top of page
Meet Our Team
Our team is comprised of driven and passionate individuals, spanning from undergraduate students discovering the world of research to doctoral candidates completing their dissertation. Read below to learn about each lab member's work.
Dr. Mary Desrocher, Ph.D., C. Psych.
Dr. Desrocher received her Ph.D. in 1998 from the University of Toronto and has been at York University since 1999. She is currently an Associate Professor at York University and an Adjunct Scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children. She specializes in pediatric neuropsychology. Populations that she has researched include children and adolescents with: pediatric stroke, epilepsy, metabolic disorders (e.g., congenital hypothyroidism), alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorders, and Type 1 Diabetes Melitus. Her research has explored the neurocognitive profiles of these conditions and the mental health issues that are concurrent with these diagnoses. When she is not being an academic, Mary enjoys baking and cooking, gardening, writing, needlework and knitting, photography, long walks, and traveling.
Sabine Johnson
Sabine is a senior doctoral student who recently completed her Clinical Psychology Residency at The Ottawa Hospital. She holds an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and an M.Sc. in Kinesiology and Health Science (specialized in Epidemiology). Her research pursuits reflect the intersection between her interests in program evaluation, health, and psychological adjustment; spanning topics including injury prevention (identifying gaps in parental water safety knowledge and parental supervision practices) and health promotion (evaluating the psychological needs of individuals living with atrial fibrillation). She is completing her dissertation, which employs structural equation modelling to test a modified model of stress and coping in a Canadian sample of informal caregivers of individuals living with chronic illness.
Sara Oczak-Arsic
Sara is completing her Ph.D. in Clinical-Developmental Psychology, with an additional specialized diploma in Neuropsychology. Sara’s doctoral dissertation is investigating suicide risk factors in adults with Epilepsy, specifically examining the fit of the Three-Step Theory of Suicide in Epilepsy as compared to individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury. Sara is clinically trained in both comprehensive assessment and evidence-based intervention. She has completed practica at the Toronto District School Board, Kindercare Pediatrics, and McMaster Children’s Hospital. At her pre-doctoral residency at the Family Psychology Centre, she works with children, teens, parents and families with a variety of mental health concerns. In her spare time, Sara enjoys playing with her two small children, doing Pilates.
Raman K. Sehra Bhalla
Raman recently completed her PhD in the program, specializing in neuropsychology. Her dissertation research examined autobiographical memory in youth with stroke. Raman is completing her predoctoral residency at Surrey place. Raman has extensive experience working with children, adolescents and families. She has worked in a variety of different clinical settings including SickKids Hospital, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, York University Psychology Clinic, and private practice settings. She has received specialized training in neuropsychological assessment and psychoeducational assessments of children and youth. Raman has experience in the assessment of individuals with a wide range of diagnoses including learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities. attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder alongside medical and neurological conditions such as pediatric epilepsy and stroke. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and trying new foods.
Erin Ruttle
Erin Ruttle is a Senior Doctoral Student completing her Ph.D. in Clinical-Developmental Psychology. Her doctoral research examines the benefits of a mental health treatment for fire-involved children and youth through a randomized controlled trial conducted within The Arson Prevention Program for Children (TAPP-C) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Erin has several publications in the area of youth firesetting. Erin has completed clinical practica, as well as a clinical internship, at CAMH where she provided both assessment and treatment services for children, youth and their families across a variety of programs and services. These programs and services included the TAPP-C program, Adolescent Service, Gender Identity Clinic, Mood and Anxiety Clinic, and the Youth Addictions and Concurrent Disorders Service. In her free time Erin enjoys travel and being active with her family and two young children.
Marie Hooper
Marie is a senior doctoral student in the Clinical-Developmental Psychology program. Funded by Mental Health Research Canada and the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health, Marie’s doctoral research is adapting and delivering the first mental health virtual intervention for siblings of children with special needs. She is currently a Clinical Research Project Manager at the Hospital for Sick Children and a Psychoeducational Consultant for the York Region District School Board. Marie has completed practica at the Hospital for Sick Children, the Toronto District School Board, and Etobicoke Psychological Services. Broadly, Marie has a personal interest in psychological health and wellbeing
Leila Kahnami
Leila is a PhD student in Clinical Developmental Psychology specializing in Neuropsychology. Leila’s research focuses on the role of inflammation in neuropsychological outcome in pediatric survivors of ischemic stroke. Leila’s research is conducted at the Hospital for Sick Children. She has completed her assessment practicum at the Hospital of Sick Children and is currently completing her intervention practicum at the RedOak Center. When she’s not in the lab, she loves to go camping, to travel, and to try new foods.
Samantha Feldman
Samantha is a PhD student in Clinical Developmental Psychology within the Neuropsychology stream at York University. Her research is conducted at the Hospital for Sick Children and is focused around evaluating potential neuroimaging biomarkers to assist in understanding cognitive outcomes following pediatric stroke. This research will hopefully aid in identifying subgroups of children who may benefit from cognitive remediation. Outside of the academic sphere, Samantha enjoys spending time running, watching films, and finding great coffee shops.
