Program Director, Assistant Professor-University of Toronto, Adjunct Professor-York University
Courses: Certificate in Health Coaching, Training in Motivational Interviewing
Dr. Coons is a clinical psychologist who specializes in health psychology. He completed his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Waterloo, and his pre-doctoral clinical internship in medical psychology at Duke University Medical Centre. He was formerly on faculty in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University, and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto, and Adjunct Professor in Psychology at York University.
Dr. Coons has also been appointed to the Obesity Scientific Committee of the American Heart Association (2012-2014; 2014-2016). Dr. Coons’ expertise is in the implementation of cognitive and behavioural interventions for the treatment of health-related problems. These include: obesity and weight management, psychosocial adjustment to chronic diseases (e.g., Type 1 and 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pain), adherence to health behaviours for chronic disease prevention and management (e.g., diet, exercise, medications), and insomnia and related behavioural sleep issues (e.g., adherence to sleep apnea treatment). Dr. Coons’ expertise also includes the assessment and treatment of mood anxiety problems that often co-occur with acute and chronic illnesses).
