About Dr. Ray
Dr. Colleen Ray is a Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist registered by the College of Psychologists of Ontario to practice in Ontario with adults and seniors. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a concentration in neuropsychology, at the University of Arizona in 2009. She has extensive clinical experience working in both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, neurology, and community settings. In these contexts, Dr. Ray has performed evidence-based assessment and intervention for persons with trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, chronic pain, acquired brain injury, dementia, neurodevelopmental disorders, and other neurological problems. She has published research in attention, learning, memory, and dementia. As a consultant, she has provided evidence-based solutions, clinical advice, and education to third party payors and health care providers regarding appropriate, effective health care interventions to optimize outcomes. She is a member of the Canadian Psychological Association and the Ontario Psychological Association.
If you are interested in further information regarding Dr. Ray’s work experience, please see her LinkedIn profile.
Psychological Services
Neuropsychological Assessment and Psychological Assessment
Dr. Ray offers in person (in Toronto) and virtual psychological assessments. She also offers hybrid and in person neuropsychological assessments. Assessments are performed for clinical care as well as Independent Medical Evaluations. For neuropsychological assessments, Dr. Ray is willing to travel (e.g., to service individuals in remote areas, where limited assessment services are available, for individuals who have limitations on travel). Dr. Ray provides assessments for individuals for a wide range of psychological, cognitive, and behavioural challenges, with specialization in assessing individuals following physical and/or neurological injury or illness, including Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), concussion/persistent post-concussion symptoms, dementia, and physical injuries.
Psychological Treatment
Dr. Ray offers in person (in Toronto) and virtual psychological treatment. She provides treatment services to persons with psychological and/or cognitive/behavioural challenges following physical and/or neurological injury or illness. She partners with individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma related disorders, sleep challenges, somatic symptoms, and adjustment to chronic illness or injury. She specializes in conditions that lay at the intersection of psychological and physiological/neurological conditions (e.g., persistent symptoms following concussion; chronic pain or unexplained symptoms) and behavioural challenges following brain injury or dementia (e.g., behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia). Dr. Ray utilizes evidence-based approaches, most often cognitive behavioural therapy, that best matches individual needs.
Canadian Armed Forces
For CAF members, Dr. Ray is registered as a provider with Medavie / Blue Cross Blue Shield. She particularly enjoys working with service members and supporting them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential. Dr. Ray has experience assessing and treating members for neurodevelopmental disorders (i.e. ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders), mood and anxiety disorders, trauma and stressor related disorders, and neurocognitive disorders (e.g. traumatic brain injury).
WSIB
For WSIB claims, Dr. Ray is registered as a provider with the Community Mental Health Program and offers Fee for Service neuropsychological assessments. Dr. Ray is passionate about supporting workers’ recovery. She has considerable knowledge regarding worker compensation boards, which assists in her ability to successfully navigate psychological service provision in this context.
Dr. Ray’s Approach
Dr. Ray believes that a strong case conceptualization is essential in supporting decision making and recovery, and that a comprehensive and valid understanding is best achieved by taking the time to thoroughly understand an individual’s subjective experience, recognizing the significance of individual’s cultural/environmental context, accompanied by psychometrically sound psychological (and neuropsychological) testing. She personally performs both the clinical and psychometric/cognitive portions of assessments.
Dr. Ray’s therapeutic approach is to provide a safe space for individuals to be heard, and to partner with them and their caregivers (if appropriate) to improve their functioning and achieve personal and/or employment related goals. Dr. Ray is committed to an individualized, patient-centered process that incorporates the relative importance of an individual’s history, values and needs. She prides herself on transparent communication, being trustworthy, fair, and evidence-based.
If you think you or your loved one might work well with Dr. Ray, please contact Dr. Ray. She will typically respond within 24 hours on regular business days.
Rates and Insurance
Psychological services are not covered by OHIP. That said, many extended healthcare benefit plans provide reimbursement for psychological services. Costs that have not been reimbursed by an extended health benefit plan are eligible to claim for tax deductions as medical expenses. For some services (e.g., WSIB), rates are determined by the third-party payor and Dr. Ray will facilitate direct payment from these providers. Rates will depend on the service provided (e.g., assessment versus treatment). Please contact Dr. Ray if there are questions about rates.
Consultation Services
Clinical Consultation
- File reviews of complex claims
- Consultation on case management and clinical management
Dr. Ray reviews files of complex claims with mental health and/or neuropsychological conditions to help inform decision making. She has years of experience providing advice and education to case managers, nurse consultants, return to work partners, and management on complex claims with mental health and/or brain injury/neurological conditions. In her consultation work, she actively solicits the perspectives of key stakeholders and collaborates with them throughout the process. Dr. Ray has particular interest in the intersection of clinical data and policy to support decision makers in optimizing fair, safe, and sustainable work outcomes.
Educational offerings
- Speaking engagements
- Tailored training and workshops
Dr. Ray has extensive experience providing education to a wide range of audiences, from healthcare providers, adjudicators, front line Return to Work (RTW) partners, and management to improve recovery, RTW, and business outcomes. For example, she provides education to clinicians and non-clinicians on RTW (e.g. recent CPA presentation on RTW), Traumatic Brain Injury, persistent post-concussion symptoms, Somatic Symptom Disorders, psychological injuries secondary to physical injuries, and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
If you are interested in her consultation services, please contact Dr. Ray. She will typically respond within 24 hours on regular business days.
