While a student at Waterloo, 2016 Alumni Award recipient, Danielle Rice (BA ’12) was involved in a number of volunteer, research and teaching assistant positions in the clinical psychology field. Since graduation, she has excelled in research and clinical work with the goal of bridging gaps in mental health research. Danielle provides individual and group psychotherapy to adults and adolescents with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. She has also provided cognitive and mental health assessments for children with neurodevelopment disorders, stroke and heart attack patients, and people suffering from dementia.
In just two years, Danielle has published 18 peer-reviewed papers, 8 online book chapters, along with more than 50 conference presentations that have been disseminated to diverse international and national audiences of academics, clinicians, students, and individuals outside of academia. She is currently a PhD candidate in clinical psychology at McGill University, for which she has won distinguished academic awards.
Alumni Relations had the chance to catch up with Danielle and ask her about her work and life after Waterloo.
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Congratulations on receiving a 2016 University of Waterloo Alumni award! What does this recognition mean to you?
Thank you! Receiving this type of recognition has been an honour and has served as additional motivation to proudly represent the University of Waterloo in my continued schooling and future career. When considering the thousands of accomplished University of Waterloo alumni, I’m so grateful to have even been nominated for this prestigious award.
While working towards your PhD at McGill University you also conduct clinical work at two Montreal hospitals. Can you tell us more about your work?
Within my work at a tertiary care hospital in Montreal I have had the opportunity to lead group therapy sessions for adults diagnosed with depression, and adults diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These group therapy programs provide emotional and practical support for patients, and can be very powerful due to the nature of being surrounded by others going through similar experiences. An important part of my role in leading these groups is to encourage and support patients to use the tools taught in sessions to their daily lives.
I also provide one-on-one therapy in a hospital-based Collaborative Care Centre to adolescents and adults diagnosed with a variety of mental health difficulties. These two roles complement each other well, and allow me to meet a variety of motivated individuals hoping to improve their quality of life through psychotherapy interventions.
In the spring of 2017 I will begin working on an inpatient unit where the focus of treatment will often be crisis management and short-term interventions. Through this role I will gain additional skills to accompany my experiences with outpatient group therapy and individual therapy.
Why did you decide to focus on mental health in your career?
Mental health is an important area that I believe impacts everyone, whether someone has personally experienced ongoing distress, or has watched a family member or friend struggle with aspects of their life, the impact of mental health concerns are far reaching. From early in my academic career I have been acutely aware of the high prevalence of mental health disorders, along with the reality that many Canadians do not have access to mental health services, despite the many effective treatments that exist. With this understanding, I have wanted to work towards improving care for those suffering from mental health disorders through improving evidence-based research and providing mental health care in the form of psychotherapy.
Some of your mentors have said you are on the path to becoming a leader in the field of clinical psychology in this country. How do you feel about this?
I’m very grateful to have outstanding mentors at McGill University, and to have also had exceptional mentors throughout my time as an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo. Impacting psychological services at a national level is an ambitious task, however, it is one that motivates me to continue in research, clinical work, and schooling. I think that every step towards improving access to care is a step in the right direction, and I hope that one day Canadians can depend on stable and accessible mental health services no matter their age, location, gender, socioeconomic status, or diagnosis.
What impact do you hope to make in the mental healthcare system upon receiving your PhD?
Ultimately, my career goal is to use my influence as a researcher to bridge the gaps in mental health care, and ensure that scientific knowledge is used to provide improved, more consistent treatment for Canadians. Being a Clinical Psychologist will allow for me to impact both research, and clinical practice, a perfect combination for trying to improve the mental health system from a bottom-up perspective, and on a day-to-day basis through providing psychotherapy to patients. I hope to help apply research supported approaches to improve access to mental health care, for example, through large-scale implementation of the Stepped Care Model to mental health.
What advice do you have for students and young alumni interested in following a similar career trajectory?
For those interested in this type of career path, I would suggest gaining as much experience as you can within a variety of experiences. The University of Waterloo has exceptionally diverse research and volunteer opportunities that can help focus your career goals. This can be helpful to gain an understanding of yourself, and the type of mental health work you want to do. I would also recommend reaching out to others that are in the field of mental health, it’s often difficult to navigate the nuances between programs and positions, so speaking with those who have taken these programs or held the types of jobs you are interested in, can be especially meaningful!
The University of Waterloo is turning 60 this year. What does it mean to you be a part of an institution celebrating 60 years of innovation? What do you see for the next 60 years at the University of Waterloo?
Being an alumnus from the University of Waterloo has become a meaningful part of my academic identity. As the University of Waterloo turns 60, I reflect on the international impact of our university, and the various ways each discipline has advanced society. I anticipate that the next 60 years at the University of Waterloo will involve maintaining and building upon strong international connections and developing world-class research and innovation that will have a lasting world-wide impact.
