Graduate Students

Kaitlinn Shaw is a MSW student (September 2020 – present). Her thesis will explore how participating in HAP can help sexual and gender minority youth who are involved in their schools gay straight alliance (GSA) club to build social and emotional skills and enhance their resilience. This research project will be in partnership with Public Health Sudbury and Districts.

Sama Abedini is a Ph.D. student in the Interdisciplinary Rural and Northern Health program (September 2019 – present). Her thesis will explore and compare the effectiveness of HAP and MBCT-C with groups of youth seeking mental health supports. Her research is in collaboration with Compass (our local children’s mental health agency).

Vivian Oystrick was a student in the Master of Social Work program at Laurentian University (she graduated in 2012) and worked as part of my research team co-facilitating HAP groups.

Vivian worked in child welfare for 12 years and has an interest in enhancing resilience in children who come from adverse living conditions. Vivian’s graduate thesis explored gender differences in how boys and girls learn and participate in arts-based mindfulness group programs for vulnerable children.

From January 2015 – July 2019, she was the Hub Manager of the Northeastern Ontario Hub for the YouthREX project: http://youthrex.com/

She is currently a doctoral student in the Human Studies program at Laurentian University, and is testing our arts-based mindfulness program with teenage moms. Her research is in collaboration with the Baby’s Breath program at Better Beginnings Better Futures.

Danielle Labranche graduated with her MSW in October 2019. She tested HAP with university students and found that HAP helped students cope better with stressors.

Danielle (MSW), Amanda (MA), Stephanie (MSW), and Daniela (MSW) all graduated in October 2019!

Heather McAlister (2017 – present) is a MSW student analyzing the experiences of youths who attended HAP twice. She is currently co-facilitating HAP groups and helping to train other students.

Daniela Folino (2018 – summer 2019) completed her MSW Advanced Practicum with the Rainbow District School Board. She currently works with the Board as a social worker, and continues to facilitate HAP in numerous schools.

Stephanie McMahon tested HAP with women escaping abuse from their intimate partners. She also co-facilitated HAP with youth in our research program (2018 – summer 2019). She is currently pursuing law studies.

Amanda Hardy is an elementary school teacher and was an MA student in the Interdisciplinary Health program (2016 to summer 2019). She has brought HAP into her own school and trains other teachers in our arts-based mindfulness methods.

Tricia Grynspan was a MSW student (2015 – 2018) who facilitated HAP with two groups of concurrent education students. Here she is after presenting preliminary results at the Faculty of Health and Education Conference at Laurentian University, December 2016.

Cait conducted an advanced practicum in which she created an Open Arts Studio group experience at the local Elizabeth Fry Society for women in conflict (or at risk of conflict) with the law. Here she is at a public showing of some of the art work created by the participants (November 29, 2014).

Sean successfully defended his Ph.D. in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Rural and Northern Health at Laurentian University, on January 20, 2016!

For several years, Sean was a key member of my research team helping to develop and facilitate HAP with vulnerable children. His doctoral research explored the benefits of learning mindfulness for youth who are transitioning out of foster care due to their age. This project was in cooperation with British Columbia’s Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Sean is a Child and Youth Care Worker, and is currently a Professor at Canadore College in North Bay. His experience includes an extensive background in experiential learning, wilderness out-tripping, and therapeutic recreation.