Dr. Gursharan Virdee is a clinician, researcher and mental health equity advocate. She received her Doctorate in Psychology from the University of London (UK) and pursued a career in Clinical and Counseling Psychology in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Virdee works with adults and adolescents experiencing mood and anxiety disorders, psychosis, addictions, self-harm and trauma. She has worked in settings ranging from tertiary inpatient services to community mental health teams and not-for-profit organizations.
Dr. Virdee works from an anti-oppressive and trauma-informed lens and seeks to empower individuals, communities, and systems to improve holistic wellbeing. She is trained in several evidence-based therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapies, mindfulness-based therapies, dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive adaptation training, cognitive remediation training and motivational interviewing. Dr. Virdee has a special interest in culturally-appropriate treatments and can provide treatment in Punjabi. She is also a sought-after speaker, trainer, consultant, and media commentator.
As an international expert in South Asian mental health, Dr. Virdee’s research focuses on expanding the understanding of mental health recovery for diverse communities, specifically immigrant and racialized communities. She currently leads The Roshni Project, a multi-phase research and knowledge mobilization project focused on young South Asian women experiencing mood and anxiety disorders. She is also an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto and a Collaborator Scientist at CAMH.
Her vision is to create a community of support to facilitate powerful “whole-self” healing accessible to all.
