Background


I received my Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia. I then spent a little over a year working with Dr Anne Treisman on research into attentional processes. I attended the University of Western Ontario and received my MA and PhD there.

I worked in a variety of settings in Ontario: on a diabetes complications trial at University Hospital London, on a spinal cord and chronic pain unit at Parkwood Hospital London, and, on an outpatient psychology unit at St Joseph’s Health Centre.

Eventually I returned to the Vancouver area to coordinate the Changeways Program, a post-hospitalization program for people experiencing major depression. I conducted over 50 groups and developed outreach training for mental health professionals in depression treatment. The Core Program, as it continues to be known, became the dominant model of group therapy for depression in British Columbia, and has been adopted by centres across Canada and beyond.

In 2002 Changeways became Changeways Clinic, a freestanding private clinic operating out of offices in Vancouver. It is now one of the city’s largest psychotherapy services.

Today my work involves an individual therapy practice, public speaking on psychological issues, training for mental health clinicians, and writing. In my spare time I operate a small orchard in the interior of British Columbia.

I am a registered psychologist in the province of British Columbia (#01105).

PUBLICATIONS - POPULAR PRESS

Paterson, R.J. (2022). The assertiveness workbook: How to express your ideas and stand up for yourself at work and in relationships, 2nd ed. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Paterson, R.J. (2020). How to be Miserable in Your Twenties: Forty Ways to Avoid Adulting. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Paterson, R.J. (2016). How to be Miserable: Forty Strategies You Already Use. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Paterson, R.J. (2011). Private Practice Made Simple. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Paterson, R.J., Alden, L.E., & Koch, W.J. (2008). The core program: A cognitive behavioural guide to depression. MP3-CD Edition. Vancouver, Canada: Changeways Clinic.

Paterson, R.J. (2002). Your depression map. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS

Smith, M. M., Hewitt, J. M. A., Paterson, R. J., & Hewitt, P. L. (2021). Personality and group psychotherapy outcome: The lack of influence of traits from the five-factor model. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/gdn0000158

Hewitt, P.L., Smith, M.M., Deng, X., Chen, C., Ko, A., Flett, G.L., & Paterson, R.J. (2020). The perniciousness of perfectionism in group psychotherapy for depression: A test of the perfectionism social disconnection model. Psychotherapy, 57, 206-218.

Brondani, M.A., & Paterson, R. (2011). Teaching lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered issues in dental education: A multipurpose method. Journal of Dental Education, 75, 1354-1361

McLean, P.D., Whittal, M.L., Thordarson, D.S., Taylor, S., Sochting, I., Koch, W.J., Paterson, R., & Anderson, K.W. (2001). Cognitive versus behavior therapy in the group treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

Paterson, R. (2000). Exporting the treatment of depression: The Changeways experience. Visions, 11, 19.

Taylor, S., Woody, S., Koch, W.J., McLean, P., Paterson, R.J., & Anderson, K.W. (1997). Cognitive restructuring in the treatment of social phobia: Efficacy and mode of action. Behavior Modification, 21, 487-511.

Paterson, R.J., & Neufeld, R.W.J. (1995). What are my options? Influences of choice availability on stress and the perception of control. Journal of Research in Personality, 29, 145-167.

Paterson, R.J., & Neufeld, R.W.J. (1994). Choice and stress: The effects of choice availability and option impact (Research Bulletin No. 723). London, Ontario: University of Western Ontario, Department of Psychology.

Paterson, R.J., & Neufeld, R.W.J. (1989). The stress response and parameters of stressful situations. In R. W. J. Neufeld (Ed.), Advances in the investigation of psychological stress (pp. 7-42). New York: Wiley.

Neufeld, R.W.J., & Paterson, R.J. (1989). Issues concerning control and its implementation. In R.W.J. Neufeld (Ed.), Advances in the investigation of psychological stress (pp. 43- 67). New York: Wiley.

Paterson, R.J., & Moran, G. (1988). Attachment theory, personality development, and psychotherapy. Clinical Psychology Review, 8, 611-636.

Paterson, R.J., & Neufeld, R.W.J. (1987). Clear danger: Situational determinants of the appraisal of threat. Psychological Bulletin, 101, 404-416.

Treisman, A.M., & Paterson, R. (1984). Emergent features, attention, and object perception. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 10, 12-31.

PAPERS PRESENTED (SELECTED)

Kivisalu, T.M., & Paterson, R.J. (2024). Failure to launch: Helping young adults and their families achieve independence. Workshop presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Ottawa Ontario.

Paterson, R.J. (2021). Behavioural activation and goal-setting in psychotherapy: 12 essential strategies to enhance effectiveness. Workshop presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies, virtual.

Paterson, R.J. (2021). How to be miserable in your twenties: The clinician’s guide. Workshop presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, virtual.

Paterson, R.J. (2021). Is the emperor now dressed or still naked? Recent meta-analyses of antidepressant effectiveness. Review session presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, virtual.

Paterson, R.J. (2012). Creating an effective internet presence: Strategies for psychologists. Presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Halifax Nova Scotia.

Paterson, R.J. (2009). The iPod as therapist, and other stories: Three examples of alternative service delivery. In R.J. Paterson (Chair), Burn the couch: Alternatives to traditional psychotherapy for clinical psychology. Presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Montreal Quebec.

Paterson, R.J., Antony, M.M., & Bieling, P.J. (2009). Publishing in the popular press: Experiences and recommendations. Presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Montreal Quebec.

