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Lab Staff
Jackie Strimas
Child and Adolescent Therapist
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Jackie is a Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work from McGill University, and a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto, specializing in Health and Mental Health. Jackie also completed a BA at the University of Guelph, and a B.Ed at OISE, University of Toronto. In addition to her Social Work designation, she also holds an Ontario Certified Teacher designation at the Secondary School Level.
Jackie is a seasoned mental health clinician and has worked with client populations across the lifespan in both inpatient, outpatient, and private practice settings. Her experience includes working as a social worker in clinical settings at the University Health Network, The Hospital for Sick Children, Humber College, and Brightshores Health System. Jackie has completed additional training in family mediation, and in therapeutic modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and solution focused therapy. Jackie looks forward to supporting the lab in the role of Child and Adolescent Therapist at the Maplewoods Centre. |
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Claire Krasinkiewicz
Lab Manager
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Claire is in her final year of her undergraduate degree majoring in Honours Psychology and hopes to pursue future graduate studies in the field of Clinical Psychology. Her research and career aspirations involve working closely with children, adolescents, and their parents/caregivers. Claire is interested in interventions aimed at supporting both children and parents in experiencing, expressing, and managing their emotions, and she hopes to work with them to build emotion regulation skills and facilitate improved well-being. Claire completed her honours thesis in the Workplace, Inequality, Diversity, Equity and Gender Lab (Fall 2023/Winter 2024). She completed an independent research project in the Child Development Research Unit (Fall 2022) where she has also volunteered as a Research Assistant (Summer 2022/2023). Additionally, she has volunteered as a Research Assistant in the Memory and Cognition Lab (Winter 2023). Claire completed an NSERC-funded USRA position in the CEMH lab in the summer of 2024. This fall, she will continue her work in the lab in the role of lab manager and additionally will be completing an advanced independent research project.
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Jessica Pun
Project Coordinator
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Jessica previously graduated from the University of Guelph with a BASC in Applied Human Nutrition. She returned to complete a BA in Psychology in hopes of pursuing graduate studies in clinical psychology. Jessica’s research interests include mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders, and the interplay between psychological and social factors that influence eating behaviours. She is passionate about working with children and adolescents and has previous experience working with children, youth, and adults in both research and clinical settings. She looks forward to joining and supporting the lab as a project coordinator.
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Graduate Students
Jessica Seddon
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Jessica is a PhD candidate in the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology program. 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 second 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 candidate 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 PhD student in the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (CCAP) program. She completed her Honours BSc in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University and her MA in the CCAP program at the University of Guelph. Zoe’s Masters’ thesis examined fluctuations in parenting stress and mood lability within day-to-day family life. Zoe’s research interests include family-wide emotion dynamics, such as parent-child relationships and the development of child and adolescent psychopathology, as well as relations between therapeutic processes and outcomes. Zoe has received SSHRC funding to support her MA and PhD research.
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Sadie McVey Neufeld
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Sadie is in the second year of her Ph.D. in the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology program. Prior to graduate school, she completed her Honours Bachelor's degree in 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 University for several years, where she worked closely with children, adolescents, and families through several large-scale research projects. Sadie's research interests center on family emotion dynamics in both community and clinical samples, particularly in the context of emotional synchrony and attunement between family members. Using a treatment-seeking sample, Sadie's dissertation will aim to explore biobehavioural synchrony between parents and children over time and in relation to children receiving therapeutic intervention. Sadie's M.A. and Ph.D. research has been funded by SSHRC and OGS.
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Linda-Paola Sosa Hernandez
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Linda is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology program. She holds a Master's degree in Developmental Psychology from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science from the University of Guelph. Linda's research focuses on the role of social relationships in children’s social and emotional wellbeing. She is committed to applying her research clinically, aiming to enhance children and adolescents’ emotion skills and social connectedness by collaborating with community organizations like the Grove Youth Wellness Hub. Linda has been awarded a SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship, Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Vanier Canada Doctoral Scholarship, and the Brock Doctoral Scholarship for her research.
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Natasha Vogel
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Natasha is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (NACS) program. Prior to graduate school, she completed her Honours Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Neuroscience with a minor in Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University. Natasha’s primary research focus examines cognitive factors (i.e., attention, cognitive flexibility, and language skills) that influence emotion regulation strategy effectiveness in children and adolescents. Natasha hopes to pursue a career as a university professor where she can both teach and conduct research.
