News

Clinical psychology graduate studentsChantelle Castelino, Nadine Ghanem, and Taranjot Bedi-Padda presented a workshop on Rest Assured: Exploring the Importance of Sleep for Well-being for the General Public at the Kitchener Central Library.

The students provided an informative and engaging workshop. Quality sleep is essential for maintaining good mental health, but stress, busy schedules, and daily habits can often get in the way. The presenters shared research about the importance of sleep and how it impacts our wellbeing and daily lives, as well as practical, evidence-based sleep-hygiene strategies.

They did a great job translating research to a general audience and incorporating some useful takeaways. The talk was well-received and the audience was very engaged. 

These opportunities are a wonderful demonstration of psychology's ability to translate knowledge and research into practical and helpful information for everyone. We continue to be grateful for the strong community partnerships that allow for these opportunities.

Clinical psychology graduate students Brianna MacPherson and Alexis Cantafiop presented a workshop on Media Consumption and Mental Health for the Active Living (seniors) program at the Forest Heights Kitchener Public Library this afternoon (Oct 28, 2026). 

The students provided an informative and engaging workshop that highlighted changes in our access to news, explained the concept of  misinformation, and explored research on the impact on mental health, and provided helpful tips for consuming news with intention and care. 

The workshop highlighted research on this topic pertinent to seniors.  The over 50 participants in attendance were attentive, asked excellent questions and offered thoughtful contributions.

These opportunities are a wonderful demonstration of psychology's ability to translate knowledge and research into practical and helpful information for everyone. We continue to be grateful for the strong community partnerships that allow for these opportunities.

Clinical psychology graduate students Aliya McNeil and Jana El-Sabbagh presented a workshop on Stress Management for Athletes to 17 players and their coaches in the Stratford Aces U18 hockey training program on September 1, 2026, in Stratford, ON. The female hockey players, ages 16 to 18 years, were highly engaged in the interactive workshop which presented ideas and strategies for recognizing and managing stress related to navigating elite sports and life as a teenager.

The talk was really well received, and Aliya and Jana's skills in translating research and empirical knowledge into practical applications for this specific population are exemplary.

These opportunities are a wonderful demonstration of psychology's ability to translate knowledge and research into practical and helpful information for everyone. We continue to be grateful for the strong community partnerships that allow for these opportunities.

Clinical psychology graduate students, Monica Grove and Nadine Ghanem, presented a workshop on the connection between nature and our mental health at the Kitchener Public Library (Central Branch) on Nov 18, 2025. The students provided an informative and engaging workshop that reviewed research findings on the benefits of engaging with nature for our physical, mental, and social well-being, and provided helpful tips for optimizing nature benefits using mindfulness practice. The workshop also explored the concept of climate anxiety and provided information about the innovative parks prescription program and strategies to mitigate adverse effects of climate anxiety. The audience was attentive, and the talk generated an excellent discussion.

These opportunities are a wonderful demonstration of psychology's ability to translate knowledge and research into practical and helpful information for everyone. We continue to be grateful for the strong community partnerships that allows for these opportunities.

Clinical psychology graduate students Jasmine Zhang and Brianna MacPherson, who presented a workshop Staying Informed without Burning Out: Strategies for Mindful Media and News Consumption at the Kitchener Public Library (Central Branch) on Nov 4, 2025. 

The students provided an informative and engaging workshop that highlighted changes in our access to news, outlined differences between misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, explored the concept of doom-scrolling and impact on mental health, and provided helpful tips for consuming news with intention and care. The attentive audience asked excellent questions and offered thoughtful contributions.

These opportunities are a wonderful demonstration of psychology's ability to translate knowledge and research into practical and helpful information for everyone. We continue to be grateful for the strong community partnerships that allows for these opportunities.

Clinical psychology graduate students Chantelle Castelino, Bailea Erb, and Simrat Tung, presented a terrific workshop on Navigating Relationships as We Age to a capacity crowd of participants in the Active Adults (50+) program at Forest Heights Public Library.

The presentation reviewed research and practical application for cultivating non-romantic relationships (friendships, family, community) and romantic relationships (dating in the older years) and identified the impact of loneliness on health and mental health.  Practical tips to foster relationships were presented.  The audience was highly engaged and attentive, with positive feedback. 

These opportunities are a wonderful demonstration of psychology's ability to translate knowledge and research into practical and helpful information for everyone. We continue to be grateful for the strong community partnerships that allows for these opportunities.

Clinical psychology graduate students Jasmine Zhang, Monica Grove, and Kendra Wasson, presented a workshop on Stress Management for students at Waterloo Collegiate Institute this morning (May 16, 2025). This workshop was repeated by the same organizers at WCI who valued the presentation in May 2024, and wanted to replicate the engaging and informative experience for a new group of high school students this year.  

These opportunities are a wonderful demonstration of psychology's ability to translate knowledge and research into practical and helpful information for everyone. We continue to be grateful for the strong community partnerships that allows for these opportunities.

Clinical psychology graduate students Jasmine Zhang and Sarena Daljeet, presented talks about Adolescent Media use and Mental Health & the value of involving caregivers in therapy for youth at Grand River Hospital's Ontario Network of Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry Services (ONCAIPS) Annual Conference on March 20th, 2025.

Jasmine presented her research on Adolescent Media Use and Mental Health.  Her talk provided a high-level overview of the mental health challenges faced by youth in a technology-saturated world.  Jasmine also provided the audience with innovative practices and tools that could help adolescents develop a more positive relationship with media.

The main message of Sarena’s presentation was the value of involving caregivers in therapy for youth and the importance of the therapist in being attuned to the alliances of both the youth and the caregiver.  She presented outcome data on Dyadic Emotion Focused Therapy for youth.

Both presentations were extremely well-attended and well-received. Another wonderful connection made by our outstanding students.

These opportunities are a wonderful demonstration of psychology's ability to translate knowledge and research into practical and helpful information for everyone. We continue to be grateful for the strong community partnership that allows for these opportunities!

Clinical psychology graduate students  Fatima Wasif, Brianna MacPherson, and Chantelle Castelino, presented a workshop entitled, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) through the lifespan to the general public at the Central branch of the Kitchener Public Library on January 28th, 2025.

They presented a fantastic history of ADHD and explained the way symptoms occurred and varied with age and gender, as well as provided many useful strategies and resources.There was a nice crowd of about 20 attendees who braved the snowy weather to join us for this presentation.

These community workshops are a wonderful demonstration of psychology's ability to translate knowledge and research into practical and helpful information for everyone. We continue to be grateful for the strong UW/KPL partnership that allows for these opportunities!

Clinical psychology graduate students Alexa Nordine, Sophie Kudryk, and Van Bui, presented a workshop entitled, Is This Common? Differentiating Shyness from Social Anxiety to the general public at the Central branch of the Kitchener Public Library on November 26, 2024.

The students provided an informative and engaging workshop to share an understanding of the construct of social anxiety, how symptoms are maintained, and tips and strategies to help address the problem.  

These community workshops are a wonderful demonstration of psychology's ability to translate knowledge and research into practical and helpful information for everyone.