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NIC instructor speaks PTSD with top RCMP officers

North Island College instructor Dr. Michael Catchpole addressed 190 of B.C.’s top RCMP officers

North Island College instructor Dr. Michael Catchpole addressed 190 of B.C.’s top RCMP officers to speak on post-traumatic stress disorder at E Division Headquarters in Surrey, BC earlier this month.

Catchpole is a widely recognized expert specializing in anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders, as well as distance education.

“The RCMP recognizes the value of effective evidence based treatment and it’s an honour to be invited to speak at this conference,” said Catchpole.

“They understand these are very good people who are sometimes exposed to horrible consequences of crime during the life of their career.”

Catchpole has been teaching first- and second-year psychology courses at NIC‘s Port Alberni campus and across Vancouver Island for 37 years, piloting the use of the college’s interactive television technology to reach students across Vancouver Island.

Catchpole is also the winner of four awards for pioneering work in psychology education and educational technology, including two awards from the BC Psychological Association.

He loves sharing his knowledge with students at NIC.

“When I walked into class this September, I had the same buzz I did 37 years ago,” Catchpole said.

“At NIC, instructors are what we teach. Our carpentry instructors are carpenters, our fine arts instructors are artists.

“As instructors we get to share our passion and professional knowledge with students and it makes teaching that much more exciting.”

His work can be seen through 13 publicly available interviews and three one-hour educational DVDs produced and hosted with AnxietyBC on obsessive-compulsive disorder and separation anxiety in children as well as panic disorders in adults.