Contributor Biographies
Jaqi Allan, MSW, has lived and worked on both the west and east coasts but put down roots in southwestern Nova Scotia. Serving her clients in both public and private mental health practices is a passion that allows her to advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusive services. She is a registered clinical social worker and contributes to her profession by sitting on several governance boards and committees at the provincial level, offering supervision and mentorship to new clinicians, and supporting colleagues. When not working, Ms. Allan enjoys walking the beaches at low tide, viewing the ever-changing sunsets, and discovering the wonders of rural Nova Scotia.
Jon K. Amundson, PhD, has been a psychologist in independent practice in Calgary since 1980, and also has a master’s degree in public policy. Aside from direct service to patients, he has been an expert witness in criminal and civil matters, as well as for professional tribunals. He has taught, supervised, written, and published professionally. As well, he has been a senior/master’s member of several world championship Polynesian canoe teams and has paddled these canoes across most of the Hawaiian Island channels. Dr. Amundson is grateful for the opportunity at his advancing age to still have the opportunity to speak, write, and act on behalf of professional psychology.
Carol Arthurs, MA, is a school psychologist in rural Nova Scotia. She works in the education system and owns a small private practice. A commitment to professional learning led her to also earn an MEd in Curriculum Studies and a certificate in applied behaviour analysis. Ms. Arthurs is passionate about supporting the diverse needs of students, families, and educators, and is an advocate for inclusive practices and equity.
Nicole Aubé, PhD, has over 40 years’ experience in forensic and clinical psychology. Over the last 15 years, she completed eight missions with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) in Russia, Congo, South Africa, Haiti, the Central Republic of Africa, and Papua New Guinea. She has served as a board member with Doctors without Borders Canada, the Canadian Psychological Association, the College of Psychologists of British Columbia, the British Columbia Psychological Association, and le Centre Culturel de Vancouver. Dr. Aubé has received awards for her humanitarian work from both the British Columbia Psychological Association and the Canadian Psychological Association.
Nora Babin, BA, lives in rural Nova Scotia with her husband and their fur babies. She enjoys spending time in nature, gardening, and growing her own vegetables. As a graduate in community studies, she has worked with individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities for over 15 years in a health care setting. She plans to further her education by pursuing a variety of specialized interests. Ms. Babin passionately believes that everyone has the right to be treated equally, fairly, and with respect and dignity.
Anne Barnfield, PhD, is an associate professor of psychology at Brescia University College at Western University in London, Ontario. She is a member of several organizations, including the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association’s Equine-Facilitated Wellness committee, the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organizations Research Group, and the Horses in Education and Therapy International Ethics Task Force and their Research and Education committee. Her current research focus is on psychological aspects of equine-assisted/facilitated activities, including therapeutic riding and psychotherapy for treatment of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Barnfield volunteers at the local therapeutic riding centre, practices karate, and rides her horse, Lilliput. She lives with her husband, Richard, and their cat Chinthe.
Stan Bird, PhD, is an Anishinaabe from Peguis First Nation. His father is Anishinaabe and his mother is nêhiyaw from the community of Ochekwi-Sipi. He graduated from high school in Peguis First Nation and received an undergraduate degree from the University of Manitoba. Since the completion of an MSc in school and community psychology in 1997, Dr. Bird has spent his entire career in Manitoba First Nations schools and communities. He obtained a PhD in applied psychology from the University of Calgary in 2009, and views culture as foundational to his work and the primary lens in the assessment of learning.
M. A. Suzie Bisson, PhD, is a registered counselling psychologist who owns a small solo private practice in Alberta. Dr. Bisson has over 20 years of experience working with children and adults impacted by trauma. She is also a veteran of the Canadian military, which she joined at the age of 17 and retired from at the age of 26. Like many, Dr. Bisson greatly values the time she spent with Dr. Jean Pettifor, including the honour of having learned from her wisdom, being involved in every aspect of the realization of this book, and of being by Jean’s side at the moment of her passing.
