Poon is currently providing services in a private practice setting, but started her practice in community mental health centres.
Dr. Poon completed her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral residence at the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, the federally recognized tribal organization of the Aleut peoples. She had the privilege of working in the Community Health department, serving the Unangan/Unangas peoples, members of other tribal corporations in Anchorage, and individuals residing in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, Atka, and Nikolski in the Aleutian Islands, and St. George, in the Pribilof Islands. She provided both individual psychotherapy and group psychotherapy for mental health and substance use difficulties to children, adults, and elders. She also participated in community health fairs and outreach, including creating a bike-share program in the Aleutian Islands, coordinating public health events, and assisting with traditional plant harvesting workshops with community experts. She was also involved in grant writing and providing trauma-informed care training to new employees.
Dr. Poon’s additional clinical and community experiences also include:
- providing services to students in a university counseling clinic
- facilitating skills groups for children with social anxiety and autism spectrum diagnoses
- conducting intake assessments for residential substance use and dual diagnosis treatment programs
- facilitating skills and process groups in an outpatient mental health and substance use treatment clinic
- providing individual psychotherapy and assessment to underserved populations
- collaborating with community members to develop culturally sensitive public health programming
