Did you know? Cultural intelligence can significantly predict microaggressive tendencies—even after accounting for aggression and negative affectivity. Read more in a study co-authored by graduate student Ahmad Alftieh (ARCAI Lab) in collaboration with Dr. Monnica Williams and Dr. Muna Osman.

Did you know? In May, Katherine presented at the Association for Psychological Science (APS) conference in Washington, D.C., sharing findings from our lab’s project on perinatal mental health and parenting in Northern Sri Lanka, led by Dr. Fiona Thomas.

In July 2025, Katherine presented preliminary results from her Master’s thesis at the ESTSS Conference in Tbilisi, Georgia 🇬🇪. Her poster, War and Motherhood, explored how conflict shapes parenting and maternal experiences in Northern Sri Lanka.

@estss.bsky.social @torontomet.bsky.social #Research

Spotlight on David Diao’s URO project! His research explores South Asian client experiences in Ontario’s Structured Psychotherapy Program, highlighting key barriers and facilitators to engagement in the Brampton-Halton-Mississauga regions.
🔗 buff.ly/pQ1THdm

@torontomet.bsky.social #OSP #Research

Throwback publication alert! 📝 Our study explores therapists’ motivations to initiate Cognitive Processing Therapy in community settings — insights that still resonate today.
🔗 Article: doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...

Timely with the inaugural CPT Summit happening later this month! (link below ⬇️)

New publication! 🇱🇰 From "villages to floating islands" explores maternal support and isolation in Northern Sri Lanka, building on Dr. Fiona Thomas’s PhD work.

Open-access in a Special Issue on culture & mental health, guest edited by Drs. Eranda & Nuwan Jayawickreme.
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...

On October 17th, as Katherine celebrates her graduation, we’re thrilled to share that she’s received the 2025 TMU Gold Medal for the Faculty of Arts—a remarkable recognition of her excellence and dedication! 💙🎓

@torontomet.bsky.social #ConvocationDay #GoldMedal #ProudMoment

Our Grad Student Spotlight 🎥 for this week shines on…

Katherine McGuire ✨

She studies women’s health, including motherhood in post-war Sri Lanka and childbirth-related trauma. She enjoys nature, thrifting, and exploring vegan food 🌱

#GradSpotlight #Psychology

A little belated, but worth celebrating 🎉 Our PI, Dr. Fiona Thomas, received two teaching awards: TMU’s 2025 New Faculty Teaching Award & CPA’s Early Career Excellence in Teaching Award in early Summer 2025! 🏆👏 Honouring her equity-focused, student-centred teaching.

@torontomet.bsky.social

Our Grad Student Spotlight 🎥 for this week shines on…

Mandy (Yufei) Wu ✨

She researches how youths with precarious migrant status navigate life after high school and advocate for inclusion. She also shares her illustrations on @thedoodleman 🎨

#GradSpotlight #Psychology

Our Grad Student Spotlight 🎥 for this week shines on…

Ahmad Alftieh ✨

He studies mental health care barriers for racialized groups through an intersectional lens, is interested in neuropsychology and trauma, and enjoys the outdoors with his dogs 🐕 and strength training.

#GradSpotlight #Psychology

Our Grad Student Spotlight 🎥 for this week shines on...

Sofia Melendez Ron ✨

Their research improves mental health support for trans & nonbinary people, and they love dancing salsa caleña 💃

#GradSpotlight #Psychology

We're proud to spotlight ARCAI grad students for earning top awards for their impactful work on equity in mental health, from perinatal care to trans health to racialized mental health access.

Read more 👇
psychlabs.torontomu.ca/arcai/spotli...

🌟 Welcome to the ARCAI Lab! 🌟

We’re the Advancing Research for Culturally Aligned Interventions (ARCAI) Lab, based in the Department of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).

Want to learn more? ⬇️
psychlabs.torontomu.ca/arcai/