Lab Director
Erica Woodin, PhD
Dr. Woodin is the Director of the Healthy Relationships Lab, an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and the Director of Clinical Training (DCT) at the University of Victoria. Dr. Woodin obtained a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York, and completed a Pre-Doctoral Clinical Internship at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York. She joined the Department of Psychology at the University of Victoria in 2007.
See Dr. Woodin’s CV here
Due to the high volume of emails that Dr. Woodin receives, please direct inquires to the lab coordinator at: ewoodinlab@gmail.com
Lorna Breen, MSc
Lorna is a PhD candidate in the Clinical Psychology program (lifespan stream). Her research interests include trauma and resilience in the context of interpersonal relationships, intimate partner and domestic violence prevention, and the adaptive function of shared play and leisure in fostering healthy relationships. Her program of research explores the psychosocial benefits associated with tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs) and their potential uses in therapeutic settings. Her doctoral dissertation investigates how TRPGs are utilized by members of the LGBTQ2S+ community as tools for identity exploration, meaning-making, relationship-building, community connection and organizing, and political resistance.
Contact: lbreen@uvic.ca
Pat Nicoll, MSc
Pat is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program (lifespan stream). His research interests broadly relate to resilience and transformational coping in the context of extreme and unusual environments (EUEs). For his master’s thesis, Pat ran a mixed-methods study on a group of Antarctic expeditioners, examining the phenomenon of post-expedition psychological growth in the aftermath of experiences in isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments. Lately, Pat has been interested in exploring the role of healthy relationships in small group/team functioning on missions to ICE environments, such as Antarctica and outer space.
Contact: patricknicoll@uvic.ca
Sean Morgan, MSc
Sean is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student in the Lifespan Stream. He is interested in studying the association between minority stress and various forms of intimate partner violence in sexual and gender minority romantic relationships.
Contact: seanmorgan@uvic.ca
Quinn Storey, BA
Quinn is a Clinical Psychology master’s student in the Lifespan Stream. His research interests include men’s mental health, the transition to fatherhood, and underlying mechanisms in intimate partner violence. He hopes to explore the ways in which men experience parenthood and the influence this carries on health behaviours, emotional wellbeing, relationship quality, and situational violence.
Contact: qstorey@uvic.ca
Sierrah A. Hamilton, BA (Hons)
Sierrah is a master’s student in the Clinical Psychology program (lifespan stream). She is broadly interested in couple relationship dynamics during transitional periods including the transition to parenthood. She is also interested more specifically in buffering and protective factors that promote resilience and positive relational outcomes.
Contact: sierrahhamilton@uvic.ca
Honours Students
Gracie English
Website Under Construction.
Lab Coordinator
Tristan Rendell
Tristan Rendell is a UVic student in the fifth year of a BSc(hons) in psychology with a minor in statistics. His thesis, supervised by Drs. Jhotisha Mugon and Jill Robinson, is examining why people use psilocybin and developing a standardized scale to capture psilocybin use motives. Tristan is interested in the emerging science of psychedelic therapy, couples therapy, neurodiversity, statistics and open science. Long term, Tristan plans to continue his research, strive to advance psychedelic science, and make evidence-based psychedelic psychotherapy more accessible outside of a clinical trial setting.
Contact: ewoodinlab@gmail.com
Social Media Coordinator
Anastasiya Ishchook
Anastasiya is in her third year at the University of Victoria. She is pursuing a BSc in psychology. At the moment she is assisting with a research project revolving around the impacts of cannabis on chronic pain and cognitive function. Her plans for the future include completing a master’s program and becoming a relationship therapist.
Research Assistants
- Emily Dabbs
- Jeremy Magel
- Anastasiya Ishchook
- Sena Hall
- Tristan Rendell
- Sam Bottrill
- Shalyn Boyer
- Ellie Curry
- Sydney Foreman
- Mitchell Gaudry
- Fatima Herrera-Montalvo
- Francesca Cumberbirch
Former Lab Members
Rachel Mallinson, BSc (Hons), completed her undergraduate honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Woodin in 2023, exploring ADHD and gender differences in relationship functioning. After graduating, she served as the Research Coordinator for the Healthy Relationships Lab and the Behavioural Medicine Lab at UVic. Her research interests involve human–autonomy teaming and workplace wellness. Rachel is currently pursuing her MSc in Industrial–Organizational Psychology at the University of Calgary.
