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Lab Coordinator
Katie Frankiewicz
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Katie previously graduated from the University of Guelph with a BSc, majoring in Biomedical Toxicology with a minor in Psychology. Katie aims to pursue graduate studies in Clinical Psychology and returned to UofG to upgrade her Psychology minor to a major. During that time, she also completed an honours thesis in the Supporting Youth Development lab where she continues to research treatments for children with callous-unemotional traits. Additionally, Katie has previous experience working with children and youth in various roles, such as a youth facilitator. She has an interest in emotion-related skills, the efficacy of mental health interventions, and the impact of the parent-child relationship that she hopes to gain further research knowledge into as a member of the CEMH lab. Further, Katie looks forward to supporting the lab in the role of lab coordinator.
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Graduate Students
Jessica Seddon
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Jessica is in the second year of her PhD in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. She completed her MSc in Neuroscience and Applied Cognitive Science at the University of Guelph. Jessica’s research interests relate to children’s emotional development and the role of emotion skills and parenting in the development and maintenance of child psychopathology. Jessica’s dissertation aims to test the efficacy of Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) as a parent intervention for child mental health difficulties via a randomized controlled trial. She hopes this work will make a significant contribution to the improvement of mental health outcomes for children and families. Jessica has worked with several research teams over the past years, including at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Hospital for Sick Children, and York University. Jessica’s Master’s and PhD research has been funded by SSHRC and OGS. She also received the 2021 SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship to Honour Nelson Mandela award and the 2021 Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Student and Early Career Council Dissertation Funding Award.
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Chelsea Reaume
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Chelsea is in the first year of her PhD in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology at the University of Guelph. She received her Honours BA in Psychology from the University of Windsor and her MA from the University of Guelph. Her MA thesis examined how linguistic features of parent discussion of emotion beliefs can be used to predict child and parent emotion regulation. Her current research involves exploring factors that impact the development of emotion regulation in children, including family stress, sociocultural influences, and relationships within the broader family system. She is particularly interested in applying principles of evidence-based practice to her dissertation research which will examine trajectory, moderators of efficacy, and mechanisms of change within a 6-week iteration of Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). Chelsea has worked extensively providing assessment and consultation services to children, adolescents, and families in both private practice and school settings. Her Master’s and PhD research have been funded by OGS and SSHRC.
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Leah Sack
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Leah is a PhD student in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (CCAP). Previously, Leah completed her MA in the CCAP program at the University of Guelph, and her Honours BA in Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is interested in the role of familial dynamics in child psychopathology and psychotherapeutic outcomes. Leah has worked with several research teams, including at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto Metropolitan University and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Leah has been awarded SSHRC funding to support both her MA and PhD research.
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Rita Abdel-Baki
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Rita is in the fourth year of her PhD in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Previously, Rita completed her MA in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology at the University of Guelph, and her MSc and Honours BA in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour at McMaster University. For her dissertation research, Rita is examining parental self-efficacy in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and how parents may be best supported. Rita has experience working with families and children in many capacities, including as a one-to-one support camp counsellor for children with disabilities, a respite caregiver, and an intensive behavioural intervention facilitator for children with ASD. She is passionate about improving the quality of life of children and families, and is excited to be a part of the CEMH lab!
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Zoe Weidman
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Zoe is a second-year Master’s student in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Prior to joining the lab, she completed her Honours BSc in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour from McMaster University. Zoe has experience working as a member of several research teams, including the Strong Families Lab at McMaster University, the Trauma and Attachment Lab at York University, and the Life Span Adaptation Projects at OISE. She has also worked with children, adolescents, and families in various settings, including her role as a social skills group facilitator for children with learning disabilities and mental health difficulties. Zoe’s research interests encompass the multitude of factors influencing children’s emotional development, family dynamics, and child psychopathology.
