Director

Dr Sébastien Normand, Ph.D., C.Psych.

Dr Sébastien Normand is Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology and Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Program on Children's Mental Health (PRISME) at the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO). He is also a regular researcher with the Institut du savoir Montfort, the Groupe de recherche sur l'inadaptation psychosociale chez l'enfant (GRIP) and the Groupe de neurosciences sociales, cognitives et cliniques de l'UQO. He is a clinical professor at the University of Ottawa School of Psychology and a part-time pediatric psychologist at Hôpital Montfort. His research interests focus on (1) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), (2) children's friendships, (3) behavioural interventions focusing on friendships, (4) behavioral parent training programs and (5) parental engagement in the management of ADHD. For more information, click here.

Doctoral students - research (Ph.D.)

Zoey Burr

Zoey Burr is a doctoral student in psychology (Ph.D.) at the Université du Québec en Outaouais, with a focus on neurodevelopmental disorders. She has published findings from her honors thesis on cognitive overlaps between ADHD and anxiety through event segmentation (University of Ottawa, see article). A member of IRPCMH since 2022, her research centers on: 1) the impact of comorbidities, such as anxiety and oppositional disorder, on friendship relationships; 2) psychosocial treatments for social difficulties in children with ADHD; and 3) family involvement in these treatments. Zoey is a senior psychometrician at a private clinic in Ottawa, where she conducts assessments for children and adolescents. Additionally, she volunteers at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), supporting children with disabilities, and serves as a facilitator with the Regroupement Autisme Prescott-Russell and Kids Help Phone.

Doctoral Students (Psy.D.)

Carol-Anne Roy

Carol-Anne is a second-year doctoral student in psychology (Psy.D.; Youth and Family Profile) at UQO. She is currently completing a practicum placement at UQO's Clinique de services psychologiques, where she works with children, adolescents, and parents using a cognitive-behavioral and systemic approach under the supervision of Dr. Martine Verreault. Her interest in the impact of ADHD on friendships led her to join IRPCMH shortly after completing her bachelor's degree in 2020, during which she completed an honors thesis on the Parental Friendship Coaching (PFC) program. In 2023, she was awarded a CIHR scholarship, and her research focuses on the role of friends' characteristics in the effectiveness of the PFC program for children with ADHD. Carol-Anne’s diverse experiences include tutoring children with neurodevelopmental disorders, working as a counselor at Tel-Aide Outaouais, and leading mental health workshops at CISSS de l'Outaouais.

Laila Kokenberg-Gallant

Laila Kokenberg-Gallant is a doctoral student in clinical psychology (Psy.D.; Youth and Family Profile) at UQO. Since 2022, she has been working as a psychometrist in private practice, honing her clinical skills in neuropsychological assessments. She is also a research assistant at CHEO, conducting neurodevelopmental assessments. Previously, she worked as a specialized tutor for young people with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD, assisting them with reading and writing in English. These experiences have deepened her interest in ADHD, including evaluating psychosocial programs, friendships, group and family interventions, and understanding the impact of comorbidities like eating disorders (ED). As a future clinical psychologist, Laila aims to support families with young individuals experiencing EDs through both group and individual interventions.

Honors thesis students (undergraduate level)

Francis Cousineau

Francis is an honors student in psychology. He has always been interested in developing and learning various skills through play. Therefore, this area of knowledge has led Francis to take a keen interest in the daily challenges that children with ADHD may face, especially when it comes to learning. Working part-time as a pedagogical worker with children, his involvement with IRPCMH will allow him to develop his knowledge on the subject further and acquire new research and intervention experience.