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Lab Staff
Anna Wiebe
Child and Adolescent Therapist
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Anna Wiebe is a Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist, registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph, where she double-majored in Psychology and Studio Art, and went on to complete her Master of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Anna brings a warm presence to her work and has supported individuals across a range of ages and experiences. Her background includes work in horticultural therapy, early childhood and outdoor education, youth mental health, psychoeducation, group development and facilitation, as well as community and social planning. She has extensive experience providing individual therapy to both youth and adults. She has worked in a variety of settings, including the Youth Wellness Centre at St. Joseph’s Health Centre Hamilton, the Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team in Kitchener, and the Guelph Community Health Centre here in Guelph. She has additional training in transformative mediation, foundations of somatic experiencing, polyvagal theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and attachment theory. Anna is passionate about creating safe, collaborative spaces for healing and growth, and is excited to be part of the team at the Maplewoods Centre as a Child and Adolescent Therapist. |
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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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Graduate Students
Chelsea Reaume
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Chelsea is in her fourth 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 present research and clinical interests focus on parent-child relationships, child emotion regulation, and interventions that target these two domains. She is particularly interested in applying principles of evidence-based practice to her dissertation research which will examine treatment fidelity, moderators of efficacy, and mechanisms of change within a randomized controlled trial of Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). Chelsea has worked extensively providing assessment, therapy, and consultation services to children, adolescents, and families in school, hospital, and private practice 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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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 a Ph.D. Candidate in the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (CCAP) 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 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 psychotherapeutic 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 Sosa Hernandez is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology program at the University of Guelph. 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. Her research examines how social relationships shape children’s and adolescents’ socioemotional development and mental health, with a focus on understanding the processes that foster resilience and heighten risk. Linda is passionate about bridging research and clinical practice to strengthen emotion regulation skills and social connectedness in youth. She is also committed to community-engaged work through partnerships with organizations such as the Grove Youth Wellness Hubs and Immigrant Services. Her research has been supported by the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship, Ontario Graduate Scholarship, and Brock Doctoral Scholarship.
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Natasha Vogel
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Natasha is in the second year of her PhD in the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (NACS) program. Natasha also has an Honours Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Neuroscience with a minor in Biology from Wilfrid Laurier University. Natasha’s primary research focus examines cognitive factors (i.e., attention, cognitive flexibility, memory) that influence emotion regulation strategy effectiveness in children and adolescents. For her dissertation, she is also exploring the how children and adolescents identify and regulate co-occurring emotions. Natasha's doctoral research is funded by a SSHRC Canadian Graduate Scholarship.
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Katie Frankiewicz
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Katie is a second-year master's student in the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology program at the University of Guelph. She completed undergraduate degrees in Biomedical Toxicology and Psychology from the same university. Before joining the CCAP program, Katie worked as a coordinator for the Supporting Youth Development Lab and a manager for the Child Emotion and Mental Health Lab. Her research is driven by a passion for understanding evidence-based mental health treatments for children and adolescents, with a particular focus on the role of the family and factors influencing treatment effectiveness. For her master's thesis, she is examining how parents engage in a 6-week parent-focused mental health treatment for their children, Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), and whether engagement is related to parenting outcomes or influenced by contextual factors. Katie has received SSHRC and OGS funding to support her master's research.
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Kate Jamieson
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Kate Jamieson is a first year Master’s student in the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (CCAP) Program. She completed her Honours BSc in Integrated Science with a specialization in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour at McMaster University. Following this, she worked as research staff with the Offord Centre for Child Studies focused on evaluating and improving mental health and neurodevelopmental health systems and increasing the use of evidence-based practices on a community, provincial, and national level. Kate’s research interests include family wide emotional dynamics and emotional regulation, with a particular focus on the role of siblings. Kate is also committed to integrating knowledge translation and community-engaged approaches to her research.
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Undergraduate Students
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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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 fourth-year Honours Psychology student minoring in Neuroscience, with a strong passion for youth mental health and emotional regulation. Her role as a Youth Ambassador at The Grove Hubs, where she supported youth aged 12–26, sparked a deep interest in promoting well-being among children and adolescents. This experience, combined with her academic background, has shaped her commitment to understanding and supporting young people’s mental health. She has previously completed both an Independent and Advanced Independent Research Project in the Child Emotion and Mental Health (CEMH) Lab under the supervision of Dr. Kristel Thomassin and Linda-Paola Sosa Hernandez. Her work focused on youth participatory action methods (Summer 2024) and community-engaged research in collaboration with the Grove Youth Wellness Hubs (Fall 2025). She is currently completing a USRA (Undergraduate Student Research Award) in the CEMH Lab for Summer 2025, where she is further strengthening her research skills through hands-on involvement in youth-centered projects. This fall, Montana is excited to continue in the lab to complete her Honours Thesis. With aspirations to pursue graduate studies in Clinical Psychology, Montana is driven to make a meaningful impact through both research and therapeutic practice, particularly in supporting youth facing complex mental health challenges. She looks forward to continuing to learn, grow, and contribute to the field.
