about Dr. Joy Hauck

training

I obtained a B.Sc.(Hons) Psychology from the University of Wales, Swansea (UK). I emigrated one year later to Calgary, AB.

I completed a Masters of Science (M.Sc.) and Doctorate (Ph.D.) in the highly competitive Clinical Psychology program at the University of Calgary, AB. My Masters research involving children with Autism was submitted and accepted for publication in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. The final year of the Ph.D. was rounded out with pre-Doctoral Internship at the Alberta Children's Hospital. Valuable experience was gained in various departments within the hospital including Developmental Clinic (preschool and school age), Child Abuse Service, Cardio-respiratory and GI clinics, Behaviour and Internalizing Services, Neurology Clinic as well as a community placement with the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association. Other specialty clinical placements included Psychosocial Oncology (ACH) and Family, Adolescent and Child Services (FACS team) with the Alberta Mental Health Board.

I have been formally trained in the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R) to Research level and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) at the Clinical level with Dr. Catherine Lord.

I enjoy ongoing further education experiences to keep up to date with developments in various areas related to my practice. Most recent workshops that I have attended included "Diagnosing and Treating Young Children with ASD" with Dr. Amy Wetherby and the "Canadian Social Thinking Providers Conference" with Michelle Garcia Winner and Dr. Pamela Crooke. I also have experience with diagnosing Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA), a subtype of Autism Spectrum Disorder, and I have a lot of experience identifying ASD in girls, which can be more subtle and requires a thorough understanding of the potentially different ways that girls can show difficulties. Identifying toddlers (children over a year of age) is also an area of interest and expertise, following completion of specific training through the Autism Navigator course for Early Intervention Providers.

employment experiences

I began my career in the autism field working in a Residential Treatment program for children and adolescents before moving into being an Early Intervention Therapist for several years, where I learned to formulate and track treatment goals, conduct therapeutic interventions and was inspired to continue to work further in the autism field, after developing a solid experience of early intervention. I was privileged to see first hand the progress that some preschoolers with autism could make with the appropriate interventions in place.

After completing my Ph.D. training, I accepted a position at the Alberta Children's Hospital on Developmental Clinic, providing assessment related to complex developmental difficulties including Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Developmental Delays and Intellectual Disabilities, Fetal Alcohol Disorder, Selective Mutism and other anxiety issues. I also developed and ran a social skills group for children with ASD.

I have also been previously employed by the Cure Autism Now foundation through their Autism Genetic Resource Exchange program to collect data from families with multiple children diagnosed with autism. This involved traveling within Canada and conducting ADI-Rs with parents to pair diagnostic information with DNA results in a database for researchers.

After starting a part time private practice following the birth of my first son, I have had various contracts to provide psychological services with preschool-aged children in Program Unit Funded (PUF) placements, to assess as well as provide intervention services based on a variety of presenting issues. I have also co-ordinated home-based intervention programs for preschoolers and school-aged children, run a socials skills group for children with ASD, and provided consultation to parents regarding programming services within Calgary. Workshops regarding intervention strategies as well as observing behavioural characteristics of young children with ASD have also been offered in the past.

I currently provide assessment-only services for children and youth up to Junior High ages. Autism assessment can be completed as young as 12 months of age. ADHD assessments are typically offered from age five to six and upwards.