OUR TEAM
Learn more about us
TANIA LECOMTE, PH.D.
Director
Tania Lecomte, Ph.D., is Full Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Montreal, Senior Researcher at the Research Institute of the Montreal Mental Health Institute (IUSMM) and CRIPCAS, founder of the Canadian Network of Researchers in Schizophrenia, and a Founding Member of the North American Network for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis. Her current work focuses on the recovery of people with mental disabilities. She is interested, for example, in assessing needs, self-esteem and social functioning, in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis (CBTp), first episodes of schizophrenia, and the professional reintegration of people with a severe mental disorder, as well as comorbid disorders (psychosis and substance abuse or social anxiety). Dr. Lecomte has directed and developed group workbooks for people with a severe mental disorder (such as: I am super-on self-esteem, CBT for psychosis, WITH-CBT for parents of people with psychosis and CBT for supported employment). She has benefited from several research grants at the national level (Canada) and several peer-reviewed articles (more than 120) have resulted from her work. She also co-edited the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Handbook (in French), published in 2004, and updated in 2012 by Les Presses de l'Université du Québec and she wrote the book Group CBT for psychosis published by Oxford Press in 2016 and translated into French at PUQ in 2018. She is also a clinical psychologist (private office) and expert trainer in psychological interventions with people with a severe mental disorder and their families.
AUDREY FRANCOEUR, Graduate student in psychology (R/I)
Social cognitive model of resilience following a romantic breakup in youth
Audrey first completed a Master's degree in psychology supervised by Tania Lecomte and Isabelle Daigneault concerning the mediating role of social cognition in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and romantic breakup adjustment in young adults. She is currently a doctoral student in psychology supervised by Tania Lecomte. Although Audrey is passionate by many research areas, her main interests are coping mechanisms, trauma, personnality and psychotic disorders. Her current research concerns emotional regulation in association with distress and mental health (resilience) following a romantic breakup in young adults.
BRIANA CLOUTIER, Graduate student in psychology (R/I)
Testing a novel group intervention for young men with a serious mental illness
Briana is a graduate student in clinical psychology (research-intervention profile) at the Université de Montréal. She obtained her bachelors' degree from Concordia University where she completed a honors' thesis on socicognitive predictors of education across generations. She is interested in interpersonal relations (families, friendships, couples) in the context of psychosis or severe mental illness. Her doctoral project focuses on assessing the impact of a novel intervention for romantic relationship functioning in young men with a psychotic disorder. She will also work on validating new tools focusing on sexuality and romantic relationship functioning in early psychosis.
ARCHIBALDO BRAVO, Graduate student in psychology (Ph.D)
​Effects of changing cognitive biases on social anxiety in people with schizophrenia
Archibaldo is a Ph.D. student in psychology at University of Montreal. Supervised by Tania Lecomte, his doctoral thesis concerns effects of changing cognitive biases and sociocognitive deficits, particularly facial emotion recognition, on social anxiety in people with schizophrenia. Archibaldo obtained his undergraduate degree in psychology at Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH; Mexico), and his Master's degree in psychology at Universidad Nacional Autonóma de México (UNAM; Mexico). He has had the opportunity to work on various research project, inluding validating a measure of social anxiety.
JULIETTE C. BAROLET, Master's student in psychology
Attachment and childhood maltreatment as predictors of resilience following a romantic breakup in youth
Having completed her bachelor's degree in psychology, Juliette continues her masters degree under the supervision of Tania Lecomte and Audrey Brassard. She concentrates her research on the role of insecure attachment in young adults who experienced a romantic breakup recently. Her Master's thesis objective is to enhance comprehension of predictors of distress or resilience following a non-desired romantic breakup. Because of the subject of her research project, she is a current member of the CRIPCAS research center. Her study is a part of a broader research project which includes social cognition and childhood maltreatment in a romantic breakup context.
​
CATHERINE HACHE-LABELLE, Graduate student in psychology (R/I)
Virtual reality as a social reconnection tool: Pilot study
Catherine is a first year doctoral student in psychology (Research and Intervention profile). Her research interests focus on mindfulness and psychotic disorders, for which she is passionate. She did her Master's degree at University of Montreal, supervised by Tania Lecomte, her Master thesis entitle Two is better than one: Pilot study on feasibility, acceptability and potential impact of a group intervention on romantic relationships for young men with a psychotic disorder. She also completed her Bachelor's degree in psychology at University of Montreal.
MARIANNE BOUCHARD, Graduate student in psychology (Clinical psychology)
Study about function and effects of stimulant drugs in a population with schizophrenia
Marianne completed her degree in psychology at University of Montreal, where she held the position of research assistant in L'ESPOIR, in which she has been a member for more than two years. She is a passionate and dynamic student who aspires to become clinical psychologist as well as lecturer, while continuing her involvement in psychology research. Marianne is currently a graduate student in clinical psychology under supervision of Tania Lecomte and Stéphane Potvin. Her research project aims to provide a global and detailled portrait of psychosis and impulsivity characteristics in people with schizophrenia using psychostimulants.