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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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Carter Janssen
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Carter recently graduated from the University of Guelph (UofG) where he obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology. During his undergrad, Carter completed two independent research projects and an honours thesis in Dr. C. Meghan McMurtry’s Pediatric Pain, Health, and Communication (PPHC) Lab. His experiences investigating various topics related to chronic and acute pain sparked a passion for conducting youth-oriented research through a clinical lens. Carter has also spent two years volunteering as a Peer Support Counsellor at UofG, and has recently become a Crisis Responder with KidsHelpPhone. He aspires to obtain a master’s and PhD in Clinical Psychology, and lead a career that involves conducting research and providing care to pediatric populations. He is interested in investigating communication strategies within caregiver-child dyads that seek to positively influence youth's psychological outcomes. Carter hopes to have a positive impact on his community, by supporting youth and their caregivers, while helping to foster environments that emphasize compassion and understanding. He looks forward to joining the CEMH Lab and continuing to learn, grow, and contribute to meaningful research being conducted at UofG.
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Miranda Halfyard
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Miranda is a third-year undergraduate Honours Psychology student with a minor in Cinema and Media Studies. Previous experience working with children in a variety of positions, including as a camp counsellor and martial arts instructor, has ignited a passion for youth mental health. In particular, these experiences have inspired interest in the provision of support for youth with developmental disorders and behavioural challenges. Other research interests include gender differences in psychopathologies, parental emotional dysregulation, and NSSI functions. Under Dr. Thomassin's supervision, Miranda is eager to deepen her skillset through an independent research project in the Winter 2025 Semester. In the future, Miranda intends to pursue graduate studies in Clinical psychology, with the ultimate goal of becoming a registered clinical psychologist.
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Skade Fernando
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Skade recently graduated from McMaster University with a BSc in Honours Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour. During her undergraduate career, she developed a strong passion for child development, focusing on how parent-child interactions shape behaviours and emotion regulation. She aims to pursue graduate studies in Clinical Child Psychology to further investigate these dynamics and explore resilience-building in underrepresented groups. Skade is eager to expand her curiosity and research interests in family systems and child development within the CEMH lab and looks forward to contributing to its exciting projects.
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Chelsea Vance
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Chelsea is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology, with a strong interest in emotion regulation and family systems. She plans to pursue graduate studies in Social Work. Early in her undergraduate degree, Chelsea volunteered with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) as both a peer helper and the guiding coordinator. She has been actively involved in research across multiple labs, completing an independent research project in the Child Development Research Unit in Fall 2024, where she continues to volunteer as a research assistant (Summer 2024, Winter 2025, Fall 2025). In Winter 2025, she completed an advanced independent research project in the CEMH Lab and throughout the summer (25) she did the URA. She is currently working on her thesis for Fall 2025 with the FACES project. She looks forward to continuing to expand her research experience and involvment with the lab.
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Cole Spagnuolo
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Cole is a third-year Honours Psychology student, driven by strong passion for youth mental health. He aims to pursue a Master’s degree in Psychotherapy after graduation, focusing on advancing therapeutic practices and outcomes for young people. His primary interests include youth emotional development, therapeutic approaches, and strategies to improve mental health in adolescents. Cole’s interests are shaped by his experience in child-focused mental health settings. As an intern at Strong Minds Strong Kids, Cole played an active role in initiatives that promote mental health education and resilience-building among youth. During his co-op placement at Oakridge Public School, he assisted with teaching, gaining valuable experience in creating inclusive and supportive environments for children. These opportunities have deepened his commitment to advocating for mental health and have inspired him to continue bridging research and practice to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young people.
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Emma Kueneman
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Emma is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Guelph, majoring in Arts and Science. Her two minors are Biology and Psychology. Emma has many years of experience working with children, which has sparked her special interest in child and developmental psychology. During the school year, Emma volunteers with All In Skating, where she provides one-to-one support and assistance to a child with ASD to improve their skating skills. In the spring and summer months, Emma works as a supply teacher and camp counsellor. Emma has also worked as an Early Childhood Assistant at multiple preschools, where she found her passion for working with young children. Through each of these experiences, Emma has gained first-hand experience in educating, caring for, and resolving conflict with youth, and has been able to apply her learning from child and developmental psychology classes while gaining practical experience. After graduation, Emma hopes to pursue a career in education, where she can help children reach their full potential and support them through coaching and extracurriculars. Through her work in the CEMH lab, Emma aspires to develop valuable skills working with children with developmental and mental health disorders so that she can be a supportive, empathetic, and safe role model to her future students.
