I'm a Toronto-based psychologist passionate about helping my clients build purposeful careers with less fear.
ABOUT ME
MY STORY
After five years of HR experience in the corporate world, I made a major career change that led me back to my original passion, public speaking.
I specialize in helping professionals, leaders, and students with performance anxiety (i.e., public speaking, interview anxiety) and support clients in building their confidence in their careers. From assertiveness skills to emotional intelligence training, I support individuals, teams, and organizations to hone the strengths they need to communicate with confidence and distinction.
I also support clients navigate the job search process in a values-driven way. We work on professional brand development, job interview preparation, and landing the right position.
My area of focus is generally confidence challenges in the workplace, including:
Public speaking confidence
Career transitioning
Communication (i.e., assertiveness)
Confidence and self-esteem
Stress management
Interpersonal skills (i.e., emotional intelligence)
I have published numerous studies on job interview anxiety that have been featured in several journals and in media outlets. I am committed to remaining current on science relating to my areas of focus - I enjoy writing blog posts and serving as a guest on podcasts to share my knowledge, perspectives and expertise. I maintain a blog where I aim to make research accessible to the public and enjoy serving as a guest on podcasts related to my work and passions.
My approach is centered on empowerment and my clients are active participants in the process.
I love learning from and alongside the people I work with as we explore and discover resources and new ways of thinking. I use a solution-focused framework rooted primarily in cognitive behavioural and mindfulness-based strategies. Together, we’ll experiment with strategies until we find the right recipe for you.
I look forward to working with you and supporting you on your journey.
AREAS OF FOCUS
Career-focused psychological services designed to help you unleash your potential.
Self Confidence
What would it feel like to feel more confident and authentic at work? Does your mindset often hold you back? This area of my practice includes working through impostor syndrome, people-pleasing tendencies (i.e., unassertiveness) and a general focus on building confidence to shine in your job and life.
Public Speaking Confidence
Are you struggling with the pressures to perform or speak up at work? Or maybe you are looking to optimize your performance? In this area of my work, I focus both on building high performance habits and decreasing work-related performance anxiety (such as public-speaking & interview anxiety).
Entrepreneur GOAL SETTING
Are you wanting to elevate your leadership skills? Become more focused on your goals as an entrepreneur? This area of my work focuses on the development of leadership skills & emotional intelligence, biohacking your schedule to support your success and monthly/quarterly goal-setting.
CAREER SUPPORT
Do you want to build a meaningful career? Perhaps you're considering a career move or looking for support with creating a career plan for yourself. This area of my practice includes: career goal setting & exploration, resume development & branding, mock interview prep, and supporting the creation of onboarding plans.
SERVICES
My Mission Is To Help You…
Unleash your potential.
Move towards situations that scare you.
Find your voice and bring your opinions to the table.
Build a set of strategies to reach your desired goals.
Develop your inner confidence and a positive mindset.
Put your best foot forward in your career and your life.
Let’s work together
1:1 Psychological
Services
We schedule at least two 1.5 hour sessions in what I call the discovery phase of our work together. After that the sessions are typically 1.0 hour and are generally a mix of reviewing exercises, discussing strategies, and progress you’ve made. I apply solution-focused strategies rooted primarily in mindfulness, neuroscience and cognitive behavioural methods.
At this time, all appointments are virtual and take place over a secure encrypted platform.
Group Psychological
Services
I’ve designed an 10-week online group program that is designed to help you fear less and speak more. This signature program combines psychoeducation, science-based strategies, in-class activities and group-based learning to help individuals develop their own personalized toolkits for coping with public-speaking. This program is structured yet dynamic; while it is lecture-based, you will have plenty of opportunities for questions, participation and sharing (as much or as little as you want!)
Psychological Services for Organizations
I have designed several webinars and workshops delivered to organizations and groups of all sizes on topics including public speaking self-confidence, growth mindset, goal-setting, and mitigating stress in the workplace. At this time, all workshops and webinars are virtually delivered.
Interested in learning more about my how my services could benefit your company or organization? Book a call with me below to find out more.
ARE WE THE RIGHT FIT?
The following questions may help you determine if my services are the right fit for where you are at in your journey:
Are you open-minded to trying strategies or exercises that you haven’t done before?
Are you committed and ready to make tackling this fear a priority in your life?
Do you have the patience to understand that results will likely not happen overnight?
Do you have the courage to push yourself outside of your comfort zone?
Ready to take action?
NOT QUITE READY YET? PREFER TO DIY?
Take advantage of carefully
crafted resources found on the blog.
Blog
Summary of Credentials & Qualifications
Licensing
Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario (license #6978)
Education
Ph.D, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, University of Guelph
M.A, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, University of Guelph
B.A, Honours Specialization Psychology, Western University
Certifications
Hogan Personality Assessments
Korn Ferry Assessment of Leadership Potential (KFALP)
EQ-i 2.0 (Emotional Intelligence Assessment) by MHS
Press
Inc.com, Forbes, Men’s Health, Globe and Mail, Huffington Post, National Post
Publications (last name previously Feiler)
Feiler, A. R., & Powell, D. M. (2016). The role of self-focused attention and negative self-thought in interview anxiety: A test of two interventions. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 24, 132-149.
Feiler, A. R., & Powell, D. M. (2016). Behavioral expression of job interview anxiety. Journal of Business and Psychology, 31, 155-171.
Feiler, A. R., & Powell, D. M. (2013). Anxiety across the sexes: Support for the Sex-linked anxiety coping theory. Personality and Individual Differences, 54, 12-17.
Johnson, A.M., Vernon, P.A., & Feiler, A.R. (2011). Behavior genetic studies of personality: An introduction and review of the results of 50+ years of research. In G. J. Boyle, G. Matthews, & D.H. Saklofske (eds), Handbook of personality theory and assessment, Vol. 1. Sage Publishers. Reprinted in G. J. Boyle, D.H., Saklofske, & G. Matthews (eds), Psychological assessment, Vol. 1. Sage Publishers.
Fear less, not fearless: Why accepting our fear of public speaking is the pathway to personal success
When we meet for the first time, most of my clients say their goal is to totally extinguish their fear of public speaking. However, this not only sets you up for black and white thinking—’either I get rid of my public speaking fear, or I don’t!’—it also makes the goal less attainable and reinforces the idea of the fear being a ‘bad’ thing.