Bradley, P, Manion, I, Paterson, R, Reissing, E, Ashbaugh, A, & Smith, K. (2007). I’ve got my clinical psychology PhD...So now what? Presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Ottawa Ontario.

Bilsker, D, & Paterson, RJ. (2006). Practical tools for the delivery of nonpharmacologic depression care. Presented at the 7th National Conference on Shared Mental Health Care, Calgary AB.

Paterson, R.J. (2005). Self help resources in the management of depression. Presented at the annual St Paul’s CME Course for primary care physicians, Vancouver BC.

Bilsker, D, & Paterson, R.J. (2005). Selling the better mousetrap: Disseminating CBT-based depression programs. Presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Montreal, Quebec.

Paterson, RJ. (2004). Queer eye for the straight psychologist: Understanding gay life and culture from the outside in. Presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Associations, St John’s,Newfoundland.

Paterson, R. (2003). Treatment of depression in the workplace. Presented at the Canadian Mental Health Association Bottom Line Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Paterson, R.J. (2002). Development and dissemination of Changeways, an evidence-based depression treatment protocol. In R.J. Paterson (Chair), Program dissemination across settings, across cultures: Development, translation, implementation, and evaluation. Presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Bilsker, D., & Paterson, R.J. (2002). How should we disseminate evidence-based psychological treatment? Discussion session presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Bilsker, D., & Paterson, R.J. (2002). A stepped care approach to the management of depression in primary care. Presented at the meeting of the International Federation of Psychiatric Epidemiology, Edmonton, Alberta.

Shen, E, Alden, LE, Sochting, I, & Paterson, R. (2002). An examination of the CPAI Depression scale in clinically depressed Cantonese immigrants. In F. M. Cheung (Chair), Validity of the CPAI. Symposium presented at the International Congress of Applied Psychology, Singapore.

Bilsker, D., & Paterson, R.J. (2001). The self-care program for depression. Presented at From Prevention to Recovery: Mental Health Services for the 21st Century, Simon Fraser Health Region, Coquitlam, BC.

Paterson, R.J. (2000). Self-control strategies and recovery from depression. Presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Ottawa, Ontario.

Paterson, R.J. & Bishop, C. (2000). Equal but not equivalent: Differences between same-sex and opposite-sex relationships. Presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Ottawa, Ontario.

Paterson, R.J. (1999). Leaving the bedrooms: Legal and cultural change in 1990’s Canada. In R. J. Paterson (Chair), The triangular globe: Cross-cultural examinations of sexual orientation. Symposium presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA.

Paterson, R.J. (1999). Strategies for effective dissemination: The case of Changeways. In R. J. Paterson & Merv V. Gilbert (Chairs), Taking psychology on the road: The dissemination of effective treatments. Symposium presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA.

Paterson, R.J., & Gilbert, M.V. (1999). Giving psychology away: The dissemination of effective treatments. Conversation hour presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Paterson, R.J. (1999). Quality of life and recovery from major depression. Presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Paterson, R.J. (1999). The relationship between depression and perfectionism in a post-hospitalization sample. Presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Whittal, M.L., McLean, P.D., Thordarson, D., Koch, W.J., Paterson, R.J., Taylor, S., & Sochting, I. (1998). OCD treatment outcome: Behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapies. In M.L. Whittal (Chair), Cognitive-behavioral treatment outcome in OCD and OCD spectrum disorders. Symposium presented at the meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Washington, D.C.

Paterson, R.J. (1997). Reaching the consumer: Implementation of a treatment program for depression in British Columbia. In T. Tokarz (Chair), Protocol Based treatments in a United States hospital system, Canadian health service, and private practice: Contrasting experiences. Symposium presented at the meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Miami, Florida.

Whittal, M.L., McLean, P.D., Sochting, I., Koch, W.J., Taylor, S., Anderson, K., & Paterson, R.J. (1997, November). OCD treatment outcome using behavioral and cognitive approaches. In S. Taylor (Chair), Treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder: Progress, prospects, and problems. Symposium presented at the meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Miami, Florida.

Paterson, R.J. (1996). Psychology for the second tier. Invited address to the convention of the British Columbia Psychological Association, Vancouver, B.C.

Taylor, S., Koch, W., Woody, S., McLean, P., Paterson, R.J., & Anderson, K. (1995). Role of cognitive restructuring in the treatment of generalized social phobia. Presented at the convention of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Washington, D.C.

Paterson, R.J., McLean, P.D., & Anderson, K.W. (1995). Changeways: Implementation of a cognitive- behavioural outreach service in British Columbia. Presented at the convention of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Paterson, R.J., & Neufeld, R.W.J. (1991). Relationships between appraisals of situation stressfulness, controllability, and information processing demands. Presented at the convention of the Canadian Psychological Association, Calgary, Alberta.

Phillips, B., Paterson, R.J., & Swartzman, L. (1991). Effects of rater smoking status on perceptions of smoking and nonsmoking models. Presented at the convention of the Canadian Psychological Association, Calgary, Alberta.

Dawson, D.L., & Paterson, R.J. (1988). Expectations and aspirations in introductory psychology. Presented at the convention of the Canadian Psychological Association, Montreal.

Paterson, R.J., & Neufeld, R.W.J. (1988). Effects of choice availability on anticipatory stress. Presented at the convention of the Canadian Psychological Association, Montreal.

Paterson, R.J., & Neufeld, R.W.J. (1987). Choice availability and the perception of stress. Presented at the convention of the Canadian Psychological Association, Vancouver.