Laird Birmingham, MD, BSc, MHSc, FRCPC, FACP, ABIM, FAED
Medical Director
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Dr. Laird Birmingham brings more than 30 years of experience in eating disorder research and treatment to his role as Medical Director of the Woodstone Residence. Until 2008, he was Medical Director of the St. Paul's Hospital Eating Disorder Program, British Columbia Provincial Director for Eating Disorders, and Leader of the BC Eating Disorders Epidemiology Project in the Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences. He is currently Associate Editor of the European Journal of Obesity & Eating Disorders, Academic Associate Editor of BMC Psychiatry, Editorial Board Member of Eating Disorders The Journal of Treatment & Prevention, Member of the Eating Disorders Research Society, and invited reviewer of the Australia and New Zealand Guidelines for Eating Disorders and the American Psychiatric Association Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders, Third Edition. Dr. Birmingham is widely published, with 124 refereed articles, 20 invited chapters, and eight books.
In addition to his work with Woodstone, Dr. Birmingham is presently Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Member of the Departments of Medicine and Health Care and Epidemiology at the University of British Columbia, Member of the Brain Research Centre at UBC and Senior Associate Clinician Scientist at the Children & Family Research Institute. He is also past Professor of Medicine at UBC, Director of the Division of General Internal Medicine for St. Paul's Hospital and for the University of British Columbia, and Director of Postgraduate Medical Education for Medicine.
Cheryl Moir BN
Program Director
Cheryl is a registered nurse and art therapist. She has over 20 years' experience working with children, youth and adult mental health services in BC. Cheryl has extensive experience developing new resources such as the first Early Psychosis Intervention Liaison Nurse in Victoria doing education and assessments in the community, and has other experience in developing new programs and resources. She has been the Program Coordinator for a 40 bed residential programs for the last 5 years in Victoria, BC. Cheryl now has a home on Galiano Island. She enjoys seeing the power of goal setting, perseverance and team work among the patients and staff at Woodstone and of the Looking Glass Foundation.
Meris Williams, PhD, RCC
Dr. Meris Williams completed her PhD in Counselling Psychology in 2011 at the University of British Columbia, and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. She received supervised clinical training in eating disorders treatment at BC Children’s Hospital Eating Disorders Program, and was also trained as a generalist practitioner at her predoctoral internship at UBC Counselling Services. Dr. Williams’s research has investigated the professional ethical dimensions of psychotherapy provision to individuals with eating disorders. She has co-authored peer reviewed articles on this topic as well as on, for example, health care professionals’ education and training in eating disorders.
Dr. Williams taught ethics in the UBC interprofessional health disciplines program for 5 years. Prior to her graduate education, she worked in the non-profit sector in eating disorders support and advocacy. Dr. Williams is strongly committed to Woodstone’s philosophy of client-centred, holistic, evidence-informed care for individuals with eating disorders.
Trixie Hennessey, MSW, RSW
Trixie uses an integrative approach rooted in interpersonal psychotherapy, mindfulness based practice and attachment theory. Her therapeutic approach flows from the knowledge and understanding that the therapeutic relationship itself is one of the most powerful predictors of positive outcomes for patients and their families.
Trixie holds a core belief in the power of relationships to heal and transform. She is dynamic, supportive, and empathetic with patients in her efforts to move them toward a greater sense of mastery within their lives. Her warm and inviting style provides a positive context within which to explore new ways of connecting. Trixie is the proud parent of two amazing children.
Trixie completed her Masters of Social Work degree at the University of British Columbia-Okanagan, where she also received post Masters training in Neurosequential Therapy. Her clinical training has been focused on evidence-based attachment and interpersonal neurobiology techniques to treat a range of family difficulties. Her research has primarily focused on the impact of impaired attunement on family wellbeing. She has recently been involved in investigating the impact of interpersonal neurobiology and mindfulness on creating a virtuous cycle of positive parent-child relationships.