Niagara Neuropsychology (formerly Niagara Neuropsychology Service) was founded by Dr. Chris Friesen, Ph.D., C.Psych., CMPC, BCN, BCB, BCB-HRV and officially opened in January 2011. The mission of Niagara Neuropsychology is to provide children, adolescents, adults, and seniors evidence-based and cutting edge psychological and neuropsychological services to the Niagara and surrounding region.
About Dr. Chris Friesen, Ph.D., C.Psych., CMPC, BCIA-BCN, BCB, BCB-HRV, Director
Dr. Friesen is authorized to practice in the areas of clinical psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and forensic/correctional psychology and is a member in good standing with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. He is licensed to work with children, adolescent, adults, and seniors citizens. He is board certified in EEG Biofeedback (aka Neurofeedback or Neurotherapy), Peripheral Biofeedback, and Heart-Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRV-B) through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA.org). He obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Clinical Psychology from York University. He completed a CPA/APA accredited internship at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) with major rotations in the Adult Forensic Outpatient Service and the Psychological Trauma/Work, Stress, and Health Program, where he also worked for several years. He obtained his neuropsychology training at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute’s (TRI) Neurology Services and the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. He obtained his forensic/correctional training at CAMH and at the Ontario Correctional Institute (OCI). He has held contract faculty positions for the psychology departments of York University and the University of Guelph where he taught courses in psychological assessment and measurement. He is an invited reviewer for the APA’s journal Psychological Assessment. In 2017 he was the invited guest editor for the Canadian Psychological Association’s national magazine for a special issue focusing on concussions, titled The Role of Psychology in the “Concussion Crisis”. He is currently the director of Niagara Neuropsychology and Friesen Sport & Performance Psychology (FriesenPerformance.com) and works as a consultant psychologist/neuropsychologist for various psychiatrists and agencies throughout southern Ontario, including the Niagara Regional Police Service and Hamilton Police Service. He is a member of the following organizations: Canadian Psychological Association; American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology; National Academy of Neuropsychology; Association for Contextual Behavioral Science; APA Division 13—Society of Consulting Psychology; Association for Applied Sport Psychology; International Society for Coaching Psychology; APA Division 47—Society for Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology; Sports Neuropsychology Society; International Society for Neurofeedback Research.
Dr, Friesen recently published the following articles with his collegues, Drs. Robert & Alanna Conder:
- Behavioural and Complementary Interventions for Healthy Neurocognitive Aging
- Neurorehabilitation of Persistent Sport-Related Post-Concussion Syndrome
To hear Dr. Friesen discuss neuromodulation and neurofeedback and other topics related to the assessment and treatment of psychological and neuropsychological difficulties and peak performance, click on this link: CoreBrain Journal Podcast: Episode 119 or on iTunes (Achievement Beyond Negative Mind – Friesen).
Sharanya (Anya) Sudhakar, M.Sc., Psychological Associate (Supervised Practice)
Sharanya (Anya) Sudhakar, M.Sc. is a Psychological Associate (Supervised Practice) who works primarily with children and adolescents. She holds a Master’s degree in Child Psychology and brings experience across both clinical and educational settings, including teaching psychology to adolescents and supporting young people with a range of emotional, behavioural, and developmental concerns.
Anya provides psychological assessment, diagnostic clarification, and intervention using evidence-based approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). She is particularly interested in helping children and adolescents better understand their strengths and challenges through developmentally appropriate assessment, feedback, and collaborative goal-setting.
She has played a key role in developing a social-emotional learning (SEL) framework for public schools in India and has authored papers focused on SEL and adolescent development. This work informs her clinical practice, where she integrates ACT- and CBT-informed strategies with art-based and creative approaches to engage adolescents in meaningful and accessible ways. Anya is known for using innovative, youth-friendly methods that support emotional awareness, values exploration, identity development, and psychological flexibility.
Anya values collaboration with families, schools, and interdisciplinary teams, and is committed to creating a supportive, inclusive, and engaging therapeutic environment for children and adolescents.
Daniel E. P. Smith, MSW, RSW, Psychotherapist, Mental Skills Consultant
Dan is also a former competitive ice hockey goaltender who had to hang up his skates after a third knee surgery. His experience with competition and injury recovery are the main factors in what led him to further pursue an education in the helping profession drawing upon his connections to athletics.
Dan completed his undergraduate studies at McMaster University in psychology, neuroscience, and behaviour with a minor in sociology in 2014. Two years later he finished his Masters of social work at the University of Windsor with a focus on health and mental health. He graduated from both institutions summa cum laude.
Dan now works at Niagara Neuropsychology and Friesen Sport and Performance Psychology and is a registered social worker and psychotherapist. He has experience in a vast array of topics with his clinical and athletic clients. These include but are not limited to: stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, confidence, emotional regulation, relaxation imagery, motivation, goal setting, concentration, and self-talk. He also takes pride in working with individuals as a whole, not just their identity as an athlete, bringing a positive, understanding and growth mindset to his practice. He believes that developing meaningful connections, planning, hard-work, and physical/mental training both on and off the competitive field of play are essential to facilitating health, happiness and fulfillment in individuals.