Tamara Tavares
Tamara is completing her PhD in Clinical-Developmental Psychology with specialization in neuropsychology. Broadly, her research focuses on investigating social cognitive processing in healthy and clinical populations including Frontotemporal Dementia, youth with behavioural disorders and pediatric epilepsy. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Western University (London, ON), where she investigated the early behavioural and neural risk factors associated with Frontotemporal Dementia. Currently, her research is delineating emotion recognition and empathic responding in adolescents with epilepsy.
Kaitlyn Butterfield
Kaitlyn is pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Developmental Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology. Her doctoral dissertation examines recovery trajectories and predictors of neurocognitive outcomes in pediatric stroke patients at The Hospital for Sick Children. She has received several awards for her clinical research from institutions including March of Dimes and SSHRC. Kaitlyn has previously earned two Masters degrees in Clinical Developmental Neuropsychology and in Child Psychology. Her formal training and experience conducting clinical neuropsychological assessments and providing psychotherapeutic treatment services takes place in private practice, University clinics, and hospital rotations in pediatric stroke, neurosurgery, and transplant and regenerative medicine. She is deeply committed to conducting research and providing clinical care in an equitable and accessible manner. In her spare time, Kaitlyn enjoys gardening and weightlifting.
Jenna Barnhardt
Jenna is an Indigenous Ph.D. student from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in the Clinical Developmental Neuropsychology program. She received her Bachelors degree (B.Sc. Hon.) from Toronto Metropolitan University in Biomedical Science with a minor in Psychology and a certificate in Mental Health & Addictions from TMU's Chang School of Continuing Education. She is focused on neuroscience and Indigenous mental health working to provide relevant and culturally significant intervention/assessment services to Canada’s Indigenous people using her experience with traditional Indigenous knowledge and knowledge mobilization to community. Her research aims to learn more about the Indigenous brain and focusses on measures that explore development of executive functioning (impulsivity and emotion regulation), paediatric oncology (namely brain cancer), and intergenerational trauma of Indigenous children and families.
.jpeg)
Danielle DuPlessis
Danielle is pursuing her PhD in Clinical Developmental Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology. Her work focuses on helping children with acquired brain injuries return-to-learn and return-to-sport, and is carried out in collaboration with scientists at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Currently, her dissertation is focused on understanding the experiences of disabled athletes who have sustained concussion and developing an equitable, accessible return-to-sport assessment. Outside of school, Danielle is a wheelchair basketball player and Paralympian who competed with team Canada for five years. She has a previous Masters in Cognitive Rehabilitation from the University of Toronto, where she first began to merge her interests in sport and neuroscience. In her spare time, Danielle loves riding her bike, making pottery, and making trips to her home province of New Brunswick.
Doctoral Students
Masters Students
Tamiko Isaacs
Tamiko is pursuing her MA in Clinical Developmental Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology at York University. Her research interests involve examining the neuropsychological and mental health outcomes of pediatric stroke survivors. Tamiko is also working on a project looking at the effects of viral infections and the long-term impacts on the brain. Outside of the lab, Tamiko enjoys spending time with family and friends, eating good food, dancing, and travelling.
Honours Thesis and Independent Research Project Students
Allya DaCosta
Allya is a Specialized Honours Psychology student at York. She hopes to meaningfully contribute to the field of clinical developmental neuropsychology, through applying and generating knowledge related to children, adolescents, and families who have experienced, or are currently experiencing, the neurodevelopmental and/or psychological effects of living with brain-based disorders, such as pediatric stroke, epilepsy, pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis, etc., and/or of being exposed to toxic chemicals. In the lab, Allya is currently working on projects related to pediatric stroke and exploring the developmental outcomes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (developmentalhub.com). During her spare time, Allya loves knitting, exploring nature, and spending time with loved ones (i.e., humans and dogs alike)!
Taylor Alves
Taylor is a recent graduate of the Specialized Honours Psychology program at York University. Her research interests include children, adolescence, cognition, neurodevelopmental disorders, abnormal psychology, mental health, and psychological outcomes. She hopes to help children and adolescents who are struggling and give them a voice through her work and research. Taylor wants to become a child psychologist and obtain her Ph.D. in clinical developmental psychology. She completed her thesis last year examining neurodiversity and the impacts of COVID-19. The project consisted of qualitative interviews with people who are neurodiverse and examined how COVID-19 has impacted various parts of their lives. In her free time outside of the lab, Taylor loves to volunteer at crisis helplines, children's hospitals, and schools. She also enjoys spending time with her cat Stella!"
Andreea Manea
Andreea graduated from York University in 2022 with a Specialized Honours BSc in Psychology. Her thesis focused on studying clinician confidence when treating children and adolescents presenting with autism and co-occurring psychiatric conditions. She has also completed an independent research project that investigated the relationship between the drive for muscularity and masculinity in young men. The results were published in a paper titled "Precarious Manhood Manifests as Drive for Muscularity Among Men." Andreea currently works at St. Michael's Hospital in the Knowledge Translation Program where research knowledge is put into practice at a clinical and policy level. She is interested in pursuing studies in Clinical Neuropsychology with a focus on development.
