About Bill

Trained in psychology, Bill has devoted a major portion of his career to treatment, training and program development in the field of sexually transmitted disease with a particular focus on HIV. Working in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia he has cultivated his craft in many different cultural settings.

In practice and in life, he combines frank realism with unflinching humanism. He believes in people, whatever their particular circumstance, and their capacity to find their way. Bill has developed keen sensitivities for authenticity and fairness. He is alert to ways in which organizations and systems may exert power over individuals, or for that matter, how one individual may exercise power over another. Fittingly, his model for peer counselling specifically address these issues. His basic working premise is that when people feel safe, understood and supported, the will naturally enter into honest self-exploration and change.

He currently operates a private practice and lives in Vancouver providing counselling to clients as well as consultation and training to agencies and organizations. Bill has worked as a psychologist for over 20 years working with gay men and forensic patients. He left psychology when he moved to Amsterdam in 2001 and returned to Vancouver in 2008. He is continuing his work as a psychotherapist, mostly with gay guys in Vancouver. Bill has taught counselling and has developed a video of his training method for peer counsellors. The videos are available for viewing on this blog. Below are Bill’s resume and qualifications.

BILL COLEMAN, PhD
#808 1160 Burrard St.
Vancouver BC V6Z 2E8
778 320 4850
Email:bcxca@yahoo.com

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Clinical and Community Psychology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada 1985
Thesis: The Personality and Social Support System of the Property and Violent Offender

M.Sc. Clinical and Counselling Psychology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada 1975
Thesis: Effects of Counsellor-Client Conceptual Systems in Counselling

B.Sc. Clinical and Social Psychology, University of Utah, Utah, USA 1972

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors Registration number 3287

Canadian Psychological Association Registration number 3099

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Clinical Counselling and Consultation, Vancouver, Canada 2006 – present

Private Practice

Provided clinical counselling to clients with a focus on: sexuality, men’s health, HIV, gay issues, and relationships
Delivered consultation services to Amerisourcebergen, , Spectrum Health and Downtown Infectious Diseases Clinic to provide counselling for HIV positive persons who are taking Kaletra
Provided workplace mediation consultation services to clients including the Positive Living Society
Contributed to a monthly column in Xtra West sharing expertise in gay men’s health

The University of British Columbia Medical School 2008 – present

British Columbia Centre for Disease Control

Faculty Appointment

Provided consultation on research design and development of a 5 year CIHR funded grant investigating the provision of social support for newly infected HIV+ gay men
Developed a training program for training peer counsellors
Supervision of peer counsellors working with newly diagnosed HIV+ gay men

British Columbia Persons with AIDS Society 2009 – 2009

Counsellor

Provided training to peer counsellors to support people living with HIV through Lighthouse Society in the Fraser Valley

Health Imitative for Men (HIM), Vancouver, Canada 2010 – present

Vancouver, Canada

Counsellor Trainer

Trained peer counsellors to provide counselling to HIM’s clients and supervised peer counsellors

The NANNIE Method, Vancouver, Canada 2010

Peer Counselling training DVD development and production

Developed the NANNIE method of peer counselling
Produced hour long DVD training video to demonstrate use of the NANNIE method amongst peer counsellors. Funded by Health Canada Grant

Artsen Zonder Grenzen, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2000 – 2002

(Doctors Without Borders)

Clinical Psychologist and Counsellor Trainer

Provided training for peers to support those suffering from post-war trauma
Provided training for peers to support to persons with HIV
Trained field counsellors and health professionals to support patients in war affected areas

Dr. Peter Centre, Vancouver, Canada 2000 – 2002
Clinical Psychologist

Consulted with management on harm reduction and provided staff counselling training in harm reduction and safe injection sites

British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada 1991 – 2002

Clinical Psychologist

Counselled patients and provided risk reduction training to patients newly diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases and/or HIV

Canadian Psychological Association, Ottawa, Canada 1997 – 1999

Chair and Organising Committee Member

Organized “AIDS IMPACT, International Conference on the Psychosocial Aspects of HIV Infection”

Adult Forensic Psychiatric Outpatient Services, Canada 1986- 2002

Ministry of Health BC

Clinical Psychologist

Provided group and individual therapy to individuals including sex offenders, drug and alcohol abusers and persons with antisocial personalities
Performed comprehensive assessments and prepared court reports

Prince George Health Unit, Prince George, Canada 1992 – 1998

PWA / HIV+ Counselling

Prince George AIDS Society, Prince George, Canada 1991-1996

Consultant and Trainer

Mental Health Services, Prince George, Canada 1988 – 1989

Clinical Psychologist

Assessed and treated young offenders

Mental Health Services, Kamloops and 100 Mile House, Canada 1984 – 1987

Clinical Psychologist

Young offender assessment and treatment.

Children’s Service Centre, City of Calgary, Canada 1982 – 1983

Clinical Psychologist/Administrator

Provided individual and group counselling, staff training, consultant to staff, supervise social worker. The centre housed 102 children from age 8 – 19.

