Dr. Michael Bodnar is a Clinical Psychologist with eight years of direct therapeutic experience and nearly 20 years of mental health research experience. 

  • He is an Associate Psychologist with the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (OICBT), Scientist with the Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research, and Assistant Professor with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa. Additionally, Michael offers clinical supervision and training at the OICBT.

  • In terms of care, using research-based therapies, Michael will help you navigate the path towards your current and future life goals. He provides focused therapy on what currently needs to be addressed, delving into the past as needed. Together, we will explore practical solutions through self-discovery and empowerment. Throughout the process, he brings a low-key, welcoming presence as you venture forward. A safe environment is provided for you to reflect and grow by integrating core life values.

  • Michael offers an integrative. holistic approach that stems from basic health strategies to the widespread nature of psychology to the neuroscience behind mental health. The process of care is personalized to you. 

  • For the moment, Michael only offers online-based or telephone-based care.

  • Clinical Psychologist, College of Psychologists of Ontario; Practice #6461.
    https://cpo.on.ca/

    Psychologue, Ordre des Psychologues du Québec; Permis #13161-17 (inactive).
    https://www.ordrepsy.qc.ca/

  • Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2016); Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK; Project: Developing a novel intervention for negative symptoms; Mentor: Dr. Matteo Cella.
    https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn

    PhD: Clinical Psychology (2016); Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Thesis: Towards a better understanding of primary negative symptoms: a longitudinal study in first-episode psychosis. Supervisor: Dr. Martin Lepage.
    https://www.mcgill.ca/psychology/

    PhD: Neuroscience (2011); Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Thesis: Neurocognitive and neuroimaging markers of early remission in first-episode schizophrenia. Supervisors: Dr. Ashok K. Malla & Dr. Martin Lepage.
    https://www.mcgill.ca/neurology-neurosurgery/

    Bachelor of Arts: Psychology with Great Distinction (2005); Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
    https://www.uregina.ca/arts/psychology/

    Bachelor of Science: Biology with Great Distinction (2004); Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
    https://www.uregina.ca/science/biology/index.html

    • Psychosis-related disorders

    • Anxiety (Social, Generalized, Panic, Health, Agoraphobia, Specific)

    • Mood Disorders (Depression, Bipolar, Post-partum)

    • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

    • Trauma/PTSD

    • Substance Misuse/Addiction

    • Life Transitions

    • Health & Lifestyle goals (Balance, Burn-out; Sleep, Nutrition, Exercise)

    • Motivational work

  • Michael incorporates an eclectic stance incorporating varied research-informed therapeutic modalities including:

    • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    • Mindfulness & Compassion based approaches

    • Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT)

  • Research Salary Awards

    2018-2024. The Royal, Emerging Research Innovators in Mental Health (e-RIMh).
    https://www.theroyal.ca/research/about-research/awards-conferences/emerging-research-innovators-mental-health-erimh

    2017-2021; discontinued in 2018. Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS); Chercheurs-boursiers cliniciens (1st Rank).
    https://frq.gouv.qc.ca/app/uploads/2021/05/octrois-2017-2018-2.xlsx

    Research Operating Grants

    2022-2026. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Co-Applicant. Promoting cognitive health in schizophrenia: A national collaborative effort to implement online psychological interventions.
    https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=452800&lang=en

    2022-2027. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Co-Applicant. From episodic memory to functioning in schizophrenia and related psychoses: A neurocognitive model,
    https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=462727&lang=en

    2022-2026; rescinded. Bell Let’s Talk - Brain Canada Mental Health Research; Co-Applicant. Promoting cognitive health in schizophrenia during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: A national collaborative effort to implement online psychological interventions.
    https://www.bce.ca/news-and-media/releases/show/bell-let-s-talk-and-brain-canada-award-more-than-4m-in-mental-health-research-funding-for-pioneering-projects

    2020. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Co-Applicant. Remote cognitive assessment in severe mental illness: A scoping review.
    https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52066.html

    2018-2024. The Royal, Emerging Research Innovators in Mental Health (e-RIMh); Principal Applicant. Negative symptoms among severe mental health disorders : multimodal characterisation to develop novel treatments.
    https://www.theroyal.ca/research/about-research/awards-conferences/emerging-research-innovators-mental-health-erimh