Shannon D. Boyce, DVM, is a small animal and former equine veterinarian who, along with her business partner, opened her own veterinary clinic in the spring of 2015. She is a member of several organizations, including the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Dr. Boyce enjoys volunteering with the local therapeutic riding program when they host fun shows, helping animals in need, and riding and competing with her Quarter Horses, Luke, Abby, and Marti. She lives with her husband, Steven, on a hobby farm with their dogs, cats, horses, and goats.
Jeff Chang, PhD, is a registered psychologist with additional certifications in couple and family therapy (CFT). He is a professor of counselling at Athabasca University. Dr. Chang also teaches in the University of Calgary’s CFT certificate (Faculty of Social Work) and in the Werklund School of Education. He provides psychological services in family law matters, supervises provisional psychologists, consults on supervision and ethical issues, and directs psychological services at a special education school. Dr. Chang writes and presents internationally on high-conflict divorce, child and family intervention, and clinical supervision and wrote and curates the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta’s online supervision course.
Brian Chartier, PhD, is a professor emeritus of psychology at St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan. He has published articles in International Journal of Indigenous Health; Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, Illness, Crisis and Loss; Canada’s Mental Health; and the Saskatchewan Medical Journal. He is a registered doctoral psychologist who is currently in private practice in Saskatoon. Dr. Chartier has taught a variety of undergraduate courses, including the psychology of dying and death. He also taught graduate courses in psychological assessment and professional ethics.
Ivana Djuraskovic, PhD, is a registered psychologist in Calgary, Alberta. She works in a mental health clinic and a private practice, and teaches at a graduate level. Dr. Djuraskovic’s area of expertise is multicultural counselling, namely counselling refugees and immigrants. Her graduate research focused on acculturation and ethnic identity reconstruction in refugees and the experiences of refugee women in counselling. Her additional interests include acceptance-commitment therapy, trauma, grief and loss, Indigenous-focused counselling, social justice, and ethics. In her free time, Dr. Djuraskovic enjoys spending time with her family, riding motorcycles, painting, and compulsively reading.
Michelle Arlene Drefs, PhD, is a school psychologist and associate professor with the University of Calgary’s School and Applied Child Psychology program. Her background includes previous experience as an early elementary educator, where she spent the majority of her career as a grade K4 instructor with the Dene Tha’ First Nation in Chateh, Alberta. Her research focuses on investigating the impact of intergenerational (IG) programming on students’ social-emotional well-being, exploring childhood bereavement and grief, and studying clinical decision-making.
E. Aiofe Freeman-Cruz, PhD, acquired supervised training in family therapy at Calgary Family Therapy Centre and completed a CPA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at the University of Manitoba Student Counselling Centre, gaining further supervised training in individual and couple therapy. Since completing her doctorate in counselling psychology, she has deepened her interest in individual, couple, and family therapy, with a special interest in the experiences and challenges of clients with diverse and intersecting identities. Presently, Dr. Freeman-Cruz works as a psychologist in Calgary, Alberta, in a community agency and private practice where she applies her systemic lens in therapy and clinical supervision.
Joaquín Gaete-Silva, PhD, is a registered psychologist in Alberta, and an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Calgary (Cumming School of Medicine and Werklund School of Education). He is the director of the Calgary Family Therapy Centre, where he also practices family therapy and clinical supervision. He is interested in therapy as a vehicle to promote social justice through relational well-being. He is the former director of Centro de Estudios y Atención a las personas (CEAP, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Chile). His practice and research are informed by cultural psychology, with a focus on interpersonal conflict, problematic disruptive behaviour, change process, and clinical supervision.
Janel Gauthier, PhD, is professor emeritus of psychology at Laval University in Québec, chair of the Committee on Ethics of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), and a former president of the CPA and the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP). He was a close colleague of Dr. Jean Pettifor for over 25 years. He has over 200 scientific and professional publications. Dr. Gauthier was the instigator and leader of the development of the Universal Declaration of Ethical Principles for Psychologists. He has received numerous awards for his distinguished contributions to the international advancement of psychology and ethics, and to education and training in psychology.
Sybil Geldart, PhD, holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Waterloo, a master of arts from Western University, and a PhD from McMaster University. She is an associate professor of psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario and serves as vice-chair of the university’s Research Ethics Board. She is also a registered psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Both in her teaching and clinical practice, Dr. Geldart equips adults and young people with a toolbox of coping and life skills to help deal with the stressors we all face at work and school.