Solicitor General Alberta & Calgary General Hospital, Canada 1981
em>Clinical Psychologist, Forensic Outpatient Clinic

Assessed and treated inmates on remand
Assessed and treated offenders in Calgary and other communities and jails in southern Alberta

Corrections Canada, Drumheller and Bowden, Canada 1977 – 1981

Clinical Psychologist

Provided parole assessments, group therapy, individual treatment, local staff training, member of a team that designed a national prison guard hostage negotiating training package

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Counseling Europe, Den Haag, Netherlands 2003 – 2006

Taught advanced counselling skills in the last year of a 3 year certificate course in counselling
Provided supervision of advanced counsellors in Training

Health Canada Grant, Prepare and publish a training program for teaching counselling skills to persons in Canada on HIV and AIDS 1995 – 2000

Chaired the working group and prepared modules on: HIV and Substance Use, and Counselling Recently Diagnosed Persons with HIV; in Phase, A Program in HIV/AIDS Education, Psychological Aspects of HIV/AIDS, Training Modules.

Vancouver Community College, Vancouver, Canada 1989 – 1989

Instructor Counselling Skills Program: Group Therapy Course

Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada 1988 – 1988

Instructor Criminology Department: Criminology 417 “Special Topics -The Sex Offender”

Cariboo College, Kamloops, Canada 1983 – 1984

Instructor Psychology Department: Introductory Psychology

Northern Lights College, Dawson Creek & Ft St John, Canada 1976 – 1977

Counsellor for Student Services

Psychology Instructor: Social Psychology; Psychology of Adjustment

Okanagan College, Vernon, Canada 1975 – 1976

Psychology Instructor: Introductory Psychology; Social Psychology; Psychology of Adjustment

ACAEDMIC ENGAGEMENTS

Taylor,D., Steinberg, M., Harris, P., Doupe, G., Coleman,B., Spencer, D., Rees, J., Tigchelaar, J., Sandstra, I.,Oglvie, G., Rekart, M. L., BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, (2007) Psychological Influences on Sexual Risk-Taking Among HIV Positive MSM, International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research, Seattle, USA.

Coleman, B. (2002) Understanding Risks, Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care Conference, Vancouver, BC.

Preece, M, Viljoen, H, Coleman, B., (2001), Development of an Instrument to Assess Psychosocial Programming Needs in a Forensic Psychiatric Population: Some Preliminary Findings. Poster session, Presented to the Founding Conference of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services, Vancouver April 2001.

Coleman, B. and Miller, M. L. (1996) Emotional reactions and safe sex practices of individuals who are newly diagnosed HIV+. Canadian Health Psychologist 4, 27-29.

Coleman, B. (1996) Learning to talk about sex (workshop at International AIDS Conference, Vancouver.)

Coleman, B. (1996) Tri-National “Response to AIDS” (developed Canada’s presentation at International AIDS Conference, Vancouver.)

Coleman, B. (1995) Emotional needs of HIV+ persons (poster presentation, International Biopsychosocial AIDS conference, Brighton, England).

Coleman, B. (1995) Legal and ethical issues raised by HIV/AIDS (panel member, BC HIV/AIDS Conference).

Coleman, B. (1994) Dealing with death and illness with our clients (presented to Networking Workshop in HIV and AIDS).

Coleman, B. and Miller, M. L. (1994) Counselling in HIV/AIDS (organisers of satellite conference at the BC HIV/AIDS Conference)

Coleman, B. (1993) Psychological and social issues in HIV disease/AIDS (presented to the Northern BC HIV Disease/AIDS Conference).

Coleman, B. (1992) AIDS in the workplace: caring for friends and co-workers (presented at the AGM for the Professional Theatre Assn. of Canada, St. Johns, Newfoundland).

Coleman, B. (1980) Psychological description of medium security federal Inmates. Presented to the Psychological Association of Alberta.

Coleman, B. (1980) Training correctional staff in human relations skills. Presented to the Psychological Association of Alberta.

Proctor, S. and Coleman, B. (1971) A volunteer crisis intervention centre on a University campus. Present to the American Psychological Assn. (Rocky Mountain Division).

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Elected to co-chair with the Chief of Police the Diversity Advisory Committee 2001 – 2002

Invited to be participate in International “Think Tank” on Gay Health Issues 2001 – 2002

Board member of Community Based Research Society of Vancouver 1999 – 2003

Member, appointed to Vancouver City Police “Diversity Advisory Committee” to advise the Chief of Police on diversity Issues 1996 – 2002

Chair, “Working Group” for Canadian Psychological Association, (funded by Health Canada), to prepare and present HIV/AIDS training for counsellors across Canada 1995 – 1997

Pacific Foundation for the Advancement Of Minority Equality, (The Gay and Lesbian Centre): Chair of the Board 1994 – 1995

Pacific Foundation for The Advancement Of Minority Equality, (The Gay and Lesbian Centre): Member of the Board 1993 – 1997

AIDS Vancouver: Treasurer 1992 – 1993

AIDS Vancouver: Member of the Board 1989 – 1993

Pacific Foundation for the Advancement of Minority Equality, (The Gay and Lesbian Centre): Established a “Free Counselling Centre;” volunteer counsellor at the “free clinic.” 1988
B. C. Psychological Association: Board Member – Chair of Member Services Committee; adjudicated ethics complaints 1988

Amnesty International: Facilitator for amnesty groups in the BC region 1986 – 1990

Thompson Valley Credit Union: Member of Board of Directors 1986 – 1987

North Thompson Recreation Society: President of Society 1985 – 1986

SKILLS & INTERESTS