Education/Experience
Matthew is currently a PhD Candidate in counselling psychology at McGill University under the supervision of Dr. Bassam El-Khoury, Director of McGill Mindfulness Research Lab. Matthew holds a BA in psychology from Dalhousie University, an honours certificate in psychology from Saint Mary’s University, and a MA in forensic psychology from Roger Williams University.
Matthew’s dissertation is looking at the effects of mindfulness and self-compassion on mental health outcomes in Canadian police officers. His primary research interests are three-fold: (1) the intersection of mindfulness-based techniques and trauma-affected populations (e.g., forensic, first responder, and veteran populations), (2) first responder mental health, resilience, and training, and (3) false confessions/confession veracity assessments. Specifically, I hope to use research to educate officials and trauma-affected populations on best practices for using mindfulness to navigate difficult situations (e.g., prison, an officer-involved violent encounter, re-entry into civilian life). Previously, Matthew conducted research examining how the police interact with the mentally ill in diffusing situations, and police stress, and continues to be fascinated by these areas of inquiry. He is also interested in the use of virtual/augmented reality and technology in the treatment of trauma-related disorders and other mental health conditions.
Matthew’s clinical interests rest in two realms: (1) trauma-affected populations (e.g., first responders, veterans) and (2) forensic populations, specifically those on the autism spectrum. He is interested in the clinical benefits of mindfulness-based interventions/therapies in ameliorating symptoms of mental illness and bolstering psychological resilience and post-traumatic growth. In addition, he is interested in not criminally responsible (NCR), competency to stand trial, and risk of reoffending evaluations.