ABOUT
I'm a Clinical and Health Psychologist providing services to children, adolescents and their families in Ottawa, Ontario. My office is located within Centrepointe Professional Services. I provide assessment and treatment (individual and family therapy) for a variety of conditions including:
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Anxiety disorders (e.g. Social Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder [OCD])
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Attachment disorders
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
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Behavioural difficulties
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Chronic health conditions (e.g. chronic pain or coping with chronic illnesses)
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Developmental disorders (e.g. Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD])
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Developmental disabilities
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Gifted testing
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Learning disabilities
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Mood disorders (e.g. depression)
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Parent-child relationship difficulties
I obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Honours Psychology from Concordia University (Montreal, Quebec) in 2005, and a Master's of Arts (M.A.) degree in Clinical Developmental Psychology from York University (Toronto, Ontario) in 2007. In 2012, I completed a Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) accredited Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Clinical Developmental Psychology and a Health Psychology Graduate Diploma at York University. My graduate research was funded by provincial and federal scholarships and I've co-authored several publications in the areas of pediatric pain, parent-child relationships (e.g. caregiver emotional availability) and infant emotion regulation.
I've worked with children and families from various cultural backgrounds, who were experiencing a wide range of clinical, learning and developmental difficulties, across various age groups (infancy to adulthood). I've worked in a variety of settings including children’s mental health centers (e.g. Thistletown Regional Centre, Reach Out Centre for Kids and Mothercraft - Breaking the Cycle), university clinics (e.g. York University Psychology Clinic) and pediatric hospitals (e.g. Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital) in Toronto, Ontario. In addition, I completed a CPA accredited pre-doctoral internship in Clinical Child Psychology at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa, Ontario, where I gained additional experience in the areas of Pediatric Health Psychology, Inpatient Mental Health, Crisis Assessment, Autism Assessment, Neuropsychology, Family Therapy, Individual Therapy and Program Evaluation.
My approach to case conceptualization and intervention is based on a Developmental Psychopathology framework. I believe that a child is influenced by a dynamic interplay of biological, psychological and social influences. For example, I consider the roles of child factors, family and school environments, peer relationships, and social-cultural contexts in the etiology of a child’s difficulties. Given that children and youth thrive in the context of healthy and supportive relationships, I place a lot of importance on strengthening family and social connections in therapy.
I believe in the scientist-practitioner model, namely that clinical practice should be informed by research. My main theoretical orientation is Integrative meaning that I combine different evidence-based (empirically supported) therapeutic tools and approaches to fit the needs of my clients. Although I mainly use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), I also draw from elements of Motivational Interviewing, Brief-Solution Focused Therapy, Family Systems and Attachment Theory. Despite the chosen course of treatment, I strongly believe that the therapeutic alliance between a client and therapist is of equal importance. As such, I aim to provide a supportive environment in which my clients feel safe to disclose personal information and build trust in the therapeutic relationship.
I'm registered with the College of Psychologist of Ontario (CPO) and I maintain memberships in several local, provincial and national professional associations.
Degrees
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2012: Ph.D. in Clinical Developmental Psychology from York University, Toronto, ON.
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2012: Graduate Diploma in Health Psychology from York University, Toronto, ON.
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2007: M.A. in Clinical Developmental Psychology from York University, Toronto, ON.
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2005: B.A. in Honours Psychology from Concordia University, Montreal, QC.
Awards and Scholarships
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2011: Nominated for a York University Dissertation Prize
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2009-2012: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) Doctoral Award
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2009: Lillian Wright Maternal-Child Health Scholarship Training Award
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2009: Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Doctoral Award
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2008: Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Doctoral Award
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2007: Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Doctoral Award
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2009; 2010: Canadian Pain Society (CPS) Trainee Travel Award
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2008; 2009; 2010: CIHR Strategic Training Program Pain in Child Health Travel Awards
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2006: CIHR Master’s Training Award
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2005-2007: Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC) Master’s Training Award
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2005: York University Entrance Scholarship
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2007; 2007: CIHR Strategic Training Program Pain in Child Health Travel Award
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2005: Graduated from Concordia University with Distinction
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2003: Golden Key International Honours Society
Publications and Presentations
Peer-Reviewed Articles:
Din Osmun, L., Pillai Riddell, R.R. & Flora, D.B. (2014). Infant Pain-Related Negative Affect at 12 Months of Age: Early Infant and Caregiver Predictors. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 39(1), 23-34.
