Allied Health
Tyson Bell
Registered Physiotherapist
Tyson graduated from UBC with a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy in 2016. Prior to this, he obtained an Undergraduate Honours degree in Biomedical Studies from the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, BC.
Throughout his studies and career, Tyson has developed an interest in the Physiotherapy management of persistent pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain. As a result, Tyson has sought continuing education to develop his clinical pain management skills. He has been lucky to take courses with, and learn from, some of the foremost clinicians and scientists in the pain science field such as Dr. Lorimer Moseley, Dr. Tasha Stanton and Neil Pearson.
In order to provide effective, evidence-based treatment for complex pain conditions, Tyson employs a multimodal approach based on education, movement and self-management techniques. During a session with Tyson, most patients can expect to learn more about pain--why we experience it, where it comes from and how it can be increased or reduced. Research has shown that simply developing a deeper understanding of pain can help individuals improve their function and reduce pain. Active therapy can sound intimidating for those living with pain, that is why Tyson works with his patients to ensure that the exercises he prescribes are manageable and within tolerable limits. Self-management techniques like goal setting, relaxation techniques and breathing exercises provide a toolkit to assist in managing pain independently.
Dr. Dorota Hedzelek, PhD, RCC
Registered Clinical Counselor
Dorota Hedzelek, is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with over 25 years of experience in providing counselling and social work services nationally and internationally. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and a PhD in Medical Sciences from Poznan University of Medical Sciences. Dorota is also the Director of Support Services programs at Pain BC, which provide direct support to people living with persistent pain.
Sanela Jakovljev
Sanela completed a Master of Counseling at City University, after having completed several other degrees apart from psychology, such as business, English language, and Montessori Education for children. She extended her love of learning to counselling and has been trained in various modalities and interventions for trauma and PTSD survivors. Her experience of war (she is Bosnian, from Sarajevo) highlighted the fragility of life, taught gratitude, and inspired a desire to be there for others to help ease their pain. Her work with refugees and former combatants proved to me how deeply scarring and life-diminishing unresolved trauma can be. Working in group homes and parenting teenagers has led me to mentor youth in the areas of addiction, relationships, ADHD, anxiety and behavioural issues.
By far her passion lies in working with clients with chronic pain, where personal experience of living with fibromyalgia, arthritis and osteoporosis, has deepened my skills. Honouring the mind-body connection, she employs Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Therapy, holistic and humanistic approaches to counselling, and encourage healing and wholehearted living. I strive to bring my authentic curiosity, warmth and openness into the counselling room, working towards helping clients achieve realistic solutions.
Dr. Peter W. Joy, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Registered Psychologist
Dr. Peter Joy has worked as a psychologist in British Columbia for over 30 years. He has been interested in and passionate about the treatment and assessment of individuals with chronic pain since working at the Thorson Pain Rehabilitation Clinic in 1991-1992. His interest and passion are unabated.
He worked for seven years as a psychologist at WorkSafeBC, conducting psychological-legal assessments of injured workers for medical, claims, rehabilitation, pension, and Board of Review purposes. He conducted research, and he worked within in the PACE Program, a then WorkSafeBC Interdisciplinary Pain Program. He has always enjoyed working in an interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary setting.
He has had a full-time private practice since 1999, specializing in the assessment and treatment of individuals with chronic pain and related disability plus co-existing anxiety, depressive, sleep, neurocognitive, substance, and trauma-and stressor-related disorders.
He is informed by a bio-psycho-social understanding of physical and psychological health. His approach to treatment is collaborative, and evidence-based. Primary treatment modalities include CBT (Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction). In-session treatment is supplemented by links to multiple self-help and educational online resources. Different client strengths, weaknesses, capabilities, and preferences are recognized: treatment is individualized. Individual, couple, family, and group approaches are accommodated.
He has been a long-standing member of the British Columbia Psychological Association, the Canadian Psychological Association, the Canadian Pain Society, the American Pain Society, and the International Association for the Study of Pain.
He has acted as the psychological representative on the PainBC Project ECHO for Chronic Pain.
He has presented and published widely in his area of interest. He has been qualified on numerous occasions over the course of 29 years as an expert in psychology in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and in the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta.