    2017-2021; discontinued in 2018. Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS); Établissement de jeunes chercheurs cliniciens. Les symptômes négatifs de la schizophrénie et des autres troubles psychotiques : une approche multidimensionnelle.
    https://frq.gouv.qc.ca/app/uploads/2021/05/octrois-2017-2018-2.xlsx

    2015-2020. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)/Otsuka/Lundbeck Alliance. Aripiprazole Long Acting Injectable (ALAI), its potential enhancing effect on memory and associated neural structures: A longitudinal brain imaging study in first-episode psychosis.
    https://www.mcgill.ca/psychiatry/files/psychiatry/2015_department_of_psychiatry_grants_0.pdf

  • Aug 2015 – Aug 2016. Psychological Interventions Clinic for outpatients with Psychosis (PICuP), Maudsley Hospital, London, UK. Interventions: CBT, ACT, Mindfulness; Population: people with enduring schizophrenia and psychosis; Supervisors: Dr. Emmanuelle Peters, Dr. Majella Byrne.
    https://slam.nhs.uk/service-detail/service/psychological-interventions-clinic-for-outpatients-with-psychosis-picup-120/

    Aug 2015 – Aug 2016. King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, London, UK. Interventions: CRT using Computerised Interactive Remediation of Cognition Training for Schizophrenia (CIRCUITS). Population: First-episode of psychosis; Supervisor: Dr. Matteo Cella.
    https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn

    Jan 2013 –Jun 2015. Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP), Douglas Institute, Montreal, Canada. Interventions: CBT. Population: First-episode of psychosis; Supervisor: Dr. Martin Lepage.
    https://douglas.research.mcgill.ca/pepp-montreal-research-team/

  • 2016 – 2018. Clinical Psychologist, Psychotic Disorders Program, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Canada.
    https://www.ciusss-ouestmtl.gouv.qc.ca/en/facilities/psychiatric-care-hospital/douglas-mental-health-university-institute

    2018 – 2021. Committee Member, Research Ethics Board, The Royal Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Canada.
    https://www.theroyal.ca/research/about-research/research-ethics-board

  • Lavigne, K., Raucher-Chéné, D., Bodnar, M., Makowski, C., Joober, R., Malla, A.K., Evans, A., & Lepage, M. (2022). Medial temporal lobe and basal ganglia volume trajectories in persistent negative symptoms following a first episode of psychosis. Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, Jul 13:117:110551. DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110551.

    2. Lavigne, K.M., Sauvé, G., Raucher-Chéné, D., Guimond, S., Lecomte, T., Bowie, C.R., Menon, M., Lal, S., Woodward, T.S., Bodnar, M.D., Lepage, M. (2022). Remote cognitive assessment in severe mental illness: a scoping review. NPJ Schizophrenia, 8(1):14. DOI: 10.1038/s41537-022-00219-x.

    3. Bodnar, M.*, Raucher-Chéné, D.*, Lavigne, K., Malla, A.K., Joober, R., & Lepage, M. (2021). Dynamic interplay between insight and persistent negative symptoms in first episode of psychosis: a longitudinal study. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 48(1):211-219. DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbab079.

    4. Bodnar, M.*, Lepage, M.*, Raucher-Chéné, D., Lavigne, K.M., Makowski, C., Joober, R., & Malla, A.K. (2021). Neurocognitive functions in persistent negative symptoms following a first episode of psychosis. European Neuropsychopharmacology, Mar 1:S0924-977. DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.02.008.

    5. Cella, M., Bodnar, M., Lepgae, M., Malla, A.K., Joober, R., Iyer, S., Wykes, T., & Preti, A. (2020). Investigating Subjective Cognitive Complaints in Psychosis: Introducing the Brief Scale to Investigate Cognition in Schizophrenia (SSTICS-Brief). Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, 25(3):190-200. DOI: 10.1080/13546805.2020.1722084.

    6. Lepage, M., Makowski, C., Bodnar, M., Chakravarty, M., Joober, R., & Malla, A.K. (2020). Do unremitted psychotic symptoms have an effect on the brain? A two year follow up imaging study in first episode psychosis. Schizophrenia Bulletin Open, Jan; 1(1): sgaa039. DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgaa039.

