Dr. Katherine Holshausen

Dr. Katherine Holshausen is a Registered Clinical Psychologist, having completed her Master’s and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Queen’s University. She completed her residency at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, where she provided assessment and treatment services to adults, specializing in mood, chronic emotional difficulties, and complicated trauma presentations. Prior to working at Sageview Health, Dr. Holshausen held positions of being the Clinical Lead and Research Director of the Community Psychiatry Clinic at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. She is currently a part-time Assistant Professor at McMaster University. At Sageview Health, Dr. Holshausen offers assessment and treatment services for adults with diverse presenting needs. She also provides therapy to couples.

Dr. Holshausen’s primary theoretical orientation is cognitive behavioural integrated with mindfulness, principles of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), emotion focused therapy (EFT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). In working with couples, she works from an emotion focused couples therapy (EFCT) lens, which is based on attachment science. EFCT fosters curiosity toward emotional experiences and emotional connection, creating a secure bond between partners. In individual therapy, specific areas of focus for Dr. Holshausen include trauma/PTSD, anxiety (social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder), relationship difficulties, self-esteem, and difficulties with experiencing and managing emotions (e.g., sadness, anger, shame, guilt). Dr. Holshausen’s interpersonal style is warm and open, integrating compassion, humour, and curiosity to co-create a new path forward to her client’s goals.

Highlights of Dr. Holshausen’s distinctions include: (1) Master’s Research Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, (2) Doctoral Vanier Research Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, (3) Comfort & Kindness Grant from the St. Joe’s Foundation. She has authored and co-authored over 30 chapters and scientific papers in journals, and she actively engages in providing psychoeducation and scientific information to the community.