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Katie Frankiewicz
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Katie is a first year Master’s student in the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology program. She completed undergraduate degrees in Biomedical Toxicology and Psychology from the University of Guelph. Before starting graduate school, Katie worked as a lab manager for both the Supporting Youth Development and the Child Emotion and Mental Health labs. Her research interests focus on evidence-based mental health interventions and factors that may influence their efficacy, such as parental engagement. Currently, she is involved in an RCT study for a 6-week Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) intervention and has been awarded SSHRC funding to support her Master’s research.
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Undergraduate Students
Leah Bogatie
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Leah is a fifth-year undergraduate student majoring in Honours Psychology, and she is currently completing an honours thesis under Dr. Thomassin’s supervision. Since joining the CEMH Lab, Leah has completed an Independent Research Project exploring Childhood Traumatic Grief in Hispanic children (Summer 2023) and a URA position (Summer 2024). Leah enjoys staying involved in the lab by running assessments with families for the Families and Feelings First and Big Feelings projects. Additionally, she is passionate about supporting bereaved children and teens, having volunteered with Camp Erin Toronto, an overnight camp for children grieving the death of a parent or sibling. Leah is excited to continue exploring her research interests and contributing to lab projects this school year!
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Charlotte Funston
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Charlotte is a fourth-year undergraduate honours psychology student at the University of Guelph. Charlotte received the NSERC-funded Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) at the University of Guelph in May 2023. As a result, she worked full-time as a research assistant in the Child Emotion and Mental Health lab under the supervision of Dr. Kristel Thomassin. Through this, she was involved in day-to-day lab tasks such as recruitment, lab assessments, and data management. Following this, Charlotte completed an independent research project (IRP) under the supervision of Dr. Thomassin. The independent research project focused on emotion concordance within youth demographics. This project allowed her to take initiative in developing her own research paper and expanding her knowledge of inter- and intra-personal emotion dynamics. Presently, Charlotte is completing her undergraduate honour's thesis on emotion regulation and reactivity in parent-child dyads.
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Grace Parker
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Grace is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Guelph, majoring in Honours Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Upon graduation, Grace hopes to pursue graduate studies in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology to further assist in the well-being of children and the mental health system that caters to them. She possesses a strong interest in children’s mental health, as well as the sociological and environmental factors that impact emotional development in youth. Grace has had an abundance of experience working with children of various ages, serving as a children's swim coach, and being actively involved in a private psychological practice specializing in children and adolescents. Grace’s intention is to apply her relevant interests and experiences towards completing an Honours Thesis under Dr. Thomassin’s supervision. She is thrilled about the opportunity to gain knowledge and acquire experience within the CEMH lab.
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Amelia Luzy-Kocher
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Amelia is a recent graduate from the University of Guelph with a major in Honours Psychology and minor in Child and Family Studies. She is looking to pursue graduate studies in school psychology. Amelia recently completed her honours thesis in the Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience lab at the University of Guelph. Further, she has extensive experience working with children, which has inspired her interest to work with younger demographics in the context of psychological assessment, emotions and mental health. Amelia is looking forward to gaining valuable experience and delving into her research interests via her contributions to the CEMH lab.
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Ainsley CroninAinsley is a fourth-year undergraduate student, majoring in Honours Psychology with a minor in Family and Child Studies. Upon graduation, Ainsley plans to pursue graduate studies in Clinical and/or Counselling Psychology to support youth and young adults who have intellectual disabilities and their mental health. Her respite work at Community Living Mississauga allowed her to develop a passion for supporting youth with disabilities. She has also gained a passion for working with children through her volunteer and work experience as a learn to skate coach with Skate Canada and the City of Mississauga. Ainsley will be completing an independent research study under Dr. Thomassin’s supervision and is excited for the experience she will gain.
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Danielle KoomansDanielle is currently a fifth-year undergraduate student majoring in Honours Thesis Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Through Danielle’s position working as a Residential Support Staff at Stonehenge Therapeutic Community, it has helped her to realize her passion regarding substance abuse. She also has some broader interests in emotion regulation, mental health, and learning more about youth in conflict with the law. After graduating, Danielle is planning to pursue a degree in Clinical Psychology to further her education in hopes of becoming a registered clinical psychologist. In the F24 and W25 semester, Danielle will be undergoing an undergraduate honours thesis under Dr. Thomassin’s supervision and is eager to continue her learning through the CEMH’s lab.
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Evelyn Balfour
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Evelyn is entering her second year as an undergraduate student majoring in Honours Thesis Psychology (Co-op) with a minor in Sexualities, Genders, and Social Change. Evelyn has previous experience working with children and youth of all ages in various capacities including as a camp counsellor, providing one-to-one support for campers with ASD and other exceptional learning needs. This experience helped her to realize her passion for child and adolescent mental health, especially within the domain of psychopathology and disability. She also has an interest in emotion regulation, the family system, and gender diversity in psychopathology. Throughout the remainder of her undergraduate degree, Evelyn looks forward to furthering her knowledge with the intention to pursue a degree in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology upon graduation. Having previously completed a President’s Research Assistantship under Dr. Thomassin’s supervision, Evelyn is eager to continue to learn and make a difference in the CEMH lab through her completion of an independent research project.