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Sadie McVey Neufeld
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Sadie is in her second year of her Master’s degree in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Previously, she completed her Honours Bachelor degree from the interdisciplinary Arts & Science program at McMaster University, with a Minor in Psychology. Following this, she worked as the Laboratory Coordinator of the Child Emotion Lab at McMaster for several years, where she worked closely with children, adolescents, and families by helping run several large-scale research projects. Her research interests include how family-wide, parent-child and sibling dynamics reciprocally influence, and are influenced by, children’s emotional development, especially surrounding empathy and emotional concern for others. She is passionate about practically integrating research findings within therapeutic treatments to improve emotional well-being for youth and their families. Sadie's Master's research has been funded by SSHRC.
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Linda-Paola Sosa Hernandez
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Linda is in the first year of her Master’s degree in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Previously, she completed a Master's in Developmental Psychology at the University of Waterloo. Linda studies children's socio-emotional development, with a particular focus on the temperamental, interpersonal, and regulatory processes that promote (versus hinder) children's risk and resilience. She is passionate about translating her work clinically to improve children and family's emotion tolerance and regulation skills, as well as relationship dynamics. Linda's research has been supported by SSHRC's Canada Graduate Scholarship and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS).
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Natasha Vogel
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Natasha is currently completing her first year of her Master’s degree in the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (NACS) program here at the University of Guelph. Prior to this, Natasha completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Neuroscience at Wilfrid Laurier University. Natasha has been a research assistant for a number of years at Wilfrid Laurier and has undertaken research projects in multiple research domains including cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, and education. Natasha’s main research interests involve the influences of early childhood experiences and parenting techniques on one’s cognitive and emotional development, and the impact of parent-child relationships on mental wellbeing. Natasha hopes to continue her studies into the PhD level to pursue a career as a university professor where she can both teach and conduct research.
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Undergraduate Students
Nida Ansari
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Nida is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Honours Psychology (Co-op) with a minor in French Studies. Upon graduation, Nida hopes to pursue graduate studies in the educational psychology field. Nida's research interests broadly include youth mental health and wellbeing, family influences on emotion development, and learning and engagement in youth. Nida has worked with children and youth of all ages in the past as a tutor, and through her Co-op work terms with The Grove Hubs, a youth mental health organization in Guelph. Having been part of the CEMH Lab since 2021, Nida has contributed to several of the lab's research projects through independent research courses, an NSERC-funded USRA, an honour's thesis, and currently works in the lab as a Research Assistant.
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Ella Rigby
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Ella is a third-year undergraduate student, majoring in Honours Psychology. Upon graduation, Ella hopes to pursue graduate studies in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, with a focus on creating interventions that will help children learn emotional regulation and positive coping skills. Additionally, Ella is a passionate mental health advocate with experience volunteering for the foundation Cams Kids as well as experience working for a youth mental health organization. In the future, Ella wants to help children who have experienced trauma recover, and prevent the transmission of maladaptive coping mechanisms to future generations. Ella enjoyed working in the CEMH Lab on an independent research project and learning from her first research experience in Summer of 2021, and continues to work in the lab.
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Abbey Drew
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Abbey is a fourth-year undergraduate student, majoring in Honours Psychology (Co-op). After completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology. Abbey has experience working with children and youth in various settings including the University of Guelph’s Childcare and Learning Centre. As well, she is a passionate mental health advocate and has had professional experience in the field working with youth through her co-op placement with The Grove Hubs. Abbey completed her honours thesis in the Group, Research, and Programs (GRP) lab at the University of Guelph. She is currently completing an independent research project and is working as a Research Assistant in the CEMH lab. She hopes to pursue her interest in children’s mental health in her future research endeavours and looks forward to exploring her interests in the lab.
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Leah Bogatie
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Leah is a third-year undergraduate student, majoring in Honours Psychology. Upon graduation, Leah hopes to pursue graduate studies in either counselling or clinical psychology, with an emphasis on children. Leah is passionate about the various ways that children and youth regulate their emotions and engage in coping strategies, specifically in the context of grief. Leah hopes to discover the various ways that children process their grief and make sense of their emotions. Her relevant experience includes working as a programming specialist at a summer camp, as well as volunteer work at a grief centre. Additionally, Leah has substantial theatre experience. She hopes to combine her passions for children and theatre by investigating how performing arts can benefit child emotional regulation. Leah is looking forward to expanding her research interests in the lab this year and to completing an Independent Research Project.