Amy Lee
X-Ray Technician
Prior to joining CPRI, Amy worked in Hong Kong as a Registered Radiographer for 5 years. Amy works closely with patients and physicians during all fluoroscopy-guided procedures as well as select ultrasound-guided procedures.
Dr. Katherine Lee, DC
Chiropractor and Medical Legal Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist
Bio coming soon.
Andrea Masse, MSC.OT, BHK
Occupational Therapist
Andrea is an Occupational Therapist with over 13 years of clinical experience in various public and private healthcare settings. She completed her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at University of Toronto in 2007 and prior to this, her Bachelor’s degree in Human Kinetics at University of British Columbia. She has completed additional continuing education in Chronic Pain Management through Pain BC, the Matheson Functional Capacity Evaluation,the Progressive Goal Attainment Program, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Wheelchair/ seating fitting.
Andrea worked over 10 years in acute care at St. Paul’s Hospital on the surgical unit, orthopedic surgery, stroke rehab, internal medicine and palliative care. Andrea now works as an occupational therapist in the community. She conducts home and workplace assessments, leads group pain classes at CPRI and provides one-on-one OT rehab for clients. Her treatment approach utilizes education, self-management and empowering clients to integrate strategies into their daily life to facilitate behaviour change and improving their function.
When Andrea is not working, you can find her playing soccer, working out at the gym or spending time with her family/friends.
Chandra Matla
Registered Physiotherapist
Chandra Sekhar Matla is a highly qualified and dedicated physiotherapist with a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy and 16+ years of clinical experience in Canada, the UK, and India. He is a recognized specialist in chronic pain, neuromusculoskeletal, sports injuries, neurological conditions, geriatric, and patient care. Throughout his years of work, Chandra Sekhar Matla has been the model of the medical professional with high standards of clinical thinking. By virtue of individually designed treatment methods and programs for home exercises, he has helped his patients to improve their health.
Chandra Sekhar Matla has a track record of building mutually beneficial dialogues with patients. His skills in creating the ideal conditions for successful communication in close collaboration with other physiotherapists and healthcare professionals help find the root causes of patients’ chronic illnesses and accelerate their recovery and rehabilitation processes.
Chandra Sekhar Matla is committed to continuing his education in the Canadian Physiotherapy Orthopaedic division course to ultimately become a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manual Physiotherapy (FCAMPT). He is certified and has been practicing Hip & Knee Osteoarthritis GLA.D exercises, Gunn IMS, Acupuncture Canada certification, Mulligan mobilizations, Graston techniques, TMJ management, Shockwave, and Muscle energy techniques in his day-to-day clinical practice with enhanced reasoning skills.
His language skills are not limited to English – he is also fluent in Hindi and Telugu. When Chandra Sekhar Matla is free from work and professional development, he loves to read books and play cricket and badminton. He is a very kind and sympathetic person.
Dr. James Mok
Registered Psychologist
Dr. Mok is a Registered Psychologist with advanced training and expertise in the assessment and management of mental health disorders associated with chronic pain conditions. He also has a clinical practice at the Chronic Pain Clinic at Jim Pattison Outpatient Surgical Centre, at Surrey Memorial Hospital.
Gurpreet (Priya) Kaur Saini, LPN
Clinical Nurse
Before joining CPRI, Priya completed her Bachelor of Arts in Nursing (BSN) and Doctor of Medicine (MD) in the Philippines with one year of medical internship, picking up a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the medical field.
Subsequently Priya been trained as a nurse in the Canadian System. She studied practical nursing and pursed her education in business degree. Priya has a kind-heart with a warm personality. She supports practitioners and patients undergoing interventional treatments at CPRI.
Heather Tingle
Certified Pain Coach
Heather is a professional International Coaching Federation (ICF) -certified coach with a background in community nursing and has spent much of her professional life learning from and working closely with people of all ages who are experiencing major life transitions and serious health challenges. She has also coached on a volunteer basis in Pain BC’s Coaching for Health program since 2018. She loves to work with people who are searching for their way forward. You can connect with her directly at heather@wildbluecoaching.ca; or through the group medical visit programs at CPRI.