Pillai Riddell, R. R. Campbell, L., Flora, D., Racine, N. M., Din Osmun, L., Greenberg, S. & Garfield, H. (2011). Caregiver sensitivity and infant pain: The relative relationships between infant behaviors and caregiver sensitivity over the first year of life. Pain, Epub ahead of print. DOI: doi:10.1016/j.pain.2011.09.011
Pillai Riddell, R. R., Racine, N.M., Turcott, K., Uman, L., Horton, R., Din Osmun, L., Ahola Kohut, S., Hillgrove Stuart, J., Stevens, B, & Lisi, D. (2011). Nonpharmacological management of procedural pain in infants and young children: An abridged Cochrane review. Pain Research and Management, 16(5), 321-330.
Pillai Riddell, R. R., Racine, N. R., Turcotte, K., Uman, L., Horton, R., Din Osmun, L., Ahola Kohut, S., Hillgrove Stuart, J., Stevens, B. J., & Gerwitz Stein, A. (2011). Nonpharmacological management of infant and young child procedural pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 10. Art. No.: CD006275. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006275.pub2.
Horton, R. E., Din Osmun, L., Pillai Riddell, R. R., Stevens, B. J., & Greenberg, S. (2010). Maternal relationship style, paediatric health care use and infant health. Paediatrics and Child Health, 15(7), 432-436.
Pillai Riddell, R. R., Stevens, B. J., McKeever, P., Gibbins, S., Asztalos, L., Katz, J., Ahola, S., & Din, L. (2009). Chronic pain in hospitalized infants: Health professionals’ perspectives. Journal of Pain, 10(12), 1217-1225.
Din, L., Pillai Riddell, R. R., & Gordner, S. (2009). Brief report: Maternal emotional availability and infant pain expressions during routine immunizations. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 34(7), 722-726.
Professional Presentations:
Lefaivre, M. J., & Din Osmun, L. (2012, March). The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) presents an evening of information - Parenting your anxious child. Symposium presented at the Cornwall Community Hospital, Cornwall, ON.
Pillai Riddell, R. R., Din Osmun, L., Racine, N., Hillgrove-Stuart, J., Campbell, L. (2011, April). The OUCH Cohort: Preliminary data regarding the development of infant pain responses and the impact of parental soothing. Symposium presented at the Canadian Pain Society Annual Conference, Niagara Falls, ON.
Pillai Riddell, R. R., Ahola Kohut, S., Din Osmun, L., & Racine, N. (2011, April). Infant pain-related distress regulation: Sharpening our understanding of infant expression, parental sensitivity and soothing behaviours in a painful context. Symposium presented at the Expanding Horizons for the Early Years 2011: Making Relationships Work for Infants & Toddlers – An Infant Mental Health Promotion (IMP) Conference, Toronto, ON.
Pillai Riddell, R. R., Horton, R., Hillgrove-Stuart, J., & Din Osmun, L. (2010, March). Understanding the role of caregiver behaviours on infant pain expressivity. Symposium presentation at the International Symposium of Pediatric Pain, Acapulco, Mexico.
Pillai Riddell, R. R., Horton, R., Din, L., & Hillgrove, J. (2008, April). Understanding the role caregiver behaviours on infant pain expressivity. Symposium presented at the Expanding Horizons for the Early Years 2008: Practice, Research & Promoting Change – An Infant Mental Health Promotion (IMP) Conference, Toronto.
Published Abstracts:
Din, L., & Pillai Riddell, R. R. (2009). The relationships between maternal emotional availability and maternal soothing behaviours during routine infant immunizations. Pain Research & Management, Abstracts of the 2009 Annual Canadian Pain Society Conference, 14(2), p146.
Din, L., & Pillai Riddell, R. R. (2008). The relationship between maternal emotional availability and infant pain related distress. Pain Research & Management, Abstracts of the 2008 Annual Canadian Pain Society Conference, 13(2), p8.
Din, L., Danson, J., Kalousek, K., Pillai Riddell, R. R., Stevens, B. J., & Greenberg, S. (2007). Maternal relationship style and maternal soothing behaviours during an acute painful procedure. Pain Research & Management, Abstracts from the 2007 Annual Conference of the Canadian Pain Society, 12(2), P16.
Horton, R. E., Din, L., Pillai Riddell, R. R., Stevens, B. J., & Greenberg, S. (2007). Pediatric health care utilization and infant health: the role of maternal and infant factors. Pain Research & Management, Abstracts from the 2007 Annual Conference of the Canadian Pain Society, 12(2), P29.
Din, L., Pillai Riddell, R. R., Stevens, B. J., Ahola, S., & Greenberg, S. (2006). The relationship between maternal psychological distress and maternal pain judgments post immunization. Pain Research & Management, Abstracts of the 7th International Symposium on Pediatric Pain, 11(B), 71b.
Ahola, S., Pillai Riddell, R. R., Stevens, B. J., Din, L., & Greenberg, S. (2006). Occupational variables and the maternal perception of infant pain. Pain Research & Management, Abstracts of the 7th International Symposium on Pediatric Pain, 11(B), 70b.
