Experience
Over the past years, Merna has worked across therapeutic, developmental, healthcare, educational, and assessment settings, supporting children, adolescents, adults, and families through a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and developmental challenges. Her diverse clinical experience has allowed her to work with individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, mood-related concerns, chronic illness, neurodivergence, and major life transitions.
In her role as a psychometrist, Merna administers and scores psychoeducational and psychological assessments under the supervision of psychologists to evaluate cognitive, academic, attention, memory, executive functioning, and social-emotional functioning to better understand each client's unique strengths and areas of need. This experience has strengthened her ability to recognize complex learning and mental health presentations while informing individualized, evidence-based treatment planning.
Merna has also provided play-based therapeutic support to children living with chronic illnesses in hospital settings, helping them prepare for medical procedures, reduce anxiety, and build coping skills during challenging healthcare experiences. These experiences have deepened her understanding of the emotional impact of illness on both children and families and reinforced her commitment to compassionate, client-centred care.
Alongside her clinical work, Merna has contributed to psychological research. She co-authored the published article, Record, Recall, Reflect: A Qualitative Examination of Compassion Fatigue in Toronto Zoo Staff. Her undergraduate honours thesis explored the emotional impact of childhood cancer on caregivers, further strengthening her understanding of trauma, grief, caregiver well-being, and family dynamics.
Education & Registration
- Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) Registration # 18461
- Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology - Yorkville University
- Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Family and Child Studies - University of Guelph
- Diploma in Communication Studies - University of Guelph
Additional Training
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) - LivingWorks