    7. Makowski, C., Lewis, J.D., Khundrakpam, B., Tardif, C.L., Palaniyappan, L., Joober, R., Malla, A.K., Shah, J.L., Bodnar, M., Chakravarty, M.M., Evans, A.C., & Lepage, M. (2020). Altered hippocampal centrality and Dynamic Anatomical Covariance of intracortical microstructure in First Episode Psychosis. Hippocampus, 30(10):1058-1072. DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23215.

    8. Rosengard, R., Bodnar, M., Malla, A.K., Joober, R., Lepage, M., & Shah, J. (2019). Impact of Pre-Onset Sub-threshold Psychotic Symptoms on Longitudinal Outcomes During Treatment for First Episode Psychosis. JAMA Psychiatry, 76(1):61-70. DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.2552.

    9. Makowski, C., Bodnar, M., Shenker, J., Malla, A.K., Joober, R., Chakravarty, M.M., & Lepage, M. (2017). Linking Persistent Negative Symptoms to Amygdala-Hippocampus Structure in First Episode Psychosis. Translational Psychiatry, 7(8):e1195. DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.168.

    10. Bodnar, M., Malla, A.K., Makowski, C., Chakravarty, M.M., Joober, R., & Lepage, M. (2016). The effect of second-generation antipsychotics on hippocampal volume in first episode psychosis: a longitudinal study. British Journal of Psychiatry Open, 2: 139-146. DOI: 10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.002444.

    11. Makowski, C., Bodnar, M., Malla, A.K., Chakravarty, M.M., Joober, R., & Lepage, M. (2016). Age-related cortical thickness trajectories in first episode psychosis patients presenting with early persistent negative symptoms. NPJ Schizophrenia, 2: 16029. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/npjschz.2016.29.

    12. Hawco C, Buchy L, Bodnar M, Izadi S, Dell’Elce J, Messina K, Joober R, Malla AK, & Lepage M. (2015). Source retrieval is not properly differentiated from object retrieval in early schizophrenia: an fMRI study using virtual reality. Neuroimage: Clinical, 7: 336-346. DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2014.08.006.

    13. Hovington, C., Bodnar, M., Chakravarty, M., Joober, R., Malla, A.K., & Lepage, M. (2015). Investigation of white matter abnormalities in first episode psychosis patients with persistent negative symptoms. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 233: 402-408. DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.06.017.

    14. Lepage, M., Hawco, C., & Bodnar, M. (2015). Relational memory as a possible neurocognitive marker of schizophrenia. JAMA Psychiatry, 72(9): 946-947. DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.0488.

    15. Benoit, A., Bodnar, M., Malla, A.K., Joober, R., Bherer, L., & Lepage, M. (2014). Changes in memory performance over a 12-month period in relation to achieving symptomatic remission after a first episode psychosis. Schizophrenia Research, 153(1-3):103-108. DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.01.024.

    16. Bodnar, M., Hovington, C.L., Buchy, L., Malla, A.K., Joober, R., & Lepage, M. (2014). Cortical thinning in temporo-parietal junction in non-affective first-episode of psychosis patients with persistent negative symptoms. PloS ONE, 9(6): e101372. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101372.

    17. Buchy, L., Hawco, C., Bodnar, M., Izadi, S., Dell’Elce, J., Messina, K., & Lepage, M. (2014). A functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging study of external source memory and its relation to cognitive insight in non-clinical subjects. Journal of Behavioral Therapy & Experimental Psychiatry, 68: 683-691. DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12177.

    18. Cassidy, C., Buchy, L., Bodnar, M., Dell’Elce, J., Choudry, Z., Fathalli, F., Fox, R., Sengupta, S., Iyer, S., Ad-Dab’bagh, Y., Evans, A., Malla, A., Lepage, M., & Joober, R. (2014). Association of a risk allele of ANK3 with cognitive performance and cortical thickness in patients with first-episode psychosis. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 39(1):31-39. DOI: 10.1503/jpn.120242.

    19. Lepage, M., Bodnar M., & Bowie, C. (2014). Neurocognition: Clinical and Functional Outcomes in Schizophrenia. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 59(1): 5-12. DOI: 10.1177/070674371405900103.

