As a clinical psychologist working in anti-oppressive practice, my research area considers the well-being of communities and populations who have been historically marginalized and who face ongoing mental health inequities. I consider racism and colonialism as social determinants of mental health, and I use qualitative research methods to engage in community-based research.
My collaborative research in Indigenous community contexts over the past 15 years has looked at recovery from intergenerational trauma and cultural resurgence in healing. I have worked with First Nation and Métis community partners in Ontario, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Alberta, with a focus on sexualized violence, trauma, and sexual stigma. Together in community partnership, we have considered how communities respond adaptively, and in a culturally relevant manner, to these mental health challenges.
More recently, my work has considered structural barriers for racialized students in undergraduate psychology, as well as how families experiencing inequities have responded to COVID.