Matthew Cain, BA, is a 2024 graduate of the UVic psychology program. Matthew volunteered as the social media coordinator and played an active role in facilitating knowledge translation. He intends to pursue a career as a family and relationships counsellor by gaining his RCC designation.
Aria Stewart, BA(Hons), graduated from the UVic psychology honours program in 2025. Under the supervision of Dr. Erica Woodin and Lorna Breen, her research explored post-dissolution friendships and social norms within the sapphic community. Aria was a recipient of the Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Award and intends to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology.
Michela Krocker, BA(Hons), graduated from the UVic psychology honours program in 2025. Supervised by Dr. Erica Woodin and Quinn Storey, her honours research examined how couples’ motivation and communication patterns during conflict influence relationship satisfaction. Michela planned to pursue graduate studies and a career in counselling.
Lauren Matheson, PhD, was a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Victoria. Her research focused on sexuality and sexual orientation, specifically examining how plurisexual individuals understand their sexual identity. Lauren completed her pre-doctoral residency with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services and recently obtained her doctoral degree from UVic. She is currently completing her registration requirements with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC) while providing psychological services under supervision at VIPS.
Pauline Song-Choi, PhD, was a doctoral student in the Clinical Lifespan Psychology program and a member of the Healthy Relationships Lab. Her research examined trauma, intergenerational dynamics, and cultural impacts on mental health, specifically centering the voices of racialized youth in Victoria. She completed her Clinical Psychology Residency at the Edmonton Consortium and has since become a Registered Psychologist in British Columbia and Alberta. She currently provides evidence-based, culturally-attuned, and anti-oppressive assessment and treatment for children and adults at the Wise Mind Centre, specializing in areas such as OCD, trauma, and family dynamics.
Lea Waldis, PhD, was a postdoctoral researcher in the Healthy Relationships Lab. She obtained her doctorate in Personality and Differential Psychology from University of Bern, Switzerland and now teaches in the Psychology Department here at the University of Victoria.
Fanie Collardeau, MA, is a doctoral student in the Clinical Lifespan Psychology program under the supervision of Dr. Woodin. Her research centres around the beliefs about, expression and regulation of shame in diverse cultural and social contexts. Fanie completed her predoctoral internship at the Edmonton Consortium.
Kari Duerksen, MSc, is a doctoral student in the Clinical Lifespan Psychology Program under the supervision of Dr. Woodin. She has successfully defended her doctoral dissertation on barriers to university for students with mental health challenges and is currently completing her pre-doctoral internship.
Emily Spargo, BSc(Hons), completed her undergraduate honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Woodin in 2022, studying empathy during relationship conflict in new parents. She was a research assistant in 2020 followed by Lab Coordinator from 2021-2023. She is currently a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at the University of Utah under the supervision of Dr. Brian Baucom.
Yuning (Ariel) Zhang, BA(Hons), was a research assistant for the Healthy Relationships Lab from 2020-2023. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology (and Economics) with distinction at UVic in 2022 while contributing to a variety of lab projects. Her research interests include social psychology, behavioral economics, and decision-making. She is currently pursuing her MA in Behavioral and Decision Science at the University of Pennsylvania.
Rebecca Louw, BA (Hons), is a graduate of the UVic psychology honours program and was the Lab Coordinator for the Healthy Relationships Lab from 2020-2021. She is currently affiliated with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR).
Hannah Dupuis, MA, completed her Honours psychology Bachelor’s degree in 2021 supervised by Dr. Danu Anthony Stinson. Her thesis focused on women’s domestic labour engagement during COVID-19. As a member of the Healthy Relationships Lab she worked as a research assistant for Fanie Collardeau and Dr. Woodin, where she co-authored the theoretical manuscript The Role of Culture and Social Threats in Constructing Shame: Moving Beyond a Western Lens. Hannah is now a graduate student in Social Psychology at Simon Fraser University under the supervision of Dr. Yuthika Girme. She is interested in gender differences in the stereotypes of single people.