Jessie Ly
Jessie is a third year undergraduate student enrolled in the Honours Biology program. She is currently working on a project looking at fetal epigenetic changes associated with prenatal cannabis exposure and effects on postnatal brain structure. Outside the Desrocher lab, she is doing a research practicum in the Biology department. Jessie is interested in the biological basis of behaviour, personality psychology, and clinical psychology. She hopes to continue working in research by pursuing an MSc in biology and physiology.
Heesoo Choi
Heesoo Choi is a third-year student in the BA Psychology program with a keen interest in developmental disorders and mental health disparities for adolescents. She is conducting an IRP on FASD across different cultural contexts. She is interested in exploring how referrals for diagnosis have evolved and the nuances in the climate of care and services available to individuals with this diagnosis, aiming to emphasize and build upon their strengths. Heesoo is intrigued by understanding how symptoms of depression manifest differently among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Through her work, she aims to improve diagnostic accuracy and develop effective interventions for these individuals, contributing meaningfully to psychology. Outside academia, Heesoo enjoys taking long walks, practicing yoga, and crocheting.
Undergraduate Volunteers
Casey Aurin
Casey graduated from the specialized honors psychology program in June 2024. His thesis, titled "Autobiographical Memory Narratives in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder," was supervised by Dr. Mary Desrocher and Dr. Jeni Pathman, in collaboration with Dr. Jonathan Weiss. The thesis was aimed to characterize autobiographical memory narratives of children with ASD as they reminisce about past emotional memories and investigate how this ability relates to their predisposition to psychopathology. Casey is interested in studying the psychometric properties of neuropsychological assessments for children with autism. His work aims to increase clinical awareness demonstrating that autism is on a spectrum and that each child is unique. In addition to his academic endeavors, Casey enjoys technical French baking, collecting rare houseplants, and crocheting.
Alisa Torchia
Having recently graduated from York University, Alisa is currently preparing to apply to graduate school in the fall! Her primary interests broadly include youth mental health and interventions for youth, with the goal of making services more accessible for more youth and their families. Outside of the lab, Alisa enjoys crocheting, reading, and spending time with her friends and family!
Meagan Girard
Meagan is an undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. She is a research assistant working with fellow lab members in their various research areas. Recently she has been assisting in individual research projects regarding epilepsy. She is interested in pursuing an M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in Developmental Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Mehr Singh
​Mehr is a third year specialised honours student at York, and plans to become a clinical psychologist and specialise in psychotherapy. She wants to make mental health accessible to all individuals by eradicating the high end costs. She has been assisting lab members with their individual research projects based on PTSD. She has previously volunteered in various NGO’s related to ASD and been a part of their rehabilitation therapies. Ever since, she has been highly intrigued by the idea of psychopathology. She further aims to focus on various neurocognitive aspects of mentally impaired individuals. She wants to pursue an M.A. followed by a Psy.D in clinical and counselling psychology.
Julian Carusone
Julian is in his third year of the Specialized Honours B.A. degree in Psychology at York University. Julian aspires to become a clinical psychologist and wants to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology, conducting research on substance use and addiction. Julian also hopes to practice psychotherapy, in his own future clinical practice. As an Undergraduate Research Assistant, Julian is working on many projects in the lab, including a project that investigates the effects of COVID-19 on children's development. He is also working on an Individual Research Project, with Dr. Mary Desrocher, on elucidating certain neural pathways, related to executive functioning, from childhood trauma to substance use in adolescents and young adults.
Derya Somnez
Derya is currently a York University student and is the Research Coordinator for The Academic Wellness Project. Derya takes special value in organizing reach into different concepts and refining the accumulated knowledge for the organization.
Silina Ziad Boshmaf
Silina graduated from her Specialized Honours program in Psychology in July 2024. She aspires to pursue graduate studies in clinical neuropsychology, with a particular interest in neurointerventions for children. Silina has been a member of the Desroscher lab for 2 years now, and is currently working on a few publications with the lab.
Deyontia McClacken
Deyontia is a 4th-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. She aspires to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology to become a school psychologist. Her primary interest is to work with students who are neurodivergent and with learning disabilities. In her free time, she volunteers as a mentor to autistic individuals. She also enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family and friends and listening to music.
Arianna Leguia
Arianna is a fifth year specialised honours student at York, majoring in Psychology. She is working towards becoming a clinical psychologist in hopes of one day working in a hospital or in private practice. Arianna’s research interests include OCD in adolescents and adults and refining clinical care practices to improve therapy and diagnostic tests. She is currently working on research for improving ways to conduct neuropsychological assessments. Outside of the lab, Arianna conducts research at the hospital and tutors kids with learning disabilities and mental health issues. She also enjoys baking and reading.
Diana Pombo
Diana is in her fifth and final year of the specialized honours psychology program at York University. Her research interests lie in the emotion regulation sector with children, youth and their families, especially in regards to the risk of anxiety and depression. She is working towards becoming a child clinical psychologist, hoping to help children and their families to optimize their development and make for a better life.
bottom of page