    20. Hovington, C.L., Bodnar, M, Joober, R., Malla, A., & Lepage, M. (2013). Impairment in verbal memory observed in first episode psychosis patients with persistent negative symptoms. Schizophrenia Research, 147(2-3):223-229. DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.04.006.

    21. Benoit, A., Bodnar, M., Malla, A.K., Joober, R., & Lepage, M. (2012). The structural neural substrates of persistent negative symptoms in first-episode of non-affective psychosis: a voxel-based morphometry study. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 3(42): 1-12. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00042.

    22. Bodnar, M, Achim, A.M., Malla, A.K., Joober, R., Benoit A., Sutton, H., & Lepage, M. (2012). Functional magnetic resonance imaging correlates of memory encoding in relation to achieving remission in first-episode schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry. 200(4): 300-307. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.111.098046.

    23. Bodnar, M., Malla, A.K., Joober, R., Lord, C., Smith, E., & Lepage, M. (2012). Neural markers of remission in first-episode schizophrenia: a volumetric neuroimaging study of the parahippocampus. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 201(1): 40-47. DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2011.07.012.

    24. Hovington, C.L., Bodnar, M., Joober, R., Malla, A., & Lepage, M. (2012). Identifying persistent negative symptoms in first episode psychosis. BMC Psychiatry, 12(1):224. DOI: 10.1186/1471-244X-12-224.

    25. Bodnar, M., Harvey, P.-O., Malla, A., Joober, R., & Lepage, M. (2011). The parahippocampal gyrus as a neural marker of early remission in first episode psychosis: a voxel-based morphometry study. Clinical Schizophrenia & Related Psychoses, 4(4): 217-228. DOI: 10.3371/CSRP.4.4.2.

    26. Buchy, L., Bodnar, M., Lepage, C., Ad-Dab’bagh, Y., Evans, A., Sergerie, K, Armony, J., Malla, A., Joober, R., & Lepage, M. (2011). Cortical thickness is associated with poor insight in first-episode psychosis. Journal of Psychiatry Research, 45(6): 781-787. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.10.016.

    27. Luck, D., Buchy, L., Czechowska, Y., Bodnar, M., Pike, G.B., Campbell, J., Achim, A., Malla, A., Joober, R., & Lepage, M. (2011). Fronto-temporal disconnectivity and clinical short-term outcome in first episode psychosis: a DTI-tractography study. Journal of Psychiatry Research, 45(3): 369-377. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.07.007.

    28. Malla, A.K., Bodnar, M., Joober, R., & Lepage, M. (2011). Duration of Untreated Psychosis and Grey Matter Reductions in First Episode Psychosis. Schizophrenia Research, 125(1): 13-20. DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2010.09.021.

    29. Bodnar, M., Malla, A.K., Czechowska, Y., Benoit, A., Fathalli, F., Joober, R., Pruessner, M., Pruessner, J. & Lepage, M. (2010). Neural markers of remission in first-episode schizophrenia: a volumetric neuroimaging study of the hippocampus and amygdala. Schizophrenia Research, 122(1-3): 72-80. DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2010.06.013.

    30. Buchy, L., Bodnar, M., Malla, A., Joober, R., & Lepage, M. (2010). A 12-month outcome study of insight and symptom change in first episode psychosis. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 4(1): 79-88. DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-7893.2010.00166.x.

    31. Brodeur, M., Pelletier, M., Bodnar, M., Buchy, L., & Lepage, M. (2010). The Effect of Viewpoint on Visual Stimuli: A Study of Episodic Memory on Schizophrenia. Psychiatry Research, 176(2-3): 126-131. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2008.11.013.

    32. Lepage, M., Bodnar, M., Buchy, L., Joober, R., & Malla, A. (2010). Early medication adherence and insight change in first episode psychosis. Clinical Schizophrenia & Related Psychoses, 3(4): 201-208. DOI:10.3371/CSRP.3.4.2.

    33. Lepage, M., Bodnar, M., Joober, R., & Malla, A. (2010). Is there an association between neurocognitive performance and medication adherence in first episode psychosis? Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 4(2): 189-195. DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-7893.2010.00174.x.

    34. Montreuil, T., Bodnar, M., Bertrand, M-C., Malla A., Joober, R., & Lepage, M. (2010). Social cognitive markers of short-term clinical outcome in first episode psychosis. Clinical Schizophrenia & Related Psychoses, 4(2): 105-114. DOI: 10.3371/CSRP.4.2.2.