Despite having a terminal degree, Dan still has an insatiable willingness and enthusiasm to learn more. He continues to soak up knowledge—like he once did pucks—by furthering his education through graduate courses in sports psychology and mental performance. His continued education and access to the latest research helps augment his practice and gives his clients an edge over the competition.
Daniel is a member of the following organizations:
-Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
-Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW)
Dr. Scott Anderson, Psy.D., C. Psych., BCN
I first found my passion for sport psychology as a high school athlete in Calgary, Alberta. Due to
an injury and needing reconstructive knee surgery for my ACL, I was forced to sit out for a
season where I had a front-row seat to the connection between the mind and body. Working
through physiotherapy showed me the powerful role my mind played in my recovery and
performance. My experience with physiotherapy sparked my curiosity for sport psychology and
would influence my educational path for the next 13 years.
After completing a combined degree in Psychology and Kinesiology from the University of
Lethbridge (Alberta), I knew I had to obtain specialized knowledge related to sport psychology.
As a result, I pursued a Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology at Denver
University (Colorado). While in Colorado, I worked with many athletes and high performers
from various backgrounds, including baseball, basketball, cheerleading, track, tennis, and
firefighting academy students. In the summer of 2016, I secured an internship at IMG Academy
(a private sports academy in Florida) within their mental performance department. At IMG, I
focused on skillfully blending empirically supported techniques with the art of group
presentation to deliver mental performance skills to groups of athletes (e.g., football, basketball,
track, and golf). Finally, my education took me to Massachusetts, where I studied Counselling
Psychology and expanded my ability to understand how mental health and other factors can
impact an individual’s performance on a day-to-day basis, whether it be athletics, work, or
parenting.
My past training and experiences span a broad range of psychological difficulties, including
working with individuals who experience trauma, anxiety, addiction, depression, or insomnia.
Additionally, I have worked clinically in a community mental health clinic, psychiatric hospital,
trauma hospital, and a group private practice.
This wide range of training and clinical experience has aided and enhanced my ability to work
with individuals from all walks of life, allowing me to best support my clients in reaching their
performance goals.
Using a combination of performance and clinical techniques, I now focus on helping athletes and
other individuals at all performance levels adapt and build flexibility to recognize their potential
and achieve success. If you could get 1% better, would it be 100% worth it?
I am a member of the following organizations:
– College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO)
– College of Alberta Psychologist (CPA)
– Canadian Psychological Association (CAP)
– Board Certified by the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) in
Neurofeedback (BCN)
– Certified in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Mr. Nigel Barnim, MSc., R.P. (qualifying)
I’m a graduate of the Master Science in Psychotherapy from McMaster University and am currently completing my qualifying year at Niagara Neuropsychology and Friesen Performance, working under the supervision of Dr. Friesen. I bring a strong foundation in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside a perspective shaped by over ten years of dedicated meditation practice — a combination that provides me an integrated approach to both the psychological and physiological dimensions of performance.I’m passionate about helping clients optimize their psychology and performance. Those who work with me can expect an evidence-based, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approach to overcoming the internal challenges standing between them and their goals.
Mr. Constantino (Dino) Tober, M.A., R.P.
I found my passion for sport psychology through lived experience. As a former NCAA dual-sport athlete competing in both soccer and lacrosse, I had a front-row seat to the mental demands that come with competitive athletics. During my second year of university soccer, I tore my ACL — an experience that became a turning point in my life. Navigating the psychological side of injury recovery gave me a deep appreciation for how tightly performance, mental health, identity, and the body are intertwined, and ultimately led me to combine psychology and sport professionally.
I also had the privilege of representing the Hungarian National Lacrosse Team at the European Lacrosse Championships in Wroclaw, Poland, which deepened my understanding of the unique pressures athletes face at different levels of competition.
I completed my graduate training in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Niagara University and am a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Throughout my clinical training and practice, I have worked with individuals across diverse settings on concerns including trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, stress, emotional regulation, and interpersonal difficulties.
My therapeutic approach is collaborative, person-centered, and grounded in evidence-based methods tailored to the individual. My training includes Brainspotting (BSP) Levels 1 and 2, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). I work from a systems perspective that recognizes how performance, relationships, physical health, identity, and environment all interact.
In addition to clinical work, I have contributed to research examining mental health and resilience among military personnel, with a focus on supporting performance readiness in high-stress environments — work that informs my broader approach to high-performance populations.
I now work with Friesen Sport and Performance Psychology, where I support athletes, performers, and high-achieving individuals looking to optimize both their mental health and performance. I view the mind and body as deeply interconnected and approach my work with the belief that therapists should embody the values they encourage in others — because you can only give what you have.
Constantino is a member of the following professional organizations:
- Member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
- Member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)
