Research Initiatives

Current Projects

Social Identities and Rashomon Effects in Counselling and Psychotherapy with Diverse Clients

Intersectionality refers to the capacity of individuals to hold multiple significant social identities. There is now widespread acknowledgement that recognizing intersectionality is crucial for delivering effective multicultural counselling and psychotherapy. Specifically, there are seven categories of social identity with major significance for current counselling and psychotherapy: race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, disability, age, and religion. Yet, little is known about how these different aspects of social identity actually become salient and exert influence within psychotherapeutic processes. The current project draws on social identity theory to propose a novel model, which describes how distinct aspects of social identity appear—and sometimes contradict each other—within individual therapy. The project relies upon case studies to explore and elaborate this novel model.

	Naseem Rine-Reesha, M.A., M.Ed., is an Ed.D. candidate in Counselling Psychology at the University of Toronto, OISE. His research interests include critical multicultural counselling and psychotherapy, integrative psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and analytical psychology, career/vocational counselling, and counsellor education and supervision. He works as a psychodynamic therapist in private practice. His background also includes poetry and drama studies, composition, and performance.
	Sara Azarshahi, EdD (candidate) in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of Toronto. She was raised in the Netherlands and comes from an Iranian background, which has helped her appreciate various worldviews and alternative ways of knowing. Sara’s research interests include critical multi-cultural counselling, traditional healing and culturally integrative treatment, and diversity in practice. She is dedicated to integrating knowledge and clinical practice to improve mental health service access for those who come from diverse ethno-racial identities.
	Hayley Mangotich M.Ed., completed her master’s degree at the University of Toronto, OISE. As a clinician, she is committed to integrating research and practice to meaningfully support people across diverse social locations. Her research interests include critical multicultural counselling and psychotherapy.
	Dr. Roy Moodley https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/aphd/Home/Faculty_and_Staff/Faculty/1514/Roy_Moodley.html

Project Archive

The Role of Traditional Healers in Health Promotion and Education