Rebecca Hudson Breen, PhD, MA, BA, BEd

About

PhD, MA, University of Victoria

BA, BEd, York University

Theoretical Orientation

My theoretical orientation in Counselling Psychology is integrative, drawing from constructivist and humanistic traditions. In working with clients, I focus on interpersonal process, and strive to foster a collaborative relationship that honours each individual's life context, strengths, and experiences. I have a special interest in working with couples, parents, and individuals with career-life concerns. I am a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists and a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.

Research

As a researcher, I am most interested in questions of career-life, the intersections of multiple life roles (including both paid and unpaid work), relational and sociocultural contexts of work/career, and the integration of social justice principles and action on climate change in career-life development. Recently, my research has involved exploring experiences of hope in supporting career-life development and wellbeing. I am interested in the experience of care work (mothering, parenting) as an aspect of career-life. Drawing on my experiences as an addictions clinician, I am also interested in the intersections of career-life and addictions recovery. I employ a scientist-practitioner-advocate approach to teaching, research, and service.

Currently I am leading a participatory action research project exploring hope and climate aware career development with youth, as well as collaborating on a survey of Canadian career counsellors and career development professionals on their perspectives on climate aware career development.

Past research projects under the umbrella of career and mental health have included:

- Grounded theory research on the experiences, choices and strategies of mother entrepreneurs in managing multiple life roles.  

- Participatory action research with teachers, exploring the integration of hope and strengths focused programming to support school mental health and career-life development, funded in part by Alberta Education

- Mixed methods research designed to shed light on intersections of gambling and work-life, funded by the Alberta Gambling Research Institute .

Publications

O'Brien, D., & Hudson Breen, R. (2023). “Grasping at straws,” experiences of Canadian parents using involuntary stabilization for a youth's substance use. International Journal of Drug Policy, 117, 104055.

Hudson Breen, R. & Lawrence, B. (2021). A Call for enhanced training and action on the intersections of mental health, decent work, and career in counselling and psychotherapy. Canadian Journal of Counselling & Psychotherapy/Revue Canadienne de Counseling et de Psychothérapie, 55(1), 28-50.

Hudson Breen, R. & Vilches, S. (2020). Doing all that Matters: A Relational Career Psychology Perspective on Mother-Entrepreneurship Career Success. In T. Esnard and M. Knight (Eds). Mothering and Entrepreneurship: Global Perspectives, Identities, and Complexities. Demeter Press.

Hudson Breen, R. & Leung, A. (2020). Choosing mothering and entrepreneurship: a relational career-life process. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship.

Christensen, D. R., Witcher, C. S., Leighton, T., Hudson Breen, R., & Ofori-Dei, S. (2018). Piloting the addition of contingency management to best practice counselling as an adjunct treatment for rural and remote disordered gamblers: study protocol. British Medical Journal Open, 8(4), e018804.

Hudson Breen, R., Tasker, S. & Hiebert, B. (2017). Keeping going: How self-employed women with children manage multiple life roles. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy 51, 187-206.

Sanders, J., Hudson Breen, R., & Netelenbos, N. (2017). Comparing Diagnostic Classification of Neurobehavioral Disorder associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE) with the Canadian Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Guidelines: A Cohort Study. Canadian Medical Association Journal Open 5, E178.

Shepard, B., & Breen, R. H. (2014) Youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Suggestions for Theory-Based Career Practice. In R. Shea & R. Joy (Eds.), A Multi-Sectoral Approach to Career Development: A Decade of Canadian Research (462-473) Ottawa, ON: CJCD.

Recent Presentations

Hudson Breen, R. & Lawrence, B. (2021, May). Counselling for radical hope in the context of unprecedented uncertainty. Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association Annual Conference.

Murdoch, K., Hobbs, C., Hudson Breen, R. & Larsen, D. (2021, May). Integrating hope-focused practices into schools for life and career development. Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association Annual Conference.

Lawrence, B. & Hudson Breen, R. (2020, December). A systematic review of mixed methods research in counselling psychology: Emerging trends and insights. Mixed Methods International Research Symposium.

Hudson Breen, R. (2020, January). A strengths, hope, and resources program for schools. Cannexus20 National Career Development Conference, Ottawa, ON.

Lawrence, B. & Hudson Breen, R. (2019, October). Career Resilience for NEET Emerging Adults: Hope to Promote Transitions into Decent Work. International Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood Conference, Toronto, ON.

Hobbs, C., Hudson Breen, R.; Holt, R.; Larsen, D. & Edey, W. (2019, June). The Strengths, Hope and Resourcefulness Program for School Mental Health

Canadian Psychological Association Annual Conference, Halifax, NS.

Hudson Breen, R. & Lawrence, B. (2019, May). Career Matters: Exploring Social Justice Practices in Career-life Counselling Across the Lifespan. Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association Annual Conference, Moncton, NB.

Hudson Breen, R., Isenor, J., Francis, T. (2019, January). Practitioner-based research: How to get it done. Cannexus National Career Development Conference, Ottawa, ON.

Novotna, G., Christensen, D., Hudson Breen, R., Teram, E., & Mfoafo-M’Carthy, M. (2018, October). Multiple Institutional Logics in Problem Gambling Treatment in Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan: A Case Study. 24th Qualitative Health Research Conference, Halifax, NS.

Hudson Breen, R. (2018, June). Work-life Recovery: Career Counselling and Addictions Treatment. International Congress of Applied Psychology, Montreal, PQ.

Van Vliet, J. & Hudson Breen, R. (2018, June). Counselling Psychology Careers in Academia: What Attracts the Next Generation? International Congress of Applied Psychology, Montreal, PQ.

EDPY 526 - Career Counselling: Theory and Practice

This course will examine lifespan career development as a dynamic and holistic enterprise. Topics include theories and techniques of career development, assessment, work-life issues, career-life decision-making and life transitions, with a focus on the practice of career counselling for diverse populations. Restricted to students in the School Counselling, Counselling Psychology, and School and Clinical Child Psychology Master's and Doctoral Programs. Students from other programs require consent of the Counselling Psychology program.

EDPY 634 - Advanced Counselling Practicum

This doctoral level Practicum is a continuation of EDPY 633, prerequisite: EDPY 633.

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