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Rachel Marrows
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Rachel is a fourth-year Honours Psychology student with a minor in Child and Family Studies. She is passionate about child development and learning about effective, evidence-based ways to support youth. She aspires to become a clinical psychologist, with a focus on improving mental health outcomes for children and adolescents. Her interests are shaped by her hands-on experiences working at a youth centre and volunteering in child-focused research settings. She completed an independent research project in the Child Development Research Unit in Fall 2024 and continues to volunteer there as a research assistant. She is excited to join the CEMH lab and continue building her research skills while contributing to meaningful work that supports youth and families.
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Jessie Cardinal
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Jessie is a fourth-year undergraduate student, majoring in Honours Psychology. She hopes to pursue graduate studies in Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, with the goal of supporting youth through adverse experiences and mental health challenges. Her passion for working with children began at age twelve through volunteering in childcare settings, and she has since broadened her experience. Jessie volunteers as a Crisis Responder for Kids Help Phone, mentors a young person facing difficult circumstances through Big Brothers Big Sisters Guelph, and has gained insight into the lasting effects of childhood trauma through her role as President of Starts With Youth, a club supporting survivors of childhood trauma at the University of Guelph. She is excited to expand her research experience through an Independent Research Project under the supervision of Dr. Thomassin. Her interests include exploring innovative therapeutic interventions that support children’s coping abilities and examining how emotional dynamics across the whole family shape development.
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Eva Gavrilov
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Eva is a second-year undergraduate student, majoring in Honors Psychology with a minor in Computer and Information Science. She aspires to become a Clinical Psychologist, with an emphasis on supporting youth with complex mental health struggles. Previously, she worked at Kumon as a teaching assistant, aiding students’ facing academic challenges, those with exceptional learning abilities, and language barriers. This experience has ignited a passion for adolescent mental health, particularly in the role of parental mental health socialization and culture on adolescent emotion regulation/dysregulation. She hopes to explore these themes further and make a meaningful, long-lasting impact in the field. Eva is excited to start her research journey with the CEMH lab and hopes to further her knowledge through the through the completion of an independent research project.
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Avery Wilson
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Avery is a third-year undergraduate student, majoring in Honours Psychology with a minor in Family and Child Studies at the University of Guelph. She is passionate about working with children and has a strong interest in gaining more experience with child development and behavioural issues. She hopes to pursue her master's degree in a psychology-related field upon completing her undergraduate degree. She has a great amount of experience working with children of various ages as a competitive swim coach, swim instructor, and volunteer with an entry-to-school program for children with ASD. She is excited to begin her journey in the field of research and gain experience through an independent research project under the supervision of Dr. Thomassin. She is eager to join the CEMH lab and is looking forward to gaining more knowledge and experience in emotional development and making a meaningful contribution to the lab’s ongoing work.
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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 |
Sadie McVey Neufeld (MA) |
Current PhD Student in the lab |
Zoe Weidman (MA) |
Current PhD Student in the lab |
Linda-Paola Sosa Hernandez (MA) |
Current PhD Student in the lab |
Natasha Vogel (MSc) |
Current PhD Student in the lab |
Rita Abdel-Baki |
Unknown |
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 |
ABA Therapist at Surrey Place |
Madeleine Alie |
Education Coordinator at Oxford Learning Centres |
Nida Ansari |
MSc Student at University of Guelph |
Ella Rigby |
Unknown |
Abbey Drew |
MA student at Western University |
Claudia Laver |
MSW student at the University of British Columbia |
Danielle Koomans |
Unknown |
Charlotte Funston |
Child and Youth Worker at Evolving Youth Care |
Leah Bogatie |
Unknown |
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 |
Sofia Calabrese |
Unknown |
Amelia Luzy-Kosher |
Unknown |
Charlotte Funston |
Child and Youth Worker at Evolving Youth Care |
Justin Louis Hiplito |
MSc student at Mcmaster University |
Leah Bogatie |
Unknown |
Alesandra Mangialardi |
MA student at University of Guelph |
Brianna Sgambati |
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 |
Jessica Punn, Project Coordinator |
Unknown |
Jackie Strimas - Child and Adolescent Therapist |
Unknown |
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