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Montana Lilly
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Montana is a third-year Honours Psychology student with a minor in Neuroscience. Her role as a Youth Ambassador at The Grove Hubs, where she worked with youth aged 12-26, sparked a deep interest in youth mental health and emotional regulation. This experience has enriched her understanding of child and adolescent well-being, a passion she’s eager to explore further within the CEMH lab. Having previously completed an Independent Research Project in the CEMH lab under the supervision of Dr. Thomassin and Linda-Paola Sosa Hernandez, focusing on youth participatory action methods (Summer 24), Montana is now looking forward to expanding her research skills in an Advanced Independent Research Project this fall that will focus on a project in partnership with The Grove Hubs. With aspirations to pursue graduate studies in Clinical Psychology, she is driven to make a meaningful impact through both research and therapy, with a particular focus on supporting youth mental health. Montana is excited to continue learning and gaining experiences that will contribute to her future endeavors in this field.
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Alessandra Mangialardi
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Alessandra recently graduated from the University of Guelph with an Honours Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology and minor in Neuroscience. While in her undergrad, she completed an honours thesis in the Supporting Youth Development (SYD) Lab which sparked her research interest for youth mental health and community based research. Her goal is to purse graduate studies in Clinical Psychology. Outside of her academic pursuits, she is a group facilitator with the Nightingale Center for Grieving Children and Families, a Crisis Responder with Kids Help Phone, and is working with Talk, Listen, Connect to develop a peer-support program for Canadian university students. Alessandra is passionate about working with youth and understanding family systems, and she is excited to continue to explore these interests in the CEMH Lab!
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Halle Brophy
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Halle is a fifth-year undergraduate student majoring in the Honours Psychology Co-op program and minoring in Sociology. She has completed three co-op placements, one being at the Child Care and Learning Centre on campus, where she grew to love learning from and engaging with children. Throughout her placements, Halle has gathered practical skills and experience which she looks forward to applying to her time in the CEMH lab. While working with children, youth, and families, Halle has developed an interest in child development and fostering resilience in youth. Halle is joining the CEMH lab as a Research Assistant this summer and will continue working into the fall. In the future, she hopes to pursue a Master’s Degree in Psychology to work with and support children and youth in the education system.
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Justin Louis Hipolito
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Justin is a recent BSc graduate from McMaster University with a major in Honours Life Sciences (Sensory Motor Systems) and a minor in Psychology. Throughout his undergrad, Justin took many courses encompassing child socio-emotional development and youth mental health, sparking an interest on the influence of familial-level factors on psychosocial outcomes throughout development. His past research experiences have focused on the role of parenting on anxiety development in youth, hoping to advance these interests through pursuing graduate studies in clinical psychology. Justin is excited to join the CEMH lab this fall as a Research Assistant, further exploring his interests and gaining experience working closely with clinical populations and families.
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Sofia Calabrese
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Sofia is a third-year Honours Psychology Co-op student with a strong interest in youth mental health. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology after graduation. Her research interests include emotion regulation strategies, adverse childhood experiences, and non-suicidal self-injury among youth. Sofia’s diverse experiences working with youth have fueled her passion for research and advocacy in this field. As a Program Coordinator with the City of Toronto, Sofia organized and supervised extracurricular programs for youth aged 4-16, both after school and during the summer. She has also completed a co-op term at The Grove Hubs as a Youth Ambassador, where she supported youth aged 12-26 by connecting them with mental health resources, community services, and skill-building programs. Currently, she is completing her second work term at The Grove Hubs, where she is assisting Linda-Paola Sosa Hernandez in facilitating youth-centered workshops on emotional skills. Sofia looks forward to deepening her knowledge of academic research and contributing meaningfully to youth mental health through these experiences.
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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 |
Nida Ansari |
Current RA in the lab; MSc Student at University of Guelph |
Ella Rigby |
Unknown |
Abbey Drew |
Current RA in the lab; MA student at Western University |
Claudia Laver |
MSW student at the University of British Columbia |
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 |
Angela Fernando |
Unknown |
Sejal Katyal |
Unknown |
Abbey Drew |
MA student at Western University |
Claudia Laver |
MSW student at University of British Columbia |
Ana Ljujic |
MASc student at University of Waterloo |
Nida Ansari |
MSc student at University of Guelph |
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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