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Charlotte Funston
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Charlotte is a second-year undergraduate student, majoring in Honours Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Charlotte hopes to pursue a master’s degree in clinical child & adolescent psychology upon graduation in efforts to influence and benefit the lives of children. Charlotte is passionate about understanding the social and environmental factors which impact psychological development and implements her understanding of sociology to support her in these endeavours. Charlotte has experience working with children in volunteer and day-care settings, and constantly finds herself inspired by the creativity and perseverance of youth in her life. She is proud to join the CEMH lab as a research assistant and is dedicated to a career of learning and supporting individuals within their developmental journey.
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Sejal Katyal
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Sejal is a recent graduate from University of Guelph (B.A.H.), where she majored in Psychology and minored in Math Sciences. Sejal hopes to pursue graduate studies in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, with a focus on emotional regulation in collectivistic societies and promoting positive coping skills. Currently, Sejal is working as an Instructor Therapist with Autism Behavioural Services Inc. to support children with various disabilities, as well as a research assistant in the CEMH lab. She is excited to join the CEMH team and assist in projects that overlap with her research interests and her passions.
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Angela Fernando
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Angela is a second-year undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences program and is minoring in both biology and mathematics. After completing her undergraduate studies, she aims to pursue a career working with children and their families as a pediatrician. Angela has extensive experience working with youth of all ages, including working as a part-time piano teacher for the past five years, as well as working as a camp counsellor over the summer. She also volunteers with the University of Guelph’s Let’s Talk Science chapter, which develops the scientific knowledge and skills of elementary school students through engaging classroom activities. Angela is passionate about child development and is eager to assist and learn more in the CEMH lab as a volunteer.
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Lab Alumni
Graduate
Name |
Current Position |
Jessica Seddon (MSc) |
Current PhD Student in the lab |
Camille Guerin Marion (MA) |
Unknown |
Chelsea Reaume (MA) |
Current PhD Student in the lab |
Leah Sack (MA) |
Current PhD Student in the lab |
Undergraduate Honours
Name |
Current Position |
Gillian Rourke |
MA student at York University |
Anastasia Taskov |
Research Assistant at University Health Network |
Brianna Hogan |
Social Work student at York University |
Megan Nesbitt |
Unknown |
Myriam Venasse |
MSc (University of Ottawa), Project Officer at Statistics Canada |
Elise Quint |
MD student at Western University |
Taylor MacIntosh |
MA student at University of Ottawa |
Emma Carter |
Unknown |
Emilie Proulx |
PsyD student at Universite du Quebec |
Hilary Skov |
Research Coordinator at Harvard University, PhD student at Tulane University |
Sofia Do Rosario |
Unknown |
Madeleine Alie |
Education Coordinator at Oxford Learning Centres |
Undergraduate RA
Name |
Current Position |
Brooklyn Clifford |
Unknown |
Brianne Gayfer |
Unknown |
Kelsey Seguin |
MA student at University of Ottawa |
Sage Sezlik |
Unknown |
Oana Bucsea |
PhD student at York University |
Cavan Pollard |
Canadian Armed Forces |
Marie Helene Drolet |
Unknown |
Nereah Felix |
Unknown |
Morgan Oda |
Unknown |
Dyana Castillo |
Unknown |
Samantha Kenny |
Unknown |
Julia Belloni |
Unknown |
Katherine Bailey |
MD/ MSc student at University of Toronto |
Alexandra Moyssakos |
Nursing student at University of Toronto |
Joanne Thieu |
Unknown |
Matthew Polo |
Unknown |
Staff
Name and Position |
Current Position |
Stephanie Dagg, Lab Coordinator |
M.Psych Student at Adler Professional Graduate School, Mobile Mental Health and Addictions Clinician at CMHA |
Kate Lupo-Flewelling, Lab Coordinator |
M.Sc. Student in School and Applied Child Psychology at University of Calgary |
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