Hosted by SISP student committee, McGill University
& Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology
Speaker Highlight: Dr. Tamara Soles
Workshop Title: Partnering with Parents: Effective Consultation Strategies to Support Children's Emotional and Behavioural Well-Being
Biography: Dr. Tamara Soles, psychologist and founder of The Secure Child Center for Families and Children in Montreal, QC., is a frequent guest lecturer and sought-after mental health speaker. Dr. Tamara has been a trainer and mental health consultant to numerous academic institutions at all levels including universities such as McGill University and UCLA. Her work is frequently featured in the media including Today’s Parent, Psychology Today, BBC World News and more. She can also be heard as a weekly contributor on CJAD’s weekend morning show. Dr. Tamara obtained her doctoral degree at McGill University, where she subsequently served as a lecturer and clinical supervisor.
Workshop Description:
Parents play a central role in shaping children’s emotional, social, and behavioral development—yet many school-based interventions overlook the power of parent consultation as a frontline tool for change. This workshop will explore how working through parents can be an effective and evidence-informed psychological intervention. The first half will focus on the rationale and core principles behind parent consultation and parent coaching, including how these approaches align with brain science and developmental needs. The second half will provide concrete consultation strategies tailored to specific populations, including young children with emotion regulation difficulties, and neurodivergent children with ADHD or Autism diagnoses. Through real-life examples and practical tools, participants will gain confidence in partnering with parents to co-create strategies that promote long-term emotional regulation, resilience, and connection.
Speaker Highlight: Dr. Rosaleen McElvaney
Workshop Title: Overview of Research on Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure
Biography: Dr McElvaney is.a clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and academic with over 30 years experience working in the field of child sexual abuse, both as a practitioner and as a researcher and trainer. She has an extensive publication record, including books for parents/carers (Finding the words, Veritas, 2015) and helping professionals (Helping children to tell about sexual abuse, Jessica Kingsley, 2016). She has served as President of the Psychological Society of Ireland and as Chair of the European Awarding Committee for the EuroPsy, a certification process introduced by the European Federation of Psychologists' Associations.
Learning Objectives:
On completion of the seminar, attendees will:
1. Understand the barriers and facilitators for children disclosing sexual abuse
2. Critically analyse research conducted to date on this topic
3. Identify one's own strengths and areas for improvement in responding to children disclosing sexual abuse
4. Apply research findings to practice in the school setting.
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Speaker Highlight: Dr. Eve-Marie Quintin
Workshop Title: Positive Effects of Music Programs for Autistic Students
Biography: Dr. Quintin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University. She primarily teaches and supervises graduate students from the School/Applied Child Psychology program. Her research aims to investigate the musical profile of neurodiverse youth and to quantify the effects of music programs on their well-being, cognitive, social, and brain functioning; with music programs taking place in non-inclusive or socially inclusive settings where youth with and without neurodiverse needs complete a music program together. Dr. Quintin holds a Ph.D. and Psy.D. in neuropsychology from Université du Québec à Montréal (2011) where she conducted research on music and autism. As a postdoctoral fellow, she studied cognitive, behavioral, and brain development of children, adolescents, and young adults with fragile X syndrome or on the autism spectrum at the Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research, Stanford University (2011-13). She also investigated cognitive and brain aging at the Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, Georgia Institute of Technology (2013-14). She leads the McGill Behaviour, Autism, and NeuroDevelopment (BAND) research group (2014 – present).
Her work adopts a strength-based approach to support the well-being of neurodiverse persons. Her research has been supported by grant agencies including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Fonds de Recheche Québec Santé, Fonds de Recherche Québec Société et Culture, Office des personnes handicapées du Québec, and McGill University’s William Dawson Scholar Program. Dr. Quintin has authored multiple scientific publications and presented her research in knowledge translation activities covering topics including the musical and language profiles of children and adolescents on the autism spectrum across all levels of support needs; the cognitive, behavioural and brain functioning of children, adolescents, and young adults with fragile X syndrome; and the cognitive, personality and neural correlates of creativity within the general population.
Workshop Description:
Dr. Eve-Marie Quintin will present research suggesting that music may be a privileged means of communication with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. Musical appreciation and music listening habits of adolescents on the autism spectrum and their ability to perceive musical beat and recognize music-evoked emotions do not seem to be different from typically developing peers. Musical interest and ability seem to be a strength of autistic persons, which can be leveraged in interventions using a strength-based approach. Indeed, preliminary findings show improved student-teacher relationships and student cognitive flexibility associated with music programs for autistic elementary and high school students. Further, inclusive music programs attended by autistic and non-autistic students together lead to larger gains in self-esteem than non-inclusive music programs. The broad implications of Dr. Quintin’s work include improving education programs, community and family services, and mental health care for neurodiverse people and promoting their social inclusion in society.
Speakers