Shelley L. Goodwin, PhD, is a registered psychologist and has a rural solo practice in Nova Scotia. She is a practitioner-scholar who enjoys the opportunity to serve the profession, and has held governance positions in provincial, national, and international psychology organizations. Her varied interests are reflected in the chapters she has co-authored in this book. She is a retired police officer and aspiring equestrian. Writing is a passion and has included journalling peer-reviewed articles in journals, and freelance articles in national magazines. She enjoyed sharing her writing experience for this book with so many intellectually stimulating and thoughtful colleagues.
Paulette Hunter, PhD, works and lives on Treaty 6 Territory and the homeland of the Métis. She is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan, where her research considers topics such as disability, personhood, and social inclusion; the nature of relationships among people who give and receive care; how organizations and families negotiate their caring roles; and what contributes to optimal quality in health care. She has worked as a clinical psychologist in long-term care and rehabilitation contexts. She teaches about psychology, aging, and applied ethics. Dr. Hunter enjoys reflecting on opportunities to be more ethically responsive across settings and career stages.
Rebecca Lalonde, MEd, is a registered psychologist from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan currently living on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. In the time since this chapter was written, Ms. Lalonde has moved into fully licensed practice and has worked alongside people living in long-term care homes, children, and students. Having served as a psychologist in Saskatchewan, Québec, and British Columbia, Ms. Lalonde is grateful for the gifts of wisdom shared by clients and colleagues whose lived experience brings a deeper appreciation for ethics in practice across Canada.
Jessica Lambert, BN, is a registered nurse working in a rural-based intensive-care unit in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. She completed her bachelor of nursing degree at Memorial University in Newfoundland. Always interested in adult education, Ms. Lambert has been a teacher’s assistant at Dalhousie University School of Nursing (Yarmouth Site) and is pursuing her master of nursing degree.
Toupey Luft, PhD., is a registered psychologist and a counsellor educator at the University of Lethbridge. Her lived experience as a teenager attending family therapy led her on the path to becoming a psychologist. Dr. Luft was a student of Dr. Jean Pettifor during her graduate training. She also had the opportunity to travel to South Africa with Jean as part of a Canadian psychologists’ delegation. She is passionate about teaching others to become ethical practitioners and has been nominated for the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta (PAA) Teaching Award (2017 and 2018) and the PAA Clinical Supervision Award (2019 and 2021).
Lisa MacNaughton-Doucet, MN, is a registered nurse and an adjunct assistant professor at Dalhousie University School of Nursing in Nova Scotia. She teaches primarily population and community health in undergraduate nursing education. Interprofessional collaboration has been a foundation in her professional role as a nurse educator. Ms. MacNaughton-Doucet’s scholarly interests include community health nursing and publications related to persons diagnosed with dementia and those with developmental disabilities.
Judi L. Malone, PhD, is a registered psychologist in Alberta, Australia, and Ireland. She is the CEO of the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta, where she has gained extensive experience collaborating to strengthen the role and profile of psychology and access to psychological services for Albertans. Dr. Malone also has a wealth of scientist-practitioner experience from clinical practice, academic roles, and research. She has expertise in working with disadvantaged populations, and her clinical interests are trauma, the neurobiology of addictions, and professional ethics in rural and small communities. Dr. Malone is an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta and at Charles Sturt University.
Linda M. McMullen, PhD, is professor emerita of psychology at the University of Saskatchewan. She is the author of Essentials of discursive psychology; co-author (with Frederick Wertz, Kathy Charmaz, Ruthellen Josselson, Rosemarie Anderson, and Emalinda McSpadden) of Five ways of doing qualitative analysis: Phenomenological psychology, grounded theory, discourse analysis, narrative research, and intuitive inquiry; and co-editor (with Janet Stoppard) of Situating sadness: Women and depression in social context. Dr. McMullen’s recent journal publications include discursive analyses of service providers’ and service users’ accounts of depression and the use of antidepressants.
