IAASP Research Group

IAASP Research GroupIAASP Research GroupIAASP Research Group
  • Home
  • About Us
  • News
  • Team
  • Research
  • Storybook
  • Eco-Anxiety
  • Knowledge Mobilization
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • More
    • Home
    • About Us
    • News
    • Team
    • Research
    • Storybook
    • Eco-Anxiety
    • Knowledge Mobilization
    • Resources
    • Contact Us

IAASP Research Group

IAASP Research GroupIAASP Research GroupIAASP Research Group
  • Home
  • About Us
  • News
  • Team
  • Research
  • Storybook
  • Eco-Anxiety
  • Knowledge Mobilization
  • Resources
  • Contact Us

School Psychology Team at IAASP Research Group

Dr. Colin King

Dr. Deanna Friesen

Dr. Deanna Friesen

Colin King is a registered School Psychologist and Clinical Psychologist, as well as an Associate Professor at the Psychology Faculty, where he leads the Research Lab Team.

Dr. Deanna Friesen

Dr. Deanna Friesen

Dr. Deanna Friesen

Deanna Friesen is an associated lab member and an Associate Professor at the Psychology Faculty, where she contributes to the Research Lab Team focused on School Psychology.

Rachel Krahn

Dr. Deanna Friesen

Laura Herbert

Rachel Krahn is an MA - Year 2 student in School Psychology, actively engaged with the Psychology Faculty and contributing to the Research Lab Team.

Laura Herbert

Dr. Deanna Friesen

Laura Herbert

Laura Herbert is a Ph.D. - Year 4 student in School Psychology, working closely with the Psychology Faculty and contributing to the Research Lab Team.

Bridgett Hollmann

Bridgett Hollmann

Bridgett Hollmann

Bridgett Hollmann is a Year 2 M.A. student in Counselling Psychology, where she is actively involved with the Psychology Faculty and contributes to the Research Lab Team focused on aspects of School Psychology.

Chelsey Masson

Bridgett Hollmann

Bridgett Hollmann

Chelsey Masson is a Year 4 Ph.D. student in School Psychology, actively engaged with the Research Lab Team within the Psychology Faculty.

Vanessa Ritsema

Bridgett Hollmann

Michelle Saltzman

Vanessa Ritsema is an M.A. - Year 1 student in School Psychology within the Psychology Faculty, where she is also a member of the Research Lab Team focused on applied child psychology.

Michelle Saltzman

Bridgett Hollmann

Michelle Saltzman

Michelle Saltzman is a Ph.D. - Year 1 student in School and Applied Child Psychology, where she is actively engaged with the Psychology Faculty and contributes to the Research Lab Team focused on School Psychology.

Amy Rzezniczek

Amy Rzezniczek

Amy Rzezniczek

Amy Rzezniczek is a Year 2 Ph.D. student in School Psychology, actively involved with the Psychology Faculty and a member of the Research Lab Team.

Carlyn Zylak

Amy Rzezniczek

Amy Rzezniczek

Carly Zylak is a Year 1 Ph.D. student in School Psychology, working with the Psychology Faculty and contributing to the Research Lab Team focused on applied child psychology.

Abigail Fisher

Amy Rzezniczek

Abigail Fisher

Abigail Fisher is a BSc - Year 3 student in Neuroscience, actively engaging with the Psychology Faculty and contributing to the Research Lab Team focused on School Psychology.

Lab Alumni

Jordon Bell (Graduate Student, Counselling Program): Psychotherapist - Qualifying, affiliated with the Psychology Faculty. Joseph Capozza (Graduate Student, Counselling Program): Psychotherapist - Private Practice, part of the Research Lab Team. Shelby Federman (Graduate Student, Counselling Program): Psychotherapist - Qualifying. Rafia Junaid (Graduate Student, Counselling Program): Psychotherapist, contributing to the School Psychology initiatives. Maryum Khan (Volunteer): York University, Graduate Student. Lindsay Pittman (Graduate Student, Counselling Program): Psychotherapist - Private Practice, engaged with the Psychology Faculty. Alex Riggin (Research Assistant): University of Calgary, Graduate Student - Counselling Psychology, collaborating within the Research Lab Team.

