Clinical Bio

I am a psychiatrist who obtained my medical degree from the University of Alberta in 1981 and completed my specialist training in psychiatry at the University of Manitoba in 1985. I'm also a researcher, author, and lecturer, and past President of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD). In 2018, I was honored to receive the ISSTD Lifetime Achievement Award.

I am a prolific contributor to the field, having authored 38 books and over 290 professional papers. Beyond my clinical and academic work, I have consulted for the television industry and founded The Colin A. Ross Institute for Psychological Trauma and Manitou Communications. I specialize in the most complex presentations of mental health, including all forms of dissociation, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Personality Disorders, and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD).

What I Really Want You to Know

I am a psychiatrist who actually loves to counsel rather than just prescribe medications. I offer a rare blend of deep academic understanding and compassionate clinical expertise; more than anything, I am a clinician who truly wants to help you find your way through and past your worst hurts.

I pride myself on being able to take complex, dense scientific information and impart it to my patients in simple, understandable terms. My goal is for you to feel empowered and knowledgeable about your own healing process rather than intimidated by it. I am driven by a broad curiosity—ranging from the genetics of schizophrenia to the dynamics of social and political reactions. This intellectual depth allows me to see the human mind in all its complexity, fueled by the firm belief that your pain is understandable and that, with the right approach, healing is possible.

How I Weave Trauma Model Therapy Into My Practice

As the creator of Trauma Model Therapy (TMT), my entire practice is built upon the foundation that trauma is a primary risk factor for a wide range of mental disorders. I don't just treat symptoms; I look for root causes.

In our work together, I apply the TMT framework to:

• Focus on Integration: We move beyond simple symptom reduction toward psychological integration and the healing of relational wounds.

• Address the Structure of the Self: Because I understand how trauma fundamentally alters how a person sees themselves and the world, I can guide you toward a more stable, unified sense of identity.

• Identify Survival Logic: We look at comorbidity—the presence of multiple diagnoses—as a logical set of adaptations to an unsafe environment.

In essence, I use the Trauma Model to ensure that your treatment is not a guessing game, but a scientifically grounded path toward recovery that respects the incredible ways your mind has worked to protect you.