Dr. Sarah Spence
B.Sc., MA, DipTIRP, PhD
Professor, Honours Bachelor of Counselling Psychology
Biography
Dr. Sarah Spence is a registered psychotherapist with a doctorate in psychology and a diploma in relational psychotherapy. She is passionate about psychotherapy and psychology, and loves sharing this passion with her students.
Sarah has extensive experience teaching in postsecondary institutions, first at the University of Toronto (starting in 2011) and then at Georgian College (since 2017). She’s committed to ongoing pedagogical development and strives to create an inclusive classroom, focusing on experiential learning.
As a registered psychotherapist, Sarah works with adolescents and adults who are struggling with emotional, psychological and/or relational distress. She has an eclectic approach to therapy, utilizing a variety of therapeutic modalities such as relational psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, internal family systems therapy, mindfulness-based therapy and most recently, Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
I’m thrilled to be teaching in the Honours Bachelor of Counselling Psychology program at Georgian. I wish this program existed when I completed my undergraduate degree! The content is exciting and the program requires self-awareness and personal development, which is an honour to witness. I love getting to know my students and helping them develop their skills as counsellors.
Dr. Sarah Spence
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, 2014
- Relational Psychotherapy diploma (DipTIRP), Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy, Toronto ON, 2014
- Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, 2009
- Honours Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) specialist in Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, 2008
- Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) since 2015
- Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), EMDRIA-approved Basic Training, Niagara Stress and Trauma Clinic, 2022
- Commitment to ongoing pedagogical development including an Advanced University Teaching Preparation Certificate from the University of Toronto (2013)
- Extensive experience as a psychotherapist in a variety of clinical settings including student counselling, a family health team, and private practice
Research interests
- Clinical psychology
- Developmental psychology
Research projects
- Children’s Judgments and Beliefs about Same-Sex Relationships
- Published 2017
- Research completed as doctoral student
- The Role of Emotional Dysregulation in Concurrent Eating Disorders and Substance Use Disorders
- Published 2012
- Research completed as a graduate student
- Epistemological Development and Judgments and Reasoning about Teaching Methods
- Published 2013
- Research completed as a master’s student
Featured publications
- Spence, S., Helwig, C., & Cosentino, N. (2017). Children’s judgments and beliefs about same-sex relationships. Child Development. DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12769
- Spence, S., & Courbasson, C. (2012). The role of emotional dysregulation in concurrent eating disorders and substance use disorders. Eating Behaviors, 13 (4), 382- 385. DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2012.05.006.
- Spence, S., & Helwig, C. (2013). Epistemological development and judgments and reasoning about teaching methods. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 174 (5), 534-556. DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2012.721813.