2024-2025 PD AWARD WINNERS

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Nicole Stuart (she/her) is a PhD student in Health Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the daily relationship between stress processes and cognitive function across the adult lifespan. She is also interested in how modifiable factors (e.g., physical activity) may attenuate the deleterious relationship between stress and cognitive performance on a momentary and daily level. The Council of Canadian Departments of Psychology Professional Development Award has enabled her to present her work evaluating ambulatory cognitive assessment in older adults at the Society of Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine (SBSM) annual meeting in Seattle, WA.  

I am completing an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioural Psychology at St. Lawrence College. My thesis research explores the impact of music-based psychoeducational peer support groups on perceived social isolation for LGBTQIA2S+ youth. Thanks to the CCDP Professional Development Award, I recently attended the Transformations 2025 conference, hosted by the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy (ICP) in New York City. As one of the longest-running clinical conferences focused on working with Trans and Gender Diverse (TGD) communities in the U.S., Transformations 2025 provided therapist-focused programming aimed at enhancing clinical competencies in supporting TGD individuals across the lifespan. My participation in the conference deepened my understanding of the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQIA2S+ community and informed my approach to developing inclusive, evidence-based mental health supports. The CCDP Professional Development Award greatly supported my ability to attend this conference, contributing significantly to my academic and professional development.