Meet The Team
of the Community Resilience and Mental Health Lab
Eleanor Gittens
Lab Director
Eleanor Gittens, Ph.D. is a professor and program coordinator in the Police Foundations Ontario College Diploma program at Georgian College. She also teaches in the honours bachelor’s degree in Police Studies. She has taught courses in Contemporary Social Movements, Psychology for Policing, Research Methods for Policing Community Policing, Cybercrime, Mental Health Issues in Policing, Cross-Cultural Communications and Addictions and Mental Health. Dr Gittens is an avid researcher who spearheads student-based research with
various community partners. She has carried out research on the spatial behaviour of offenders, criminal careers, violent offences, and violent offenders. Her current research interests lie in diversity training, mental wellness, the development of criminal behaviour and the progression of the criminal career; evidence-based policing; and community policing. She takes pleasure in working closely with other program areas and values the ability to collaborate. Dr Gittens is an advocate and an activist who works tirelessly in the pursuit of equity, human rights, and social justice. She is an active member of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) and currently serves on its Board of Directors.
Isabelle Deschamps
Lab Director
Isabelle Deschamps, PhD. has been with Georgian College since June 2017, contributing in multiple capacities, including partial-load faculty, faculty researcher, field placement monitor, and currently as a full-time professor in the Honors Degree in Counselling Psychology (HBCP) program. Isabelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, a graduate diploma specializing in mental health and a Ph.D. in communication sciences and disorders with a specialization in cognitive neuroscience and psycholinguistics.
In the HBCP degree, she teaches courses related to Brain and Behavior, Research Methods, Honors Thesis, Statistics, Theories of Personality, Learning and Cognition, and Psychometric Assessments. Here at the college, she has been able to combine her passion for teaching and research, which she shares with her students and colleagues. Her recent research interests lie at the intersection of neuroscience and mental health, with a focus on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive and emotional processes in people living with and without mental health challenges.
Alyssa Aubert
Student Researcher
Alyssa Aubert is an assistant researcher at the community resilience and mental health lab at Georgian College. Alyssa began her post secondary journey in a B.A of Behavioural Psych at Seneca college. In pursuit of a broader scope she transferred to York’s Hons. B.A of Psych program. Presently, she is a full time 4th year student. Throughout her studies at York Alyssa’s curiosity has developed into a passion for psychological research, theory and applications. She is in pursuit of three concentration certificates at York in neuroscience, development, and counseling.
As an assistant researcher Alyssa is deepening her practical understanding of the research process. Recently she has been participating in the first steps of qualitative data analysis by transcribing interviews. In this role, Alyssa hopes to make impactful contributions to the shared goals of her team and expand her research skills along the way.
Bekah Mastrella
Research Assistant
Rebekah holds a Social Service Work diploma and an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Counselling Psychology (graduating with honours) from Georgian College. She started as a student researcher in the Community Mental Health and Resilience Lab in October 2023 and remained part of the team after graduating in June 2024. In her role, first as a student researcher and now as a research assistant, she helps with transcribing audio files, conducting literature reviews, analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, and presenting research findings at events.
During her studies, Rebekah discovered her passion for research, particularly in mental health and neuroscience. Her first research project, and what she considers a huge achievement, was her thesis, a scoping review of the neuropathological effects and treatments of post-stroke depression. She has also contributed to other research projects like police mental health in the community. Rebekah hopes that one day, her desire to help others and her love for research can influence a positive change in individuals and their families.
Inna Kyrylenko
Student Researcher
​Inna is a graduate of the Honours Bachelor of Counselling Psychology program, joining the lab in May 2024. Her research journey began during her internship, where she contributed to a local project examining the connection between mental health and the arts. As part of the research team, Inna played a key role in drafting the Ethics Board application, developing the project rationale and methodology, conducting a comprehensive literature review, and helping to design the intervention component of the study.
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Inna’s independent research, completed as part of her Honours thesis, focused on exploring the barriers Ukrainian immigrants in Canada face when accessing mental health services. This project allowed her to apply and refine advanced research skills, including conducting semi-structured interviews, performing reflexive thematic analysis, and synthesizing qualitative findings. Her work not only highlighted systemic and cultural challenges but also proposed community-informed solutions to support immigrant mental health. Inna is passionate about culturally sensitive counselling practices and is eager to continue contributing to research that informs equitable and inclusive mental health care.​
Misha Atkinson
Student Researcher
​Misha Atkinson is a third-year Counselling Psychology student at Georgian College and a student researcher for the Community Resilience and Mental Health Lab. Misha began her involvement with the lab after working alongside Isabelle Dechamps to assist second-year Counselling Psychology students with their statistics course. She is now completing her internship with North Simcoe Arts where she is helping create psychoeducational training for artist mentors working with vulnerable populations.