Dr. Colin King, C.Psych

Joining the Faculty of Education in 2017, Dr. Colin King is the Director of the Mary J. Wright Child and Youth Development Clinic at Western University. As a member of the Psychology Faculty, Colin has worked and trained in various community, hospital, and clinical settings. He previously served as the Coordinator of Psychological Services in the Thames Valley District School Board and in private practice. As a scientist-practitioner-scholar, Colin leads the Research Lab Team, focusing on research that supports children, youth, and families through early identification and collaborative models of support, particularly in the field of School Psychology.

Dr. Deanna Friesen

Dr. Deanna Friesen is a cognitive psychologist and an Associate Professor in the Psychology Faculty at Western University. Currently, she is serving as the Applied Psychology program chair. Dr. Friesen collaborates with the Research Lab Team at the IAASP lab on projects that explore 1) how pre-service teachers’ perceptions of psychological reports impact their inclusive practice and 2) how psychological assessments influence perceived school support. She is dedicated to finding ways to connect psychologists and teachers to enhance classroom learning.

Rachel Krahn, B.Sc.

Rachel completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Victoria, where she is now part of the Psychology Faculty. Her research interests include inclusive education and methods to enhance educational support for students, particularly within the School Psychology field. She is also dedicated to implementing accessible approaches to support children's mental health and well-being as a member of the Research Lab Team.

Laura Herbert, MSW

Laura completed her MSW in Social Work from King's University College at Western University in 2020 and holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from McGill University. As part of the Psychology Faculty, Laura's doctoral research investigates the relationship between youth mental health and smartphone use. You can view her research poster, "Moving Beyond Screen Time: A Scoping Review Investigating the Relationship Between Smartphone Use and Anxiety," under Knowledge Mobilization. Additionally, Laura has published a systematic review through her involvement in the Research Lab Team, examining the association between child maltreatment and adult economic outcomes.

Bridgett Hollmann, BBP (Hons)

Bridgett completed her Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology degree at Seneca College in 2022. As a member of the Psychology Faculty, she hopes to focus her research in the Research Lab Team on developing supports for children and youth experiencing eco-anxiety, particularly in the context of school psychology.

Chelsey Masson, M.A.

Chelsey completed her M.A. in School Psychology from Western University in 2021 and holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Brock University. As a member of the Psychology Faculty, Chelsey's doctoral research focuses on how to better support education and employment outcomes for youth in care, working alongside her dedicated Research Lab Team.

Vanessa Ritsema, B.A.

Vanessa completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Dalhousie University in 2024. She intends to focus her research on learning disabilities, emotional regulation, and inclusive education as part of the Psychology Faculty. Vanessa will be joining the Research Lab Team in September 2025, with a keen interest in contributing to the field of School Psychology.

Michelle Saltzman, M.A.

Michelle completed her M.A. in School Psychology at Western University in 2025, where she became part of the Psychology Faculty. She also holds undergraduate degrees in Psychology from York University and Sociology from Queen’s University. As a member of the Research Lab Team, her research interests focus on evaluating early intervention psychosocial programs for youth experiencing anxiety.

Amy Rzezniczek, M.A.

Amy completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2021. As a member of the Psychology Faculty, she hopes to focus her research on how to better assist children who struggle with anxiety and learning disabilities in school, particularly through her work with the Research Lab Team in the field of School Psychology.

Carlyn Zylak, M.A.

Carly completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Guelph in 2023. She will be joining the Research Lab Team under the Psychology Faculty in September 2023. Welcome to the team, Carly!

Abigail Fisher

Abigail Fisher is a BSc - Year 3 student in Neuroscience, pursuing her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Migrant & Refugee Studies at Western University. As part of her involvement with the Psychology Faculty, Abigail is currently exploring the use of children’s storybooks as a clinical resource to support parents in aiding their children who face anxiety challenges. She is also an active member of a Research Lab Team that focuses on innovative approaches in School Psychology.

Copyright © 2025 IAASP Research Lab - All Rights Reserved. Updated January 30, 2026

Powered by