Craving Change Inc. is a Canadian business created and owned by registered dietitian Wendy Shah and clinical psychologist Dr. Colleen Cannon. Incorporated in 2008, the business initially focused on two main components: licensed education program materials and training workshops for health care professionals offered across the country. For a summary of the evidence underlying the key foundations of Craving Change™, view the Roots of Craving Change and Outcomes 2017 document.
In a few short years, Craving Change™ caught on like wildfire! Craving Change™ has become the number one cognitive-behavioural program for problematic eating in Canada. Thousands of health care professionals and countless clients can’t stop raving about the unique and positive impact of Craving Change™. Currently, over 2500 clinicians across every province and territory in Canada have become licensed, and 46000 workbooks have been purchased for providers’ clients/patients.
The company is well respected and highly praised by international experts in the fields of weight management, disordered eating and health behaviour change. Go to our Reviews page to read their accolades and see and hear what others are saying. After dozens of presentations at local, regional, provincial, and national events, Wendy and Colleen were delighted to present a (sold out!) workshop at the Dietitians Association of Australia 2016 National Conference. Wendy also presented at the 2016 International Congress of Dietetics in Spain.
Corporate connections? Craving Change Inc. can provide expertise, brand recognition, and professional and business credibility for corporate alliances. The company just wrapped up a multi-year contract with a medical parts provider for bariatric surgery, providing website content, client newsletters, blog posts, and App content. Drop us a note to discuss your needs.
About the Co-Founders
Colleen is a clinical psychologist who is passionate about health psychology! She has been exploring the dance between psychological well-being and physical well-being her entire career.
Three consistent themes have emerged from Colleen’s broad professional experiences: the need to find creative and appealing methods for offering the best of psychology to those in need, a hearty dose of practicality, and striving to understand how people make and maintain behaviour change. This all began in the Yukon, where Colleen was a new graduate along with five therapists based out of the sole mental health clinic in the Territory, serving Whitehorse and 13 remote communities without the benefit of hospital based psychiatric care facilities. This role necessitated competence in systemic problem-solving, program development and making psychological interventions engaging and accessible. Colleen also provided extensive training and consultation services to community care providers throughout the Territory. She firmly believes that understanding the principles of how people make and maintain healthy changes in their lives is necessary for all health care professionals.
For over 15 years, Colleen has brought these skills and passion into numerous health care clinics in Calgary and Vancouver. These include diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol clinics, cardiac rehabilitation, and heart transplantation. In all settings, in addition to core clinical responsibilities Colleen has taken the lead in multidisciplinary collaboration, implementing more efficient service delivery models, research collaboration, graduate student supervision and liaising with community-based providers. Colleen is currently a member of the heart transplantation team at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, B.C.
Colleen has pursued an interest in eating disorders for almost 20 years. Since 2001 her primary focus has been developing effective interventions to address the unmet needs of people with subclinical disordered eating. That is, people struggling in their relationship with food and how they use food, yet who do not meet standard diagnostic criteria for an ‘eating disorder’. She is thrilled to have partnered with Wendy Shah, RD in designing and implementing tools that make sense, and make a difference.
Colleen was an Adjunct Professor in the University of Calgary Department Of Psychology from 2008-2011. She was an active member of the Clinical Research Steering Committee at the Cardiac Wellness Institute in Calgary AB from 2004-2009 and she played a key role in developing a cohesive strategy for managing chronic diseases in Alberta as an active member of the Clinical Support Services Adult Lifestyle Education Committee and the Chronic Disease Management Curriculum Redesign Committee. Colleen was a reviewer of the ‘Behavioural and Psychosocial Issues’ Chapter of the Canadian Guidelines for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention (J. Stone, Editor in Chief).
Colleen is a graduate in clinical psychology from Queen’s University. She has been a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders since 1999.
Wendy is devoted to helping people make informed, healthy food choices. She loves the challenge of creating innovative ways to excite both individuals and professionals about nutrition and eating. Wendy has always had a strong interest in the psychosocial and environmental factors that influence our eating behaviour. When she became acquainted with Dr. Colleen Cannon she realized that they shared the same vision – to help people understand ‘why’ they eat the way they do and develop a positive, healthy relationship with food.
As a highly respected member of Dietitians of Canada and the College of Dietitians of Alberta, Wendy has worked for over 30 years in the area of chronic disease specializing in diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia management. Most recently she has been focusing her expertise and creative skills in the area of weight management.
Recognized for her outstanding ability to write with an entertaining and thought-provoking style, Wendy is frequently asked to write articles for consumers and professionals. She consistently communicates evidence-based, practical messages. Wendy is also a very versatile speaker and has had the pleasure of presenting at national and international conferences. As a strong advocate for patient self-efficacy, Wendy has been a Master Trainer with the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program for over a decade. She has received national awards including the Certificate of Excellence for her contribution to the Blood Pressure Canada Public Education task force and the Speaking of Food and Healthy Living Award: Excellence in Consumer Communication. In 2017, Wendy’s original and progressive thinking, that she always puts into action, was acknowledged with the Dietitians of Canada Member Recognition Award for Innovation. Dietitians consistently congratulate Wendy for developing the Craving Change™ program which has “transformed the profession!”.
Still true to her vision, Wendy’s current focus is to promote eating self-awareness to children and the adults who influence them. She recently published an illustrated children’s book that has received rave reviews.
