Gillian Shoychet

York University

Thesis: Evaluation of the Brief Child and Family Therapy Program in Community Mental Health Settings: Implementation and Preliminary Outcomes

Research Interests My doctoral research focuses on improving access to effective, evidence-based mental health care for children and families. As a clinician-researcher in clinical psychology, I am interested in developing and evaluating family-based interventions that promote child mental health while understanding how they can be successfully integrated into routine clinical practice. My dissertation examines the adaptation, implementation, and evaluation of a brief family intervention for child mental health across community settings, including a university psychology clinic and the Garry Hurvitz Centre for Community Mental Health (SickKids). Through this work, I examine how client, clinician, and organizational factors influence the successful adoption and sustainability of evidence-based interventions. After completing my PhD, I plan to continue conducting implementation research that bridges the gap between research and practice, with the goal of improving access to high-quality mental health services for children, youth, and families.

Fun fact about you: I’m happiest outdoors and love hiking, stargazing, swimming, and exploring new places, especially when there’s a dog nearby!

Explore some of Gillian’s work

  • Koven, M., Shoychet, G., & Prime, H. (2026). Why family assessments are key to child mental health. JAMA Pediatrics. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.5949
  • Shoychet, G., Kimber, M., Weiss, J., Honest, O., & Prime, H. (2023). Empirical support for a model of risk and resilience in children and families during COVID-19: A systematic review & narrative synthesis. Development and Psychopathology, 35(5), 2464–2481. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579423000767
  • Shoychet, G., Browne, D. T., Wade, M., & Prime, H. (2022). Assessing positive adaptation during a global crisis: The development and validation of the Family Positive Adaptation during COVID-19 Scale. Frontiers in Psychology, 13:886504. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.886504 
  • Shoychet, G., Lenton-Brym, A. P., & Antony, M. M. (2022). The impact of COVID-19 anxiety on quality of life in Canadian adults: The moderating role of intolerance of uncertainty and health locus of control. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 55(4), 300–312. https://doi.org/10.1037