Lab Team

Laura Copeland is a Ph.D. Candidate in Counselling Psychology at McGill University. She has completed two B.A.s in Anthropology and Psychology at Concordia University. She has also earned an M.Sc. in Communication Sciences and Disorders at McGill University, as well as an M.A. in Counselling Psychology (under the supervision of Dr. Nathan Smith), also at McGill. Her M.A. research project examined how APA-accredited clinical and counselling psychology programs train students to work with LGBTQ clients. Her doctoral research, funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council, explores how identities and familial relationships are influenced by a change, or shifting, in the gender of one family member. In addition to her research, Laura has completed doctoral level practicums at the McGill Counselling Service, and at the McGill University Sexual Identity Centre at the Montreal General Hospital. She also recently finished her pre-doctoral internship at the Argyle Institute and at the Sex and Couple Therapy Service. 

Shaofan Bu is a Ph.D. Candidate in Counselling Psychology at McGill University.  He completed his B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Educational Counselling at the University of Ottawa. His Master’s thesis explored the practice of acceptance of clients by counsellors experienced in mindfulness, and also examined the intrapersonal and interpersonal process of acceptance. Shaofan’s research interests include social justice theories, addictions, immigration, and mindfulness. Currently, Shaofan is completing his doctoral practicum at the Emotional Health CBT Clinic.

Asra Milani is a Ph.D. student in the Counselling Psychology Program at McGill University. She completed her B.A. Honours in Psychology in Iran and her M.A. in Counselling Psychology at the University of Western Ontario. Thus far, Asra has been involved in several violence prevention and intervention research projects promoting evidence-based education. Her Master’s thesis examined intimate partner violence in the culturally diverse populations with a particular focus on Muslim women. Asra’s research interests include understanding and conceptualizing interpersonal violence from social justice and multicultural frameworks. She is specifically interested in examining current anti-violence service delivery and reimagining practice models that enhance survivors’ experiences of service utilization. Asra is completing her doctoral practicum at the Calgary Family Therapy Centre.

Justin Buchanan is a Ph.D. student in Counselling Psychology at McGill University. He completed his B.A. in Psychology at the University of Connecticut and his M.A. in Psychology with an emphasis in Counselling at Webster University in Leiden, The Netherlands. His Master’s thesis explored the topic of the acceptance of false beliefs about the male victims of sexual violence, from a cross-cultural perspective. Since completing his M.A., Justin has been involved with organizations, such as the Positive Psychology Program and Art With Impact. His current research interests involve sexual violence prevention programs and men’s issues. 

Jann Tomaro is a Ph.D. student in Counselling Psychology at McGill University. She completed a B.A. in Psychology at Concordia University, as well as an M.A. in Counselling Psychology at McGill University. Her interests lay in the factors that influence mental health, with emphasis on intersecting sociopolitical determinants that hinder wellbeing and access to care. In her work, Jann strives to improve mental health care for underserved communities. She had interned at The Argyle, Psychologia, Medego and the Sex and Couples Therapy Service. Jann is a member of the Pride Therapy Network of Montreal and a fellow at the Quebec-English Canadian Psychoanalytic Society. She is also a co-creator of goodhead.ca, a mental health resource for guys into guys. In her spare time, Jann facilitates a monthly meditation using the psychoacoustic properties of sound to guide meditations.