Bio

Dr. Vakili is a registered psychologist in the province of Alberta and received his B.Sc. in psychology from the University of Calgary, M.A. in experimental psychology from the University of Toronto and Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

Dr. Vakili has specialized in the treatment of addictions, anxiety, depression and family conflict with adults and adolescents. Utilizing his training in a scientist-practitioner model, Dr. Vakili is involved in active research and is the recipient of the prestigious Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research grant. Dr. Vakili has over a decade of experience providing therapy in the areas of anxiety, depression, addictions and family therapy.

Dr. Vakili has served as an expert reviewer for Behavior Therapy, Journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Journal of Studies on Alcohol, Addiction, Addictive Behaviors, Journal of Behavioural Medicine, and Addiction Research and Theory.

Professional Affiliations

• Psychologist,
  Addiction Centre,
  Calgary Health Region
• Assistant Adjunct Professor,
  Department of Psychiatry,
  Faculty of Medicine,
  University of Calgary
• Clinical Supervisor & Instructor,
  Department of Psychology,
  University of Calgary
• Assistant Director,
  Internship Training Committee,
  Calgary Consortium in Clinical Psychology

Research Interests

Dr. Vakili is currently conducting research in the areas of Binge Drinking in the university population, impact of addictions on family functioning, family therapy with addicted teens, and internet and gaming addiction.

Other languages spoken

Farsi/Persian

Media Presentations

• The effects of parents providing alcohol to teens. (AM 770)
  Dave Rutherford Show, June 2009
• Parent involvement in safe-grads & responsible drinking for teens (Access TV)
  Alberta Primetime, June 2009
• Should you let your kids drink at home? (Macleans Magazine (PDF))
  June 2, 2009
• Binge Drinking Series (CBC radio news)
  October 21st 2008
• Potential impact of Alberta Government’s new drinking laws (CBC Radio)
  Wild Rose Country, July 2008
• Binge Drinking during Calgary Stampede (CBC Radio)
  Eye opener, July 2008
• Update on Binge Drinking (CBC radio news)
  July 2008
• U of C Prof Gets Grant to Study Binge Drinking
  Calgary Herald, October 27, 05
• U of C Prof Launches Student Booze Study
  Calgary Sun. October 27, 05
• Binge drinking not as healthy as thought
  Gauntlet. November 10, 05
• Qr77 News (12:00) (CHQR-AM)
  Calgary, October 26, 05
• U of C students are drinking more than the average person
  Calgary News (CBR-AM), Calgary, Oct 26, 05
• Channel 3 Headline News (CFCN-TV)
  Calgary, October 26, 05
• Health Beat, Global News (CICT-TV)
  Calgary, October 26, 05
• Alberta Ce Soir (CBRFT-TV)
  Edmonton, October 26, 05
• Canada Now (CBRT-TV)
  Edmonton, October 26, 05
• City News @ Six (CKAL-TV)
  Calgary, October 26, 05
• Channel 3 Evening News & Channel 3 Late news (CFCN_TV)
  Calgary, October 26, 05
• CBC Home Stretch (CBC Radio)
  Calgary, October 26, 05
• CBC National Morning News (CBC-NW)
  National, October 27, 05
• Study highlights student binge drinking
  Calgary Sun, July 7, 05

Lecture/Presentation titles

• Internet and Gaming addiction and abuse
• Behavioural Family Based Therapy with Substance Abusing Teens
• Binge Drinking Rates among Canadian University Students
• Utilizing Social Norming and Personalized Feedback Strategies to Reduce Binge Drinking and Drinking Related Consequences on University Campuses
• Adolescent Family and Early Trauma Correlates of Substance Abuse
• U of C Lifestyles and Drinking Survey Preliminary Findings
• Motivational Interviewing and Relapse Prevention
• Treating Substance Abuse Patients: A Case History