    35. Harvey, P.-O., Bodnar, M., Sergerie, K., Armony, J., & Lepage, M. (2009). Relation between emotional face memory and social anhedonia in schizophrenia. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 34(20): 102-110. PMCID: PMC2647565.

    36. Bodnar, M., Malla, A., Joober, R., & Lepage, M. (2008). Cognitive markers of short-term clinical outcome in First Episode Psychosis. British Journal of Psychiatry 193 (4): 297-304. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.040410.

    37. Lepage, M., Buchy, L., Bodnar, M., Bertrand, M.-C., Joober, R., & Malla, A. (2008). Cognitive insight and verbal memory in first episode psychosis. European Psychiatry 23 (5): 368-374. DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2008.02.003.

  • Oct 2020 How do we provide adaptive personalised care for psychosis. The Neuroscience Colloquium Series. Carleton University. Ottawa, Canada (60min).

    Sep 2019 Adaptive, Personalised Care. Current Approaches to Optimizing Care in Schizophrenia: Building Bridges between Clinicians, Caregivers and the Community. Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. Ottawa, Canada (10min).

    Feb 2019 Negative Symptoms and Remission in Psychosis. Accredited with the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada. Continuing Medical Education (CME). The Grand Rounds for the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. Ottawa, Canada (60min).

    Nov 2017 Negative Symptoms, Remission, and Psychosis: A Longitudinal Neuroimaging Approach. Centre de recherche en neruopsychologie et cognition (CERNEC). Montréal, Canada (60min).

    Sep 2017 Negative Symptoms: A Multidimensional Approach across the Spectrum of Psychoses. Consortium d’imagerie en neruosciences en santé mentale de Québec (CINQ). Québec City, Canada (60min).

    Apr 2016 Insight, Adherence, & Cognition in Primary and Secondary Persistent Negative Symptoms: A Longitudinal Investigation of First-Episode Psychosis. Schizophrenia International Research Society, Florence, Italy (poster).

    Apr 2014 Negative Symptoms, Adherence, and Insight. PEPP Research Day, Douglas Institute, Montréal, Canada. (10min).

    Dec 2013 Negative Symptoms and Remission. General Rounds, PEPP, Douglas Institute, Montreal, Canada. (40min).

    May 2013 Early Identification of neurobiological markers of remission. Early Intervention in Psychosis: Current Knowledge and Future Directions. Douglas Institute, Montréal, Canada. (20min).

    Feb 2012 Progressive Grey Matter Changes in FEP: A Longitudinal VBM Analysis in relation to Persistent Negative Symptoms. General Lab Meeting, Douglas Institute, Montréal, Canada. (40min).

    Apr 2009 Specific deficits during memory formation as a marker of short-term clinical outcome in first episode psychosis: behavioural fMRI results. International Congress of Schizophrenia Research, San Diego, CA, USA (poster).

    Feb 2009 Grey matter concentration or volume: what do we use in VBM? General Lab Meeting, Douglas Institute, Montréal, Canada. (30min).

    Jun 2008 Neurocognitive and Neuroimaging Markers of Short-term Clinical Outcome following a First Episode of Psychosis. Student Research Day, Douglas Institute, Montréal, Canada. (10min).

    Jun 2008 The hippocampus as a neural marker of short-term clinical outcome in first episode schizophrenia. Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada. (poster).

    May 2008 Structural neural markers of short-term clinical outcome in first episode psychosis: a voxel-based morphometry study. Society of Biological Psychiatry Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., USA (poster).

    Feb 2008 Response to Treatment following a First Episode of Psychosis: Neurocognitive and Structural MRI Markers of Outcome. Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses Research Day, Douglas Institute, Montréal, Canada. (20min).

    Mar 2007 Neurocognitive markers of 6-month clinical outcome in first episode psychosis. International Congress of Schizophrenia Research, Colorado Springs, CO, USA. (poster).

    Apr 2006 Neurocognitive and neuroimaging markers of 12-month clinical outcome in a cohort of first episode psychosis. Brain Imaging Group Meeting, Douglas Institute, Montréal, Canada. (45min).

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