Dr. Sanjay Rao

MBBS, MD, FRCPsych, FRCPC, MBA, General Psychiatrist, Medical Director

Dr. Sanjay Rao is an accomplished psychiatrist and Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada. He is also an Additional Professor of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NovaScotia. Dr. Rao has an extensive background in psychiatry, having worked and trained in India, the UK, and Canada. In 2011, Dr Rao earned his MBA from Durham University.

His specialization is in cognitive behavioural therapies and treating mood and anxiety disorders. His contributions and accomplishments in mental health have been recognized several times. In 2007, he received an honour at the UK Prime Minister's reception, and in 2018, he was awarded a fellowship by the Canadian Association of Cognitive Behavioural Therapies. He is also a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK.

Dr. Rao was also an advisor to the Ontario government on the implementation of evidence-based psychological treatments. He developed province-wide training in CBT for the government of Nova Scotia. His experience in the field extends from working with outpatients, in-patients, emergency rooms, community, and university healthcare settings.

Dr. Rao is also the Director of a multidisciplinary clinic, CMAP Health, and the Unified CBT Academy. He has trained and supervised staff in cognitive behavioural therapies and delivered over 500 workshops locally, nationally, and internationally. He has a research team specialising inpublishing systematic reviews of evidence in mental health care.

Courses

Dr. Sanjay Rao, is the Director of Unified CBT, and an experienced teacher and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. In 2018 he was awarded a Fellowship by the Canadian Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for his contribution to CBT in Canada. He has received an award from the Department of Health, UK for CBT development.

He has delivered over 500 workshops in Cognitive Behavioral Therapies, presented in national, and international conferences, and published in several scientific journals. Learn more about Unified CBT and the courses offered by clicking the button below.

Presentations and Speaking engagements

Access to evidence-based psychological therapies is becoming a must for private and public health care providers. Dr. Rao provides a wealth of experience concerning clinical trials, systematic reviews, evidence appraisal, and clinician training through face-to-face and technology-assisted therapy delivery. He has an extensive track record regarding the implementation of capacity, demand, and team productivity metrics at both the individual practice and provincial levels.

Evidence-based mental health systems also provide a broader opportunity. They facilitate the application and prove the effectiveness of, mental health and well-being strategies in the workplace. Dr. Rao has extensive expertise in developing workplace prevention, early detection, and intervention strategies that have a measurable impact on employee satisfaction and productivity. To learn more about hosting a presentation, discuss availability or book an engagement, please reach out via email to info@unifiedcbt.com

Journal Publications

Yilmaz S, Huguet A, Kisely S, Rao S, Wang J, Baur K, Price M, O'Mahen H, Wright K . Do psychological interventions reduce symptoms of depression for patients with Bipolar I or II Disorder? A meta-analysis, Journal of Affective Disorders 2022

Benzoak T, Gunpat S, Briner EL, Thake J, Kisely S, Rao S, COVID-19-Related Concerns and Symptoms of Anxiety: Does Concern Play a Role in Predicting Severity and Risk? Cureus 2021 Nov 29;13(11)

Rao S, Benzoak T, Gunpat S, Burns RJ, Tahir TA, Jolles S, Kisely S. Fatigue symptoms associated with COVID-19 in convalescent or recovered COVID-19 patients; a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Behav Med 2021 Oct 19

Naeem F, Munshi T, Gratzer D, Rodie D, Irfan M, Rao S, Husain N, Farooq S, Sanches M, Ayub M, Lecomte T. Video intervention for the psychiatric waiting room: a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial of RESOLVE (RelaxationExercise, Solving problem and cognitive Errors). BJPsych Open. 2019 Sep6;5(5):e77.

Nigatu YT, Liu Y, Uppal M, McKinney S, Gillis K, Rao S, Wang J Indicated prevention interventions in the workplace for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2019 Jan;56(1):e23-e33

Huguet A, Miller A, Kisely S, Rao S, Saadat N, McGrath PJ. A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of Internet-delivered behavioral activation. J Affect Disord. 2018 Aug 1;235:27-38

Naeem F, Pikard J, Gerada A, Hirji A, Rao S, Ayub M, Munshi T. Is it possible to provide low-intensity CBT in Canada without additional costs?: First-year evaluation of a pilot CBT Lite program accepted in the International Journal of Mental Health

Nigatu YT, Liu Y, Uppal M, McKinney S, Gillis K, Rao S, Wang J. Prognostic factors for return to work of employees with common mental disorders: a

meta-analysis of cohort studies. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol.

Publications

Past Presentations

Dr. Rao has delivered over 500 workshops in various areas of Cognitive Behavioural Therapies. Shared below is a sampling of some of the most recent topics.

2023

• Mood Disorder Lecture in the EK Koranyi National Course in Psychiatry, University of Ottawa

2022

• Mood Disorder Lecture in the EK Koranyi National Course in Psychiatry, University of Ottawa
• Delivered the Unified CBT Academy Level 2 certificate training consisting of several workshops

2021

• Mood Disorder Lecture in the EK Koranyi National Course in Psychiatry, University of Ottawa
  
• 5-day CBT Intensive and workshops in all mood and anxiety disorders (Panic, OCD, Social Anxiety, Skin Picking and Hairpulling), Treating Co-morbidity, CBT for Adult ADHD. All these workshops are delivered 2 times a year
  
• 4-day CBT intensive on the treatment of PTSD
  
• 3rd wave CBT school workshop
  
• Schema-focused approaches in CBT
  
• 1-day workshop Rumination Focussed CBT
  
• Post Covid Mental Health Management for Structured Therapy and Research Centre, University of Ottawa Dept of Psychiatry
  
• Invited Speaker for Ontario Association for Social Workers for several topics: COVID and Mental Health, CBT for Adversity, CBT for ADHD, Post Covid Mental Health Care, CBT for Procrastination, CBT for Perfectionism, CBT for Psychosis
  

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