Sophie Yohani, PhD, MEd, BA (Hons)

Professor, Faculty of Education - Educational Psychology Dept

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 537 - Basic Skills, Issues, and Attitudes in School Counselling

This course provides an understanding of essential communication, relationship building, interview, and counselling skills for school counselors, integrating theory and practice in implementing interventions and providing skill practice opportunities. Restricted to course-based MEd students in School Counselling. Students will not receive credit for both EDPY 597 Basic Skills, Issues, and Attitudes in School Counselling and EDPY 537.


EDPY 548 - Group-based School Counselling

This course focuses on theories and practical skill development related to group facilitation, including group formation, dynamics, norms, stages, and processes, with an emphasis on the use of groups with children and adolescents in school settings. Restricted to course-based MEd students in School Counselling. Students in other graduate programs in the Faculty of Education and Open Studies students may take this course with consent of the department if space permits.


EDPY 635 - Counselling Speciality: Theory and Practice

Prerequisite: EDPY 633 or equivalent.


Browse more courses taught by Sophie Yohani

Featured Publications

Yohani, S., Okeke-Ihejirika, P.

Women & Therapy. 2018 January;


Brar, N. & Yohani, S. C.

Canadian Journal of Counselling & Psychotherapy. 2014 January; 48 (2):81-99


Yohani, S.

Journal of International Migration and Integration. 2013 January; 14 (1):61-79


Yohani, S. C., Poirier, K., & Brar, N.

The Alberta Counsellor. 2013 January; 32 (2):21-32


Yohani, S., & Larsen, D.

2012 January;