Sophie Yohani, PhD, MEd, BA (Hons) - Directory@UAlberta.ca

Contact

Professor, Faculty of Education - Educational Psychology Dept

Email: sparkins@ualberta.ca

Overview

About

Dr. Sophie Yohani is a professor and registered psychologist with background in counselling psychology, global mental health, elementary education and experience in community psychology, program development, and community-based research. Dr. Yohani maintains an interest in multicultural counselling, childhood and adult trauma, psychosocial adaptation, hope/resiliency, and community-based participatory approaches. Her professional affiliations include the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), Canadian Psychology Association (CPA), Canadian Register of Health Service Psychologists (CRHSP), and The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS). Dr. Yohani is originally from Tanzania and held an adjunct visiting professorship in the Clinical Psychology Program, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) in Tanzania.

Research

Dr. Yohani's research examines the mental health and psychosocial adaptation of refugee and immigrants influenced by pre- and post-migration experiences and program/policy implications in education, healthcare, and community settings. Dr. Yohani’s focus on trauma and adaptation stems from over 25 years of clinical work in private practice and extensive community-based work with refugee and immigrant groups. Her work is integrative and resilience-focused, and guided by a number of theoretical orientations including ecological systems theory, theory (critical) of multicultural counselling and therapy (MCT), feminist and constructivist theories. Her current projects include exploring the mental health and adaptation of survivors of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi of Rwanda; a study examining the psychosocial adaptation and community-based mental health promotion within the Syrian community; and an examination of counselling practices and community-based cultural supports with refugees and immigrants. She is also part of a team of researchers studying the well-being of Africans in Alberta, including parenting practices, gender relations and family resilience.

Teaching

Courses Taught

•EDPY 402: Child Development for Educators

•EDPY 442: Introduction to Counselling

•EDPY 532: Systems of Counselling

•EDPY 533: Basic Issues, Skills and Attitudes in Counselling I

•EDPY 534: Basic Issues, Skills and Attitudes in Counselling II

•EDPY 542: Cross Cultural Counselling

•EDPY 545: Individual Psychological Assessment

•EDPY 597: Introduction to Play Therapy

•EDPY 597: Basic Issues, Skills and Attitudes in School Counselling

•EDPY 597: Counselling Children and Adolescents: Theory and Practice in Clinical and School Settings

•EDPY 634: Advanced Counselling Practicum

•EDPY 635: Advanced Multicultural Practice: Clinical Practice in Community Setting

Education In-Service/Materials

"Creating Welcoming Learning Communities: An Interactive Webinar Series for Educators". Development and facilitation of webinar series for teachers who are working with students from refugee backgrounds.,

http://welcominglearning.ualberta.ca/ - Created and co-facilitated by S. Yohani and A. Kirova, Faculty of Education University of Alberta (September, 2016 – April, 2017)

Courses

EDPY 533 - Foundations of Counselling Psychology: Theory and Clinical Practice I

This course introduces major theories used in counselling psychology and focuses on the development of foundational skills, knowledge, and attitudes for clinical practice with diverse populations and issues. The course includes both in-class components and a Master's-level practicum. Restricted to students enrolled in the Counselling Psychology program.

Fall Term 2024

EDPY 534 - Foundations of Counselling Psychology: Theory and Clinical Practice II

This course is a continuation of EDPY 533. Restricted to students enrolled in the Counselling Psychology program. Prerequisite: EDPY 533.

Winter Term 2025

EDPY 551 - Counselling Children and Adolescents: Theory and Practice in Clinical and School Settings

This course examines therapeutic approaches for working with children and adolescents in clinical and school settings. The course emphasizes methods of integrating and applying systemic, developmental, and individual theories to assessment and intervention with children, adolescents, and their families. Restricted to course-based MEd students in School Counselling. Students in other Counselling Psychology and School and Clinical Child Psychology Master's and Doctoral Programs may take this course with consent of the Department.

Winter Term 2025

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