From a very young age, I knew that I would work with children when I “grew up” but it took some time to figure out exactly what that would look like. I remember being in high school when I first learned about the profession of psychology and it was then that I immediately knew I was meant to become a child psychologist. I have always been fascinated with human behaviour, child development, and ways in which individual factors interact with the broader environment in terms of risk and resiliency outcomes. Child psychology was the perfect fit for these interests, my love of learning, and my passion to work in a helping field with youth.

I have a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree (Highest Honours) in Psychology from Carleton University in Ottawa. Following the completion of undergraduate studies, I then earned both a Master’s Degree and Doctorate (Ph.D.) in School and Clinical Child Psychology from the University of Toronto. I completed my pre-doctoral residency in Pediatric and Child Clinical Psychology at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. As with my Ph.D. program, this clinical residency was accredited (approved) by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). During the one-year full-time residency, I received extensive training in pediatric health/medical psychology (providing psychological services in both outpatient medical clinics and on the inpatient medical service), trauma (completing a major rotation with the Child Abuse Service), and youth mental health. Prior to this residency, I had accrued over 2500 hours of clinical training in psychology through practicum placements at the largest mental health and addictions facility in Canada (CAMH), elementary and middle schools within the Toronto District School Board, a not-for-profit agency located in Toronto for people with developmental disabilities, a busy psychology private practice in Thornhill, and the university-based psychology clinic at OISE/UT.