Annik Mossière, PhD, is an adjunct assistant professor at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. She is also a registered psychologist in Calgary, specializing in clinical and forensic psychology, with specific research and clinical interests in the areas of trauma, justice-involved persons, first responders, and ethical decision making. Dr. Mossière has worked clinically in various third-party contexts over the years, including the Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board, Saskatchewan Government Insurance, provincial and federal courts, and Veterans Affairs Canada.
Heather C. Power, MSc, was born and raised in Nova Scotia where she has practiced as a clinical and forensic psychologist in both private and public healthcare settings. Her passion for the field of psychology has led her to sit on numerous boards and committees related to mental health advocacy and governance of the profession. She particularly enjoys consulting with colleagues on ethical matters and takes every opportunity available to expand her knowledge and skills in mental health service provision. She can often be found reading a book, with a dog in her lap and a cup of coffee in hand.
Mahdi Qasqas, PhD, is a father of four and a psychologist with a PhD in social work. He embarked on his “helper” trajectory over 20 years ago, an experience that has shaped the architecture and design of Psycho-Spiritual First Aid®—a mental health consultation framework to guide the development of culturally adapted and localized evidence-based practices. His current research, training, and passion revolve around “helping the helpers,” particularly in supervising future mental health professionals and developing Islamic Counselling Psychology.
Marc Ross, PhD, is a registered psychologist in Alberta who specializes in the areas of evolutionary psychology and integral studies. He has worked extensively with biofeedback and hypnosis in his practice, and also has had invaluable experience in research, teaching, and writing. Having worked with many adolescents, couples, and families over the years, he is affectionately referred to as “Dr. Wheelz” by some teens. Given his personal experience with quadriplegia, he also helps people adapt to chronic pain, disability, and physical injury.
Randi L. Sager, MA, is First Nations (Dakota/Saulteaux/Nêhiyaw/Métis) and German and Scottish from Okotoks, Alberta. She belongs to the Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation Reserve in Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan. She is an Indigenous registered psychologist who works from an Indigenous perspective. She provides Indigenous counselling and creates a safe place for clients to heal in a way that they want to heal. She works from a holistic approach that integrates Indigenous ways of being and knowing and psychology. She received her master’s in counselling psychology from City University of Seattle and her traditional education from Elders, Knowledge Holders, and Community Members.
Inés Sametband, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Mount Royal University in Alberta. She is a registered marriage and family therapist (AAMFT) and former clinical supervisor at the Centro de Educación y Atención a las Personas (CEAP, Chile). Dr. Sametband’s scholarly and professional work is informed by discursive and collaborative approaches, and she is interested in how people make relevant preferred cultural discourses in their therapy conversations, and how therapists manage these conversations in ways that recognize and include all cultural background(s).
Meadow Schroeder, PhD, received her doctorate in school psychology from the University of Calgary. She is a registered school psychologist and associate professor with the University of Calgary’s School and Applied Child Psychology program. She is the former academic coordinator for a First Nations-only cohort of a masters of education in School and Applied Child Psychology program. Her research interests include the well-being of students with disabilities transitioning to post-secondary school.
Dalal Shaheen, MSc, is a registered psychologist in Alberta whose work over the years extends to multidisciplinary settings in different regions of the world, including Canada, USA, Egypt, and UK. She has worked with various client groups presenting with a wide variety and severity of mental health concerns and diagnoses. She has extensive experience in refugee mental health and in training provision. She also specializes in dialectical behaviour therapy, and in group development and implementation. Ms. Shaheen’s experiences have given her an international and a multicultural perspective, which she uses in her clinical and professional work.
Carole Sinclair, PhD, is a retired clinical child psychologist and works as an independent scholar in the Toronto, Ontario, area. She is a member and past chair of the Committee on Ethics of the Canadian Psychological Association and led the development of the original Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists and its three subsequent revisions. She was an associate of Dr. Jean Pettifor for over 40 years and has presented and published extensively on ethics (often with Dr. Pettifor). Dr. Sinclair’s particular focus is on ethical reasoning and decision making, the history of ethical principles across cultures and time, and supervision ethics.
