Maxwell Psychology
Evidence-based mental health care
Dr. Hilary Maxwell, C. Psych. provides psychological services virtually to residents of Ontario and in-person at her office in Brockville.
ABOUT DR. HILARY MAXWELL, C. PSYCH.
Dr. Hilary Maxwell has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Ottawa. During her doctoral studies, she completed clinical training at several hospital and community programs where she worked with people presenting with a range of mental health difficulties. Dr. Maxwell completed her pre-doctoral residency at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre where she worked primarily with military veterans and RCMP who had operational stress injuries. After graduating, she worked as a psychologist at The Royal’s Operational Stress Injury Clinic and in private practice. Since moving to Brockville, she has continued to work in private practice and she also works as a psychologist and clinical consultant at The Royal’s Ontario Structured Psychotherapy program.
Over the past decade, Dr. Maxwell has worked extensively with military veterans and law enforcement with operational stress injuries. During this time, she has also completed applied clinical research and program evaluation that have informed clinical practice in this clinical area. For example, she led a program evaluation that examined the treatment needs and perspectives of female military veterans and RCMP to inform how services might better suit their needs. She also led a program evaluation to understand moral injury in older adult military veterans and RCMP seeking clinical services, of which she presented the results at the Canadian Institute for Military and Veterans Health Research Forum.
Dr. Maxwell’s applied doctoral research contributed to our knowledge of how intrapersonal factors like adult attachment (which impacts, for example, how we regulate our emotions and our behaviour) affect people’s interactions with others, their relationships and their mental health. Her research also contributed to our knowledge of what happens interpersonally in therapy, and how therapists can use the process of therapy to better understand their clients and facilitate change for their clients. Dr. Maxwell’s research is published in book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles.
Dr. Maxwell enjoys learning and she continues her professional development through consultation, workshops, coursework, conferences, and reviewing the scientific literature. She is registered with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario in Clinical Psychology.
PSYCHOLOGICAL services
Psychotherapy
Dr. Maxwell provides therapy to adults with a range of psychological concerns, including; anxiety, depression, trauma and posttraumatic stress, interpersonal and relationship difficulties, grief and bereavement, and adjustment to loss and change.
Dr. Maxwell works collaboratively with clients to understand their reasons for seeking therapy, to identify meaningful goals and to decide what type of treatment/interventions are the best fit with the client’s goals and preferences. Dr. Maxwell’s therapeutic orientation is collaborative, and trauma and attachment informed. She is trained in evidence-based therapy modalities including cognitive and behavioural, emotion focused and interpersonal approaches.
Assessment
Dr. Maxwell provides brief or comprehensive evidence-based psychological assessments tailored to the client’s specific assessment questions/needs.
Operational Stress Injuries
Dr. Maxwell has extensive experience providing diagnostic assessment and treatment for those with operational stress injuries. Dr. Maxwell received formal training working with military veterans and RCMP with operational stress injuries during her doctoral level residency.
An operational stress injury is a persistent psychological difficulty resulting from operational duties as part of military service and law enforcement. Operational stress injuries include mental health difficulties like depression, anxiety and/or posttraumatic stress, for example. Dr. Maxwell is also trained in identifying and treating moral injury.
Dr. Maxwell provides a number of evidence-based treatment options for posttraumatic stress disorder. Treatments offered include Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Written Exposure Therapy (WET).
Dr. Maxwell is a Medavie Blue Cross provider and primarily works with military members, military veterans and those in law enforcement with operational stress injuries.
Perinatal Mental Health
Dr. Maxwell has advanced training in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International. She regularly works with women with perinatal mental health difficulties including depression, anxiety, birth related trauma and general feelings of stress or feeling overwhelmed.
Consultation
Dr. Maxwell provides clinical consultation to mental health clinicians.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No, you do not require a physician’s referral. If you plan to use insurance coverage, please check with your insurance provider if they require a physician’s referral.
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You can book an appointment by telephone (613-865-8196) or by email (Hilary@MaxwellPsychology.com).
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Prior to your first appointment, Dr. Maxwell will send you consent forms. Please review the forms and note any questions you may have. Dr. Maxwell will review the forms and your questions at the beginning of your first appointment.
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A scheduled appointment means that the time has been set aside for you. If you need to cancel an appointment, please provide 24 hours notice so that the time may be offered to another client. You can cancel by telephone (613-865-8196) or by email (Hilary@MaxwellPsychology.com).
Without 24 hours notice, and the exception of unavoidable circumstances, you will be charged for the missed appointment.
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The hourly fee is $250. The fee for assessments is based on the amount of time it takes to complete the assessment. Prior to beginning assessments, you will be provided an estimate based on the anticipated number of hours needed to complete the assessment.
Psychological services are not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). However, cost may be covered, in part or in whole, by various insurance agencies.
Psychological services in the private sector are expensive. If you are unable to fund care through private practice, we can suggest community and self-care resources. AccessMHA is a free service that helps connect those living in Eastern Ontario with publicly funded mental health services (AccessMHA.ca).
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Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health Crisis Line 1-866-281-2911.