ANTOINE PENNOU, Graduate student in psychology (R/I)
Study about an intervention aiming to decrease emotional distress in concurrent disorders
Antoine is currently a graduate student in psychology at University of Montreal and is supervised by Tania Lecomte and Yasser Khazaal. His research is about the importance of theory of mind and emotional regulation in social functioning of individuals with dual diagnosis of schizophrenia and alcohol and drug use disorder. He is working on developing a smartphone application that aims to promote better disease management for this population. He also conducted research about impulsiveness and its therapeutic implications for bipolar disorders at Douglas Mental Health University Institute, under the supervision of Serge Beaulieu.
​
CRYSTAL SAMSON, Graduate student in psychology (R/I)
Better understanding of cognitive biases in psychosis and depression
Crystal completed her Bachelor's degree in psychology at University of Ottawa, where she an undergraduate thesis about antipsychothics for people with intellectual disabilities. She is currently ending her Ph.D. in psychology at Univeristy of Montreal, in the L'ESPOIR laboratory. She is interested in various issues in adult mental health, psychotic disorders and personality disorders. She completed her internships according to psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral and humanistic approaches, which made her want to practice in an integrative approach. Her doctoral thesis focuses on cognitive biases in people with schizophrenia or major depressive disorder. She is also involved in many current projects in L'ESPOIR. Among other things, she leads a cognitive-behavioral therapy via Internet for young adults with psychotic disorder.
​
ANTOINE PENNOU, Graduate student in psychology (R/I)
Pilot project to set up a database at the CUP: a qualitative study of clinicians' impressions
Antoine is currently a graduate student in psychology at University of Montreal and is supervised by Tania Lecomte and Yasser Khazaal. His research is about the importance of theory of mind and emotional regulation in social functioning of individuals with dual diagnosis of schizophrenia and alcohol and drug use disorder. He is working on developing a smartphone application that aims to promote better disease management for this population. He also conducted research about impulsiveness and its therapeutic implications for bipolar disorders at Douglas Mental Health University Institute, under the supervision of Serge Beaulieu.
​
RAPHAËLLE MERLO, Master's student in psychology
Pilot study on the implementation of mindfulness workshops in prisons for women with serious mental disorders
Raphaëlle joined the L'ESPOIR laboratory in 2018 during her bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of Montreal. She is now continuing her involvement in this laboratory as part of her master's degree in psychology. His research interests include mindfulness, third wave cognitive behavioral therapies and teletherapy, among others. Raphaëlle is also interested in the recovery of people with serious mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders and borderline personality disorder. Her master's project, under the supervision of Ms. Tania Lecomte (Ph.D), will aim to assess the feasibility, acceptability and potential impact of implementing mindfulness workshops with women with serious mental disorders. in prison.
PAMÉLA POWER, Étudiante au doctorat en psychologie (D.psy)
Anne-Marie Kik, Étudiante au doctorat en psychologie (D.psy)
Paméla est étudiante au doctorat en psychologie clinique (D.psy) à l’Université de Montréal, sous la direction de Mme Tania Lecomte. Précédemment, elle a obtenu son baccalauréat en psychologie à l’Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. Elle s’intéresse aux services offerts aux personnes ayant un trouble mental sévère. Peu d’outils existent pour aider les intervenants à offrir les meilleurs soins à ces individus. Ainsi, le Client Assessment of Strengths, Interests and Goals (CASIG) a été conçu pour mesurer différentes sphères de la vie d’une personne qui pourrait nécessiter du soutien ou encore des services spécifiques. Cet outil a fait l’objet d’une révision et le projet de recherche de Paméla vise à compléter la fidélité test-retest ainsi que la sensibilité au changement inclut dans le processus de validation de la CASIG-rev.
Anne-Marie est étudiante au Doctorat en psychologie, orientation psychologie clinique (D.Psy) à l'Université de Montréal. Étant une militante pour des causes touchant le bien-être dans son propre corps, l'image corporelle et les troubles alimentaires, elle s'intéresse entre autres à la relation à la nourriture dans notre société ainsi qu'à ses diverses fonctions et significations chez les individus. Son projet, supervisé par Tania Lecomte, permettra d'explorer quelles sont les perceptions individuelles de l'alimentation et de la nutrition, ainsi que différents facteurs de maintien et de changement d'habitudes alimentaires, chez des personnes souffrant de troubles psychotiques.
SARA ABOU CHABAKE, Étudiante au doctorat en psychologie (Ph.D.)
Anouck Chalut, Étudiante au doctorat en neuropsychologie clinique (D.Psy)
Sara est étudiante au doctorat en psychologie (profil Recherche) à l’Université de Montréal. Elle travaille sous la direction de Tania Lecomte et Isabelle Daigneault. Elle a complété un baccalauréat et une maîtrise en psychologie clinique à l’Université Saint Joseph de Beyrouth. Ses intérêts en recherche sont orientés vers les troubles mentaux graves plus particulièrement les troubles psychotiques ainsi que les thématiques liées au trauma, trouble de stress post-traumatique, et maltraitance dans l’enfance.