Nan Stevens, EdD, experienced the loss of three family members to cancer over a period of five years. This brought her to art therapy to help resolve her grief. The art therapy experience was so profound that she completed a graduate diploma in art therapy and opened her own practice. In addition, Dr. Stevens’ life work focuses on advancing innovative practices for preparing teachers to be effective inclusive educators. She is the mother of a child with high needs, a teacher, a post-secondary educator, a scholar, a community advocate, and a writer. This unique combination has established Dr. Stevens as a social change agent on local, provincial, national, and international stages.
Donald W. Stewart, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, professor, and academic administrator at the University of Manitoba. In his current role as executive director, student support, he oversees seven units providing a range of health and wellness services to students. In addition to his administrative position, he is involved actively in research on mental health help-seeking, clinical supervision, and related topics. Dr. Stewart currently serves as the chair of the Continuing Education Committee for the Psychological Association of Manitoba, vice-chair of the Canadian Psychological Association Committee on Ethics, and as a member of the Ethical Resource Service for the Manitoba Psychological Society.
Fern Stockdale, PhD, is a registered doctoral psychologist living in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Dr. Stockdale is thankful to be working and creating on Treaty 6 territory and the traditional homeland of the Métis peoples. Since the introduction to the authors in the chapter on ethical issues in long-term care was written, she has moved to working part-time at the Operational Stress Injury Clinic and part-time as the training director for the Saskatoon and Area Psychology Residency and Fellowship programs. Existential issues, values, and ethics have been important questions to Dr. Stockdale, and she is delighted to have contributed to this book.
Kim Thomas, MC, is a registered psychologist in Alberta, where she works in her private practice, Stable Grounding Psychology. She specializes in the treatment of trauma-spectrum presentations, particularly complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and dissociative disorders. Ms. Thomas utilizes primarily sensorimotor psychotherapy, eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, and internal family systems therapy. Ms. Thomas also integrates equine-facilitated approaches for those curious about how horses and nature hold capacity for deep and meaningful healing. Last, but certainly not least, her greatest inspiration is her clients to whom she is grateful for inviting her to join their courageous journeys.
Nicole Vath, MC, is a registered clinical counsellor in British Columbia, practicing in both private and not-for-profit settings. She obtained her master of counselling degree in 2022 from Athabasca University in Alberta. Her master’s thesis evaluated New Ways for Families®, an intervention for high-conflict divorcing parents. Ms. Vath has presented on high-conflict divorce at the annual Association of Family and Conciliation Courts conference. She plans on continuing to grow her practice, her research, and publications on families in conflict while raising her family with her partner in the Okanagan Valley.
Karen White, MA,is a retired firefighter who has dedicated her undergraduate and graduate studies (Royal Roads University—master of arts in leadership and training with a specialization in justice and public safety leadership) to studying the issues facing women in the British Columbia Fire Service. Ms. White provides crisis intervention and victim services with local police and the RCMP to victims of crime and individuals impacted by trauma. Ms. White also loves travelling, beekeeping, boating on the Shuswap Lake, and spending time with her partner and dogs walking the trails in the beautiful mountains of British Columbia.
Barry Wiser, PsyD, originally from New England, has spent his adult life enjoying rural Nova Scotia. His psychology-related pursuits began as a summer volunteer with individuals with developmental disabilities. He received his psychology undergraduate degree from a small liberal arts college, Muhlenberg College, and then his doctorate from the University of Denver. Dr. Wiser has spent his career as a clinical psychologist in the community and with public mental health services in southwest Nova Scotia. He now particularly enjoys consultation opportunities with newer professionals focusing on such areas as the ethical challenges of delivering rural mental health services.
Michael Lee Zwiers, PhD, holds a master’s degree in educational psychology and a Ph.D. in counselling psychology, with post-doctoral training in clinical psychology. He is an adjunct assistant professor in educational psychology at the University of Calgary and operates Lighthouse Psychology Services in Calgary. Dr. Zwiers specializes in the assessment and treatment of mental health disorders and learning disabilities across the lifespan, with a special interest in clinical diagnosis. He has been working with indigenous clients since 1986, but still considers himself a novice in cultural understanding. Learning about Indigenous ethics and ways of knowing has encouraged him to learn more about himself.