Distress Centre of Ottawa 613-238-3311
National Suicide Crisis Helpline 9-8-8
In case of emergency, like active suicidality, call 911
Contact dr. Hilary Maxwell, C. Psych.
Publications
CHAPTERS IN EDITED BOOKS
Tasca, G. A., & Maxwell, H. (2021). Attachment and group psychotherapy: Applications to work groups and teams. In C. D. Parks & G. A., Tasca (Eds.). The Psychology of groups: The intersection of social psychology and psychotherapy research (pp. 149-167). American Psychological Association. doi: org/10.1037/0000201-009
Tasca, G.A., Maxwell, H., Faye, M., & Balfour, L. (2018). Feeling worse before feeling better: A case of increased disorganized mental states following group psychotherapy. In C. Marmarosh (Ed.) Attachment in Group Psychotherapy (Ch. 5). American Psychological Assocation.
PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES
Grenon, R., McKenna, A., Maxwell, H., Carlucci, S., Brugnera, A., Schwartze, D., Hammond, N., Ivanova, I., Mcquaid, N., Proulx, G., & Tasca, G.A. (2018). The Quality of Randomized Controlled Trials of Psychotherapy for Eating Disorders. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 27, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/mpr.1734
Compare, A., Maxwell, H., Brugnera, A., & Zarbo, C., Dalle Grave, R., Tasca, G. A. (2018). Change in attachment dimensions and reflective functioning following Emotionally Focused Group Therapy for binge-eating disorder. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 29, 1-22. doi: 10.1080/00207284.2018.1429928.
Maxwell, H., Compare, A., Tasca, G. A., Brugnera, A., & Zarbo, C. (2018). Reflective functioning and growth in therapeutic alliance during Emotionally Focused Group Therapy for binge-eating disorder. Group Dynamics, 22, 32-44. doi: 10.1037/gdn0000078.
Maxwell, H., Tasca, G. A., Grenon, R., Faye, M., Ritchie, K., Bissada, H., & Balfour, L. (2017). Change in attachment dimensions in women with binge-eating disorder following Group Psychodynamic Interpersonal Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy Research, 27, 1-15. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2017.1278804
Maxwell, H., Tasca, G. A., Grenon, R., Ritchie, K., Bissada, H., & Balfour, L. (2017). Change in attachment states of mind of women with binge-eating disorder. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 24, 1292-1303. doi: 10.1002/cpp.2095
Maxwell, H., Tasca, G. A., Grenon, R., Faye, M., Ritchie, K., Bissada, H., & Balfour, L. (2017). The role of coherence of mind and reflective functioning in understanding binge-eating disorder and co-morbid overweight. Attachment & Human Development, 19, 407-424. doi: 10.1081/14616734.2017.1318934
Tasca, G. A., Maxwell, H., Faye, M., & Balfour, L. (2017). Feeling worse before feeling better: A case of increased disorganized mental states following group psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 67, 240-258. doi: 10.1080/00207284.2016.1260461
Grenon, R., Tasca, G. A., Maxwell, H., Balfour, L., Proulx, G., & Bissada, H. (2016). Parental bonds and body dissatisfaction in a clinical sample: The mediating roles of attachment anxiety and media internalization. Body Image, 19, 49-56. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.08.005
Maxwell, H., Tasca, G. A., Ritchie, K., Balfour, L., & Bissada, H. (2014). Change in attachment insecurity is related to improved outcomes 1-year post-group therapy in women with binge eating disorder. Psychotherapy, 51, 57-65. doi: 10.1037/a0031100
Gallagher, M. E., Tasca, G. A., Ritchie, K., Balfour, K., Maxwell, H., & Bissada, H. (2014). Interpersonal learning is associated with improved self-esteem in group psychotherapy for women with binge eating disorder. Psychotherapy, 51, 66-77. doi: 10.1037/a0031098
Maxwell, H., Tasca, G.A., Gick, M., Ritchie, K., Balfour, L., & Bissada, H. (2012). The impact of attachment anxiety on interpersonal complementarity in early group therapy interactions among women with binge eating disorder. Group Dynamics, 16, 255-271. doi: 10.1037/a0029464
Tasca, G.A., Maxwell, H., Bone, M., Trinneer, A., Balfour, L., Bissada, H. (2012). Purging disorder: Psychopathology and treatment outcomes. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 45, 36-42. doi: 10.1002/eat.20893
Tasca, G.A., Keating, L., Maxwell, H., Hares, S., Trinneer, A., Barber, A., Bradwejn, J., & Bissada, H. (2012). Predicting acceptance of intensive treatment and participation in a randomized control trial of medication among women with anorexia nervosa. European Eating Disorders Review, 20, 154-161. doi: 10/1002/erv.1133
Tasca, G. A., Foot, M., Leite, C., Maxwell, H., Balfour, L., Bissada, H. (2011). Interpersonal processes in group psychodynamic-interpersonal psychotherapy and group cognitive behavioral therapy: A systematic case study of two groups. Psychotherapy, 48, 260-273. doi: 10/1037/a0023928