Her academic interests center around equitable access to mental health care, particularly within vulnerable populations. She recently completed a thesis proposal that aims to explore healthcare providers’ perspectives on the barriers that 2SLGBTIA+ individuals face in accessing affirming healthcare. She also completed a placement with the HBCP Clinic, where she was part of a team that developed and led psychoeducational workshops for Human Service Workers.
As a part of the lab, Misha is expanding her research experience by sourcing academic literature, defining key concepts, and contributing to the development of project frameworks. Passionate about working with vulnerable populations, Misha plans to pursue graduate studies focused on inclusive and community-based mental health support.
Nathan Baleka
Student Researcher
Nathan Baleka is a student researcher at the Community Mental Health and Resilience Lab at Georgian College. He first attended Georgian College in September 2022, enrolling in the Police Foundations Diploma program in pursuit of a career in policing. After graduating from the diploma program in the summer of 2024, Nathan transferred into the Honours Bachelor of Police Studies degree program as a third-year student at Georgian College to further his education and obtain new opportunities. Even before attending college, Nathan had a keen interest in the psychological effects of policing, an interest that deepened as he progressed in his education.
When Nathan learned about the opportunity to join the Community Mental Health and Resilience Lab as a student researcher and the lab's focus areas, he recognized it as a fantastic opportunity he couldn’t pass up. As a member of the research team, Nathan aims not only to expand his research skills and knowledge in various subjects but also to contribute to the development and expansion of the concepts of mental health and wellness from a policing perspective, which he believes are all too often ignored.
Tara Story
Student Researcher
Tara is a graduate of the Honours Bachelor Counselling Psychology program from Georgian College. As a researcher with the Community Resilience and Mental Health Lab, Tara has sharpened her skillset in conducting literature reviews, data analysis, and manuscript writing.
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During her academia, Tara unveiled her thirst for knowledge through research. Her honours thesis explored the lived experiences of women who struggle to breastfeed, through the use of semi-structured interviews. She advocates for a shift in how maternal challenges, such as breastfeeding, are understood, with strong consideration of mental health. Tara presented her thesis at Inspire 2025.
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Tara’s interests in the field of counselling and psychology are primarily on family systems, with an aim to strengthen family connections and build better bonds. Her commitment to the field extends outside of the academic setting, into the community where she hopes that her research contributions can create knowledge translation, in the hopes of supporting the most in need populations.
Past Team Members
Auguste Vanslet-Courvoisier
Research Assistant
Auguste is a fourth-year counselling psychology student at Georgian College, specializing in trauma recovery and social justice. Working with the Community Resilience and Mental Health Lab, she has gained experience in transcribing, conducting literature reviews, and analyzing data. Auguste’s academic work is further exemplified through her honours thesis, which explores the effectiveness of self-compassion interventions in fostering post-traumatic growth among survivors of gender-based violence.
In addition to her research, Auguste completed an impactful internship with the Ontario Provincial Police Academy’s Curriculum Design Unit, where she contributed to the development of trauma-informed training resources for law enforcement. Her efforts focused on enhancing the mental health literacy of officers and creating educational tools aimed at fostering a more trauma-informed policing culture.
Auguste’s dedication to her field extends beyond her academic pursuits. She is passionate about using her skills to support diverse populations and plans to pursue graduate studies in clinical and counselling psychology. Her ultimate goal is to specialize in trauma therapy, empowering individuals through healing and resilience-building practices. Auguste is committed to blending research and practice to contribute to the advancement of trauma-informed care in both clinical settings and broader community-based initiatives
Cassandra Forlani
Lab Coordinator
Cassandra Forlani is the Analytical Lead in the Research and Innovation department at Georgian College. In this role, she is responsible for data analysis and various coordinator and administrative duties. Cassandra holds a B.Math from Waterloo University and a B.Ed from Western University, providing her with a robust foundation in mathematics and organizational skills.
Throughout her career, Cassandra has contributed to a diverse range of research projects, including studies on mental health in police and community settings, as well as student mindset growth and education. Her dedication to helping others, coupled with her passion for collaboration and teamwork, fuels her efforts to drive innovation and shape a more promising future within her current roles.
Lucas Ramjass
Student Researcher
Lucas Ramjass is a third-year Bachelor of Police Studies student and a student researcher for the Community Resilience and Mental Health Lab at Georgian College. He is a graduate of the Police Foundations program at Durham College and has continued his education at Georgian College. During the Fall 2024 semester, Lucas had the opportunity to join the research team as a new member.
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As a student researcher, Lucas collaborates with a team in areas related to his field of study, further developing an extensive knowledge on community resilience and mental health. He aims to provide strong support to the team in achieving its goals.​
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