Bella Pope, BA, completed her psychology degree in 2019 and was also the Lab Coordinator for the Healthy Relationships Lab until 2020. She has worked as a research assistant for Kari Duerksen, as well as conducted research alongside Veronica Plihal examining the relationship of coercive control and intimate partner violence in university-aged couples. Bella’s interests lie at the intersection of mental health, psychology, and social justice. Bella completed a Master’s in Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia in 2021.
Patricia Tibrea, BSc (Hons), is a graduate of the psychology honours program, which she completed under the supervision of Dr. Woodin. Her thesis explored the associations between both self and partner marijuana usage and communication during conflict resolution during the emerging adulthood stage of development.
Rashmini Shunmugam, BSc (Hons), graduated from UVic with an honours degree in combined biology and psychology, supervised by Dr. Woodin. Her thesis focused on mental health outreach teams, specifically if police involvement in Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams reduce incarceration rates for visible minority clients.
Graham Berlin, BA(Hons), is a graduate of the UVic psychology honours program supervised by Dr. Woodin. His thesis examined the effects of early family environment, specifically aspects of structural sexual stigma (e.g., heterosexism, heteronormativity), on current psychological wellbeing and experiences of unjustified shame in gay and bisexual men. Graham also worked as the Lab Manager for Dr. John Sakaluk’s Methodology and Relationship Sexual Science (MaRSS) Lab and as a research assistant for Dr. Nathan Lachowsky in the School of Public Health. Graham is currently a doctoral student in the clinical psychology Ph.D. program at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Laura Glover, BA, completed her psychology degree and was the Lab Coordinator for the Couples and Families Lab. She worked as a research assistant for Lisa Gou and Kari Duerksen and also conducted research alongside Graham Berlin examining the relationship between social media usage and mental health outcomes. Laura’s interests lie at the intersection of mental health, psychology, and law. Laura graduated from law school at the University of Calgary in 2022.
Lisa Gou, Ph.D., is a graduate of the UVic doctoral program in clinical psychology supervised by Dr. Woodin. Her research focused on daily moderators of the link between adult romantic attachment and intimate partner violence. Lisa completed her predoctoral internship at the Edmonton Consortium and is now a registered clinical psychologist.
Tara Galaugher, Ph.D., is a graduate of the UVic doctoral program in clinical psychology supervised by Dr. Woodin. Her research focused on the links between parental relationship functioning, co-parenting, and early child development. Tara completed her predoctoral internship at the Saskatoon Health Region and is currently a clinical psychologist for the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Robyn Kilshaw, BSc(Hons), is a graduate of the UVic psychology honours program under the supervision of Dr. Woodin, and previous Lab Coordinator for the Couples and Families Lab. Her research focused on the retrospective measurement of childhood maltreatment, and the long-term outcomes that are associated with childhood abuse and neglect. Robyn is presently a doctoral student in the clinical psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Utah.
Veronica Plihal, BA(Hons), is a graduate of the UVic psychology honours program under the supervision of Dr. Woodin. For her honours thesis, she tested the psychometric properties of the newly designed Readiness to Change Relationship Behaviours Scale. Veronica graduated from Peter. A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia in 2022.
Scott Beaumont, BSc(Hons), is a graduate of the UVic psychology honours program under the supervision of Dr. Woodin. His research focused on family and peer influences on substance use patterns in emerging adulthood. Scott went on to join the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia as a Master’s student.
Sarah Matheson, BA(Hons), is a graduate of the UVic psychology honours program under the supervision of Dr. Woodin. Her thesis focused on the association between prenatal depression and anxiety of parents and child adjustment.
Matthew Ashton, BA(Hons), is a graduate of the UVic psychology honours program, and was the former Lab Coordinator for the Couples and Families Lab. His honours thesis focused on the effects of repeated minor traumatic brain injuries on the brain.
Alina Sotskova, Ph.D., is a graduate of the UVic doctoral program in clinical psychology. Her research focused on group processes in peer support programs for drug and alcohol problems. Dr. Sotskova is currently a registered psychologist in Vancouver, BC.
Valerie Caldeira, Ph.D., is a graduate of the UVic doctoral program in clinical psychology. Her research focused on understanding the intergenerational transmission of family violence. Dr. Caldeira is currently a registered psychologist in Vancouver, BC.