FAQ
A psychological assessment can include several components such as a clinical interview, including observational data, provision of norm-referenced psychological tests, review of school and/or medical records, and obtaining collateral information (i.e., collecting information from those who know the individual well, if consent is obtained). The components collected depend on the specific question(s) being asked.
Typically, Dr. Ray will start with a clinical interview where she will speak to the individual about their concerns and history, followed by having them complete current and well- validated norm-referenced psychological measures. “Norm-referenced” psychological tests involve the use of formal tests such as questionnaires or checklists that have been standardized so that individuals are evaluated in a similar way. These tests have been developed and evaluated by researchers and proven to be effective for measuring a particular trait or disorder. Dr. Ray will also review available medical records and potentially collect collateral information. Appointments vary in length, but typically take three to five hours of face-to-face assessment to complete.
Together, the information collected typically allows Dr. Ray to describe the individual’s emotional, behavioural (including pain issues) and/or personality functioning, provide an opinion on the cause and prognosis of the condition, determine how the condition may impact functional abilities (e.g., social, household, recreational, competitive employment, and other activities), and formulate treatment and/or work-related needs. Dr. Ray summarizes these findings into a written report. A feedback session with the individual is usually conducted in order to review the results.
Clinical neuropsychology is a subspecialty of clinical psychology that focuses on the relationship between behaviour and brain function. A neuropsychological assessment includes a psychological assessment (see above FAQ), and integrates this information with an assessment of an individual’s cognitive functioning using norm-referenced tests to obtain objective information. A range of cognitive functioning is typically assessed including intellectual functioning, attention/concentration, learning/memory, speech/language, visuospatial/perceptual abilities, sensory/motor functioning, and decision-making/planning/problem-solving. Neuropsychological assessments are comprehensive evaluations that usually require one to two days of face-to-face time to complete. The assessment may be completed over a few days to accommodate an individual’s comfort and stamina level.
Together, the information collected typically allows Dr. Ray to describe the individual’s emotional, behavioural (including pain issues), cognitive, and/or personality functioning, provide an opinion on the cause and prognosis of the condition, determine how the condition may impact functional abilities (e.g., social, household, recreational, competitive employment, and other activities), and formulate treatment and/or work-related needs. Dr. Ray summarizes these findings into a written report. A feedback session with the individual is usually conducted in order to review the results.
Note: If an individual has known cognitive deficits (e.g., the referral involves behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia), neuropsychological testing may be quite limited, and the assessment would focus on a behavioural assessment, such as using the P.I.E.C.E.S. framework that helps to understand the interaction of the individual within their environment.
Yes. Trying to get a good night’s sleep prior to your assessment is recommended. Please do not consume any recreational drugs or alcohol prior to or during the assessment. You are encouraged to take your regular medications on the day(s) of your assessment.
Please bring to your appointment: hearing aids, reading glasses, or any other aids that you use. You are encouraged to dress comfortably. You are welcome to bring snacks and or lunch. There are also several food establishments in the building and the surrounding area where you can buy food and/or beverages.
Regarding the norm-referenced tests, there is no preparation needed. (Neuro)psychological testing is not like a school test for which you study. For some people, if they suspect that they may have a particular problem, they may look online for a practice test of that problem. This is not a good plan. In fact, practicing ahead of time may result in inconsistent answers and make you appear to have more (or less) problems than you actually do. Please keep in mind that (neuro)psychological testing is nothing to fear. Rather, it is an opportunity for Dr. Ray to determine the best way to help you.
Psychological treatment, also known as psychotherapy or “talk therapy”, is a general term for treating a broad variety of psychological challenges by talking with a mental health provider. Psychotherapy can help to reduce or better manage troubling symptoms so an individual can function better. There are several different types of psychotherapy, and the intervention chosen depends on the nature of the issue, the individual, and the provider.
For example, if an individual is diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and initiates psychological treatment to treat the PTSD, the individual and Dr. Ray may partner to engage in an evidence-based treatment course of Cognitive Processing Therapy, if deemed appropriate by both. On the other hand, if treatment is focused on supporting an individual with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, treatment would likely involve caregivers and testing the implementation of possible solutions.
The relationship and trust between the individual and the provider are essential to working together effectively. Thus, finding a provider whom the individual can work with well is important. In addition, approaching therapy as a collaborative effort, being open and honest, and following the agreed upon plan for treatment, including following through with assignments between sessions (such as writing in a journal or practicing what is talked about), helps to obtain the most benefit.
Dr. Ray typically holds sessions once per week, with each session 50 minutes in duration.
Contact
Ray Psychological Services is located on the 35th floor of the Hudson's Bay Centre in Toronto on the corner of Bloor and Yonge. The office is situated above the Bloor-Yonge subway station and underground public parking, and is wheelchair-accessible from both.
If you are driving, you can find the Bloor Street Parking Garage entrance at the W Hotel, which is on the North side of Bloor, just East of Yonge Street. Please note that the parking garage has a 6' clearance, which may be too low for larger trucks and SUVs. Also note that vehicle transit times are often longer than predicted by Google, and you may need to plan delays. Refer to the Hudson's Bay Centre website for parking rates and further information.
| Phone: | 416-526-5476 |
| Fax: | 647-689-7604 |
| Email: | Dr.Ray@raypsych.ca |
Hudson’s Bay Centre
2 Bloor St. East
Suite 3500
Toronto, Ontario
M4W 1A8
