Our Team

Dr. Climie is a faculty member in the School and Applied Child Psychology program and the Director of the Strengths in ADHD lab.  She is also the Lead Researcher for the Carlson Family ADHD award. Dr. Climie is interested in factors that impact children's social and emotional well-being, working within a strengths-based perspective.  Her research interests include resilience, school-based intervention, knowledge and stigma, emotional intelligence, bilingualism, and children's mental health.

Kirsten is a third year PhD student in School and Applied Child Psychology within the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary. Kirsten graduated from McGill in 2017, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Neuroscience and Linguistics. Prior to graduate studies, Kirsten interned at the NYU Child Development centre supporting children and their families with ADHD and behavioural disorders. Kirsten is passionate about research and clinical practice with children and youth and has a special interest in working with families with behavioural disorders. She is apart of the Strengths in ADHD Lab and her research involves the investigation of social skills intervention for children and adolescents with ADHD. In her spare time, Kirsten enjoys hiking in the mountains, doing hot yoga, or cozying up on the couch with coffee and a good book!

Emma is a first year PhD student in the School and Applied Child Psychology Program at the University of Calgary. She graduated from the University of Calgary in 2022 with a Masters of Science in School and Applied Child Psychology, and in 2020 with an Undergraduate degree majoring in Psychology with Honours and minoring in Management and Society. Emma is passionate about research and feels that a strengths-based approach is an essential perspective in research. Before graduate school, Emma spent time volunteering with Equine Therapy. In the Strengths in ADHD lab, Emma is currently conducting research on Strengths and Resilience in children and youth with ADHD. Whenever possible, Emma enjoys getting outside to go hiking, skiing, running, or spending time learning to knit.

Courtney is a first year PhD student in the School and Applied Child Psychology Program at the University of Calgary. She graduated from the University of Calgary in 2022 with a Masters of Science in School and Applied Child Psychology. Her research interests include parent-child relationships and reported strengths, strengths-based research, trauma, and ADHD. She hopes to continue her studies through the PhD program and further.

Kristina completed a BSc in Psychology and a BHSc in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Calgary in 2020. Following her undergraduate degree, Kristina joined the Strengths in ADHD research lab and completed an MSc in School and Applied Child Psychology and pursued her research interests in the experiences of self-stigma in children and adolescents with ADHD. She is currently a first year PhD student in the School and Applied Child Psychology Program.

Theresa is a second year Master's Student in the School and Applied Child Psychology program at the University of Calgary. Her research interests include self-stereotyping in children with ADHD, and beliefs about intelligence in children with and without ADHD.

Katy is a second year MSc student in the school and applied child psychology program. Her research interests include the interaction of environmental and genetic influences in ADHD. Specifically, she is interested in ADHD symptoms as they relate to perinatal maternal distress via epigenetic age acceleration DNA methylation patterns.

Daniel is a second year MSc student in the School and Applied Child Psychology program at the University of Calgary. His research interests include physical health, mental health, and mental illness outcomes and patterns of change in childhood and adolescence. This includes protective and risk factors in individuals that belong to a vulnerable population. Daniel also works as a Taekwondo instructor on weekday evenings and enjoys making music as a hobby.

Catherine is in the final year of her Psychology undergraduate degree at the University of Calgary. For research, she is interested in the intersection between physical and psychological health, and is currently exploring how COVID-19 has affected the physical activity levels and mental health of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Jessame graduated from the University of Calgary in 2022 with a BSc. Degree in Psychology and an embedded certificate in Mental Wellbeing and Resilience. She hopes to pursue graduate school for School and Applied Child Psychology, focusing on enhancing emotional regulation in individuals with ADHD. She has always been fascinated by Developmental Psychology, so she is grateful to have completed a PSYC 504 under the supervision of Dr. Emma Climie, investigating the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on emotional dysregulation among individuals with ADHD. In her free time, she volunteers with Kids Help Phone, checks out new food restaurants in Calgary, and loves spending time with friends and family.

Pariza completed her undergraduate education in Psychology from the University of Calgary in 2021. She is currently working as a psychometrist specializing in psychoeducational and ADHD assessments for both children and adults. Pariza is a mixed-methods researcher who is passionate about investigating the strengths and weaknesses of children with ADHD, particularly examining the qualities that enhance resilience through the lifespan. Pariza has joined the Strengths in ADHD lab as the Research Coordinator for the Strengths & Stigma study. In her spare time Pariza enjoys knitting, baking, gardening, and sculpting

Tessa was in the Strengths in ADHD lab from 2017-2019 while completing her M.Sc. in School and Applied Child Psychology at the University of Calgary. Her Master’s thesis focused on examining the impact of sleep on specific social cognitive skills in children with and without ADHD. Before living in Calgary, she had completed her undergraduate degree at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick. In 2019, Tessa returned to her hometown of Ottawa to pursue her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa. Currently, her dissertation research focuses on the impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health (specifically in children with ADHD and other pre-existing mental health diagnoses). Her clinical interests focus on providing evidence-based psychological assessment and treatment services to children, adolescents, and families individually and in groups. While outside of school, she likes to play soccer and watch lots of sports (preferably live)!

Liza Hartling graduated with a Master of Science degree in School and Applied Child Psychology in November 2021 from the University of Calgary. Her Master's thesis explored the relationship between anxiety, bullying, and parental stress among children with ADHD. Currently, she is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. She works at a local school board in Strathmore and a private practice in Airdrie. When not working, she enjoys reading and hiking in the mountains.

Darby graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in August 2021. She completed an independent studies project in the winter and spring 2021 semesters focusing on the effects of adult ADHD diagnosis in women. She is currently employed as an Early Intervention Therapist at the Society for Treatment of Autism. In the future she hopes to pursue graduate studies in Counselling Psychology. When she is not working she enjoys spending time in nature and film photography.

Jessica graduated from the University of Calgary in 2021, majoring in Psychology. Her research interests include the interaction between ADHD and insecure attachment styles in middle-aged children. She was the research coordinator for the Strengths in ADHD lab for duration of 2021. She helped conduct research on the Strengths and Stigma in ADHD project. In her spare time Jessica enjoys doing yoga, pottery, and cooking.