Meet Jo & Michelle
Technology is a powerful resource that families and youth can harness - and it takes sound strategies, creative positivity, and teamwork to get there! Along with parents and families, Michelle and Jo Ann want to be part of that team!
Dr. Jo Ann Unger
Dr. Jo Ann is a Clinical Psychologist working in both public health and private practice in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She provides treatment, consultation and assessment services that help children, families, couples, and adults, specializing in both workplace health and the effects of screen technology on children.
Dr. Jo Ann Unger
Ph. D., C. Psych.
Ph. D., C. Psych.
As the Specialty Lead for the Child and Adolescent Service and Assistant Professor in the department of Clinical Health Psychology, Dr. Unger supports her team and the public health system to provide effective services to families in Manitoba. She is also the Advocacy Director of the Manitoba Psychological Society, and is using this position to advocate for better access to psychologists in Manitoba.
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Dr. Jo leads in her field through her ability to impart knowledge, making her a teacher at heart. Life’s challenges are inescapable and parenting and family life, particularly in today’s changing world, are complicated. As a partner, mother, and lifespan psychologist, Dr. Jo knows how hard it can be. The scope of living well through each stage of our human development can feel enormous. Dr. Jo combines psychological research and best practices, with authenticity and compassion, to support families on their journeys.​
​Like all growing things, human beings need the right conditions to meet their full potential and health. Dr. Jo's approach combines empathy and expertise, supporting people through intervention and learning, and finally toward increased capacity and wellness. This commitment to supporting others in their growing journey has made Dr. Jo a sought-after speaker, lecturer, and workshop leader on a number of topics including stress management, anxiety, trauma, parenting, mental health in the workplace, and children's mental health, among others.
Dr. Michelle Warren
Dr. Michelle Warren has been a Registered Child and Adult Clinical Psychologist for almost 25 years. As the Director of Wise Mind Therapy & Assessments, she supports kids and their families in facing uncertainty in their personal lives and the world today.
Dr. Michelle Warren
Ph. D., C. Psych.
Ph. D., C. Psych.
She has also worked publicly for two decades as a Psychologist and consultant/ supervisor for Shared Health programs and the Department of Clinical Health Psychology in Manitoba.
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This all sounds well and good, but as a young person Michelle struggled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a mental health condition characterized by unwanted thoughts and urges that went undiagnosed and untreated for over five years. She worked hard to find resources for herself, and as she went on to seek continuing education she made a goal that no child should have to go through something similar all by themselves in the future. ​
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Driven by her “why”, Michelle finds herself fuelled to develop mental health initiatives in Canada that are accessible and truly helpful to the average family.
A few highlights have been the development of Thrival KitsTM (human rights and mental health series for teachers), advising the Kids Help Phone on the development of the Crisis Text Line, and conducting research focused on COVID-19 and kids. She supervises residents and teaches educators in order that there will be more “OCD Warriors” in the world to provide assistance. And in her spare time, she also volunteers, advocates, and participates in research investigating current issues in youth mental health.
Learning and Sharing
- Together
Michelle and Jo recently joined forces due to their shared commitment to helping children and their families reach their goals to improve their mental health and relationships. They learned they both shared a passion for developing effective resources for parents and children to help navigate the issue of time spent on screen technology. There are effective parenting approaches that can be applied to screen time management that decrease the negative impact on young people.
Drs. Warren and Unger believe strongly in learning from their clients, sharing their clinical observations with each other, and developing easily accessible tools that will resonate deeply with people.
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Their shared work is now one of the highlights of their careers. They can't wait to see how their workshops and resources will help families see positive change in their homes when it comes to screen struggles!