Clinical Expertise

Dr. Shikatani is a clinical psychologist with more than 14 years of experience working with adults, older adults, and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, panic attacks, phobias, sleep problems, perfectionism, depression, and other conditions. She specializes in providing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy, and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP); she routinely incorporates aspects of mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills. Dr. Shikatani flexibly uses these evidence-based treatments that are grounded in the latest scientific research, while ensuring they are personalized to the patient’s unique attributes, preferences, and values.

Dr. Shikatani’s treatment can be described as active, skill-based, and structured. She teaches patients concrete tools and coping strategies to successfully manage their difficult thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviors. Former patients have noted appreciating Dr. Shikatani’s kindness, warmth, patience, compassion, knowledge, attention to detail, and sense of humor. She feels privileged to have helped hundreds of patients reduce their anxiety, improve their mood, enhance their quality of life, and live the life they truly want.

Dr. Shikatani is the director of the Intensive CBT Program for Anxiety and OCD, a 2-week accelerated treatment program that provides concentrated individual CBT and exposure therapy to adults and adolescents with OCD, social anxiety, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and specific phobias.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Dr. Shikatani values and enjoys working with individuals of diverse backgrounds and identities, and is committed to practicing with cultural humility.

Training

Prior to joining CPG, Dr. Shikatani was a clinical assistant professor at Boston University and a psychologist at the world-renowned Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD), providing specialty CBT and exposure-focused treatment. She achieved the prestigious title of Senior Clinician, which is reserved for those who have significant clinical experience and exceptional supervisory skills. Dr. Shikatani received her PhD in clinical psychology from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) under the mentorship of Dr. Martin M. Antony, an internationally-recognized expert in the field of anxiety disorders. She completed her predoctoral internship at University of Chicago Medical Center and postdoctoral fellowship at CARD at Boston University.

Supervision & Teaching

Dr. Shikatani is passionate about sharing knowledge, training mental health clinicians, disseminating information about mental health and resources, and reducing the stigma around psychological difficulties. She has taken great pleasure in providing clinical and research supervision to numerous students and staff throughout the years, including undergraduate students, doctoral students, postdoctoral associates, and early-career faculty. During Dr. Shikatani’s professorship at Boston University, she taught the PhD level class, Seminar in Psychotherapy, which was praised as being invaluable and impactful. She has given several well-received professional talks, ranging from community talks to disseminate information about mental health resources to workshops on topics such as treating perfectionism and mental health skills for teachers.

Education

• York University, BSc
• Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), MA in Clinical Psychology
• Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), PhD in Clinical Psychology
• University of Chicago Medical Center, Predoctoral Internship
• Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) at Boston University, Postdoctoral Clinical Fellowship

Areas of Expertise

OCD, panic attacks, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, health anxiety, phobias, sleep problems, perfectionism, hair pulling/skin picking, adjustment difficulties, depression; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Hobbies

Dr. Shikatani enjoys being silly with her kids, cooking fun recipes, going to farmers’ markets, and relaxing outdoors. As a former national gymnast, she continues to remain active through working out, taking dance classes, swimming, and learning new sports. Above all, she loves eating and trying new foods!