Education & Experience
Alisia is a second year Master’s of Science candidate in the Forensic Psychology program at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) in Oshawa, Ontario under the supervision of Dr. Leigh Harkins. Alisia’s current research interests are focused on campus sexual violence and the treatment of sexual offenders. Alisia received her Honours Bachelor of Science in the Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour program from McMaster University in 2017. Following her Master’s degree, Alisia plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and work with a forensic population.
Alisia has experience working with forensic and non-forensic clients. Currently, Alisia is a Peer Mentor at UOIT where she assists university students in areas related to social and academic issues, as well as mental health and emotional wellness. In the past, Alisia has assisted in the forensic assessment of clients at The Manasa Clinic. She has also led decision-making workshops for offenders housed at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre.
Research Experience
Alisia has provided presentations and workshops at national and international conferences, including the International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. She has one manuscript under review and one manuscript in preparation for peer-reviewed scientific journals. Alisia is an editor for MindPad, a student-led journal of the Canadian Psychological Association.
Theoretical Approach
As Alisia is in the midst of her educational journey, she is still learning and synthesizing her preferred approaches to psychotherapy. Although she is not formally trained in any specific approach, her education has allowed her to learn an overview of various evidence-based approaches. Based on her current knowledge, education, and work experiences, Alisia is most comfortable with the following:
- Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Mindfulness
Languages
Alisia is proficient in English and French.
Membership
Communications Officer (Student Section) of the Canadian Psychological Association
Student – American Psychology-Law Society
Student – Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers