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Psychology Student Support & Resources

PAA Student Board Member

Chelsea Hobbs
University of Alberta

Chelsea is a doctoral student in the Counselling Psychology program at the University of Alberta. She completed her Masters in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta in 2013 and worked as a Mental Health Facilitator for Early Childhood Development Support Services (ECDSS) until she returned to pursue her studies this past fall. She is passionate about working with children and youth and her main research interests include hope, grief, and loss. She is also very interested in representing, communicating with, and advocating for students. Chelsea is very excited to have been chosen as the Student Director for the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta (PAA) Board of Directors and is looking forward to working collaboratively with PAA Student Members. Her main duties will include keeping student members informed of PAA initiatives and events and representing their voices on the PAA Board.

Did you know that PAA now has a Facebook Group specifically for you?

Come connect with your peers

https://www.facebook.com/groups/PAAStudents/

 

Campus Representatives

The Psychologists’ Association of Alberta (PAA) is now accepting applications for our 2021-2022 PAA Campus Representative positions. Being a Campus Representative is a great way to cultivate a better understanding of PAA and the role of the association as well as gain leadership experience while connecting with other students in psychology. These positions are also very rewarding, as they provide the opportunity to network with psychologists working in a variety of capacities within Alberta as well as establish a foundation within the profession of psychology prior to the completion of your degree. The PAA Campus Representative positions are open to students who are:

  1. PAA Student Members. If an applicant is not already a PAA Student member, they must complete the online membership application to become a student member prior to applying to fill the role of PAA Campus Representative.
  2. Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate psychology or psychology-related (e.g., educational psychology) program at a college/university within Alberta.
  3. Available to volunteer for a one-year term (May-April), work in collaboration with other PAA Campus representations and the Student Director on PAA’s Board of Directors, and promote the PAA, including the association’s services and benefits.

Download full position description here To apply, send your resume and a 250-500 word paragraph identifying why you would be a great PAA Campus Representative to Ada, PAA Executive Assistant. Deadline: 31 March 2021

Graduate Campus Representatives

Athabasca University – Shelbi Snodgrass
University of Calgary – Julie Gorenko
University of Alberta – Jonathan Dubue
University of Lethbridge – William Fraser
City University – Makayla Caputo &  Carly Prive

Undergraduate Campus Representatives

Mount Royal University – Toria Violo
University of Alberta – Adam Beedy

  Campus Representative positions available for the 2020-2021 academic year: Graduate programs

  • Concordia University
  • St. Mary’s University
  • Gonzaga University – Canada

Undergraduate programs

  • Ambrose University
  • Athabasca University
  • Burman University
  • Concordia University
  • Grand Prairie Regional College
  • MacEwan University
  • Mount Royal University
  • Red Deer College
  • St. Mary’s University
  • The Kings University
  • University of Alberta
  • University of Calgary
  • University of Lethbridge
  • City University of Seattle

PAA Membership Benefits

Advancing Your Professional Identity

  • Connects, understands, and supports psychologists, students, and affiliates

Your Voice

  • Advocate for psychology & its consumers
  • Defend scope of practice
  • Enhance psychologists’ opportunities
  • Inform the public & media

 Professional Development

  • Discounted, accredited, & responsive continuing professional development opportunities 
  • Recognition & awards 

Communication

  • Newsletters, Psymposium, & member advertising rates
  • Social Media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter)
  • Opportunities to network, to get involved, & to shape the profession

 Support

  • referral service with link to own website (full members)
  • access to practice advisors (full members)
  • discounted professional liability, home/auto, & office insurance
  • discounted rates for goods & services

Specifically for students…

Professional Identity

  • support through the transition from student to psychologist

Professional Development

Communications

Helpful Links

College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) The College of Alberta Psychologists (the “College”) is the regulatory body for the profession of psychology in the province of Alberta. Self-regulated professions establish entrance criteria and apply ethical codes and practice standards for the profession. The regulatory body also investigates complaints of unprofessional conduct and, where appropriate, takes steps to enhance the practice of its members to protect the public. Information about the College and about registration processes, professional conduct, legislation and privacy, as well as a members registry, are available on this website. It is not a post-secondary or educational institution. Visit their website

Who Do I Call First: CAP or PAA? – download

Canadian Psychological Association -Student Membership Student Affiliates are students enrolled full-time or part-time in a Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral Program, residing in Canada or the United States, who provide proof of enrollment in psychology (or a related field), at a recognized university, for the current academic year. (Student Affiliates have access to BMS Liability Insurance and are not permitted to vote in CPA’s Annual General Meeting).  Visit their website ALIS (Government of AB) Psychologist Employment Details Includes general information, average salary, average wage, minimum education, outlook, in demand score, duties, working conditions, skills & abilities, and related fields of study.  Visit the website The Canadian Handbook for Careers in Psychological Science by Meghan Norris Despite psychology being one of the most popular undergraduate programs, students often report not knowing how training in psychology relates to careers. In this book, experts within many sub-disciplines across Canada provide insights and advice on just some of the many ways that training in psychological science can build expertise that can be applied in many careers across sectors.  Access here