​
Sa thèse porte sur l’influence du trauma et des adversités dans l’enfance sur les traitements ainsi que sur les trajectoires de soin médicaux et de fonctionnement social des personnes vivant avec un trouble psychotique. Le projet inclura les données de la Banque Signature, une banque biopsychosociale de l’Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal et les banques clinico-administratives de la RAMQ et du MSSS.
Les déficits cognitifs chez les individus présentant un trouble de la personnalité comorbide à la schizophrénie : une méta-analyse
Anouck est candidate au doctorat en neuropsychologie clinique (D.Psy) à l'Université de Montréal. Ses intérêts portent sur les atteintes cognitives retrouvées chez les individus vivant avec un trouble psychotique et les processus de rétablissement qui y sont rattachés. Sur le plan clinique, Anouck s’implique depuis plusieurs années au sein d’organisations visant à faciliter l’inclusion sociale d’individus vivant avec un trouble mental grave ou une limitation fonctionnelle. Sous la direction de Dre Tania Lecomte, son projet de recherche vise à mieux caractériser le profil cognitif d’une population qui présente un trouble de la personnalité comorbide à la schizophrénie au moyen d’une méta-analyse. Ce projet permettra éventuellement d’adapter des interventions cognitives au profil cognitif de ces individus afin de favoriser leur rétablissement.
​
Justin Lamontagne, Étudiant au doctorat en psychologie (R/I)
Kathya Carrier, Étudiante à la Maitrise en psychologie
Améliorer le fonctionnement amoureux et social des jeunes adultes avec un trouble mental grave.
​
Justin détient un baccalauréat en psychologie (B. Sc. Honor) de l'Université de Montréal. Il est étudiant au doctorat en psychologie clinique (profil Recherche-intervention) sous la supervision de Dre Tania Lecomte depuis septembre 2022. Ses intérêts de recherche portent sur le fonctionnement amoureux et social des jeunes adultes avec un trouble mental grave ainsi que la solitude et la connexion sociale. Son projet doctoral consiste à évaluer l'efficacité d'une nouvelle intervention de groupe basée sur l'approche cognitive-comportementale qui vise à aider les jeunes adultes avec un trouble mental à développer des relations amoureuses saines et à améliorer leur fonctionnement social. Justin est récipiendaire d'une bourse d'études supérieures du Conseil de recherche en sciences humaines du Canada (CRSH) pour l'année 2023-2024 ainsi que d'une bourse des Fonds de recherche du Québec - Société et culture (FRQSC) pour l'année 2024-2025.
Étude sur l'effet de l'activité physique sur la restriction cognitive, la désinhibition alimentaire et l'alimentation émotionnelle chez la population psychotique.
​
Kathya a fait son baccalauréat en psychologie à l'Université de Montréal et poursuit maintenant son cheminement scolaire à la maîtrise en psychologie sous la direction du Dre. Tania Lecomte ainsi que du Dr. Ahmed Jérôme Romain travaillant à l'école de kinésiologie de l'Université de Montréal. Les intérêts de recherche de Kathya tournent autour des habitudes alimentaires et physiques des individus souffrant d'un trouble situé sur le spectre de la schizophrénie. Les interventions et la recherche envers cette population clinique ont rarement fait le pont entre les symptômes, l'alimentation et l'exercice physique et c'est ce que sa recherche tente de mettre de l'avant.
Our trainers
ANOUK LATOUR-DESJARDINS, D.PSY., Psychologist
Trainer in TCCp and interventions / psychotherapy for psychotic disorders (located in Montreal)
Anouk completed her professional doctorate in psychology at the L'ESPOIR laboratory under the supervision of Tania Lecomte and Dr. Amal Abdel Baki in 2017. She was interested in romantic relationships among young men struggling with a psychotic disorder. She works both in a private office and at the Douglas Institute in Mental Health as a psychologist, both in an individual and group approach. Although she calls herself an integrative approach, she has mastered and applied cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis for several years (in particular the group approach of Prof. Lecomte).
​
​
​
​
PHILLIP THÉRIEN, D.PSY., Psychologist
Trainer in family approaches and interventions / psychotherapy for psychotic disorders (located in Montreal)
Philip completed his professional doctorate in psychology at the L'ESPOIR laboratory under the supervision of Tania Lecomte in 2012. He studied the care pathway for people struggling with both borderline personality disorder and borderline personality disorder. psychotic disorder. Since then, he has worked as a psychologist in a private office as well as in a community context. He has developed expertise in family intervention with parents and relatives of people struggling with a psychotic disorder (including the VSLA group). Integrative approach, he is also trained in cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (in particular the group approach of Prof. Lecomte).
CÉCILE ROCHET, D.PSY.
Trainer in CBT-VSLA and interventions / psychotherapy for psychotic disorders (located in Lyon, France)
Cécile graduated from Lumière Lyon 2 University (Lyon.France) specializing in monitoring family in a systemic approach. She works as a psychologist, in two psychiatric departments, at the Vinatier hospital, in Lyon. Its main missions are the support of families affected by mental disability, both in individual and group approach. She is also trained in cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (in particular the group approach of Prof. Lecomte).