Get to know the Current PAA Campus Representatives 

Graduate Programs

Shelbi Snodgrass

Shelbi is currently in the second year of the Master of Counselling Program at Athabasca University. Shelbi’s areas of practice include addiction and mental health and performance psychology. Her research centres around spirituality as related to addiction recovery and identity development. Shelbi’s goals as a PAA Campus Representative are to create mentorship opportunities that support personal and professional development for emerging psychologists in their graduate programs. Shelbi is also a 200-hour registered yoga teacher. When Shelbi isn’t immersed in her studies, you can find her at plenty of overpriced workout classes in the city of Vancouver where she currently lives.

 

Makayla Caputo

Makayla is a second-year Masters of Counselling student at the City University of Seattle (located in Edmonton). Makayla’s research interests include understanding complex trauma and grief/loss. In her role as a PAA Campus Representative, Makayla hopes to encourage student engagement with PAA and to provide a voice for students in the field of psychology. During Makayla’s downtime, she likes to go on road trips across British Columbia where she is always looking for her next adventure. She loves hiking, camping, and attending country music festivals with her friends.

 

Julie Gorenko

Julie is currently a doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology Program at the University of Calgary. Broadly, Julie’s research interests include life course influences of health and well-being in older adulthood. Her dissertation research focuses on gambling among older adults in relation to factors including social networks and life events, such as retirement. In her role as a PAA Campus Representative, Julie seeks to encourage student engagement, both locally and across campuses in Alberta, by helping to facilitate and promote professional development and networking opportunities for students in psychology.

 

Carly Prive

Carly just finished the first year of the Masters of Counselling program at the City University of Seattle, in Edmonton, Alberta. Carly is still trying to find “what brings her joy” within this program but is heavily interested in attachment theory and the effects that attachment styles have on relationships. Carly is also fascinated with behavioural psychology and understanding how and why people behave the way they do. Becoming a PAA Campus Representative was important to Carly as she wanted a way to connect with other like-minded individuals and continue to gain knowledge within the field of psychology. During the little free time that graduate students have, Carly is often going on long walks with her husband, drinking numerous cups of coffee at local Edmonton cafes, baking up a storm, tending to her many houseplants, or practicing hot yoga.

Jonathan Dubue

Jonathan is a third-year doctoral student in the Counselling Psychology program at the University of Alberta (UofA). He’s been at the UofA since 2011, meaning he is close to transcending his physical form and will soon become one with campus. He primarily studies suicide risk assessment, including its practice, beliefs, and ethics. As PAA Campus representative, Jonathan aims to collect the psychological spirit at the UofA to support community and practice. Practically, this means hosting information nights, community meet-ups, and beaconing information through several email lists while amicably shouting them into your ear. He is fond of Tabletop Role-Playing Games (e.g. Dungeons and Dragons), throwing flat plastics across large distances (e.g. Ultimate Frisbee), and photographing neat stuff (e.g. Edmonton’s river valley).

 

William Fraser

William is a second-year Masters of Counselling student at the University of Lethbridge. His research interests are in the application of philosophy to counselling, addictions psychology, sports psychology, and joy. As a PAA Campus Representative, William hopes to better inform people on the value of a PAA membership and strengthen the PAA community. Before pursuing counselling, William was an amateur snowboarder, and he continues to stay in the industry as a writer.

Undergraduate Programs

Toria Violo

Toria is an undergraduate student completing her final year of Honours Psychology at Mount Royal University. Toria is currently a Research Assistant for two professors. Her research interests include gambling fallacies, gender equality within academia, and biases within student evaluations of teaching (SET’s). As Vice-President of the Psychology Student Society at her university, Toria enjoys fostering an open line of communication among her peers. In the upcoming year, Toria plans on pursuing graduate school for either clinical or counselling psychology. Toria enjoys living an active lifestyle, and you can find her on the weekends making her backyard as bee-friendly as possible. Also, she is a certified Rescue Diver, who loves travelling around the world to find the best scuba diving spots with her partner.

 

Adam Beeby

Adam is an undergraduate student in the Honors Psychology program at the University of Alberta. His research interests include motivation, emotion, anxiety and stress in educational and sporting contexts. He is currently exploring research on motivation for athletes in sports. Adam is an avid soccer player and has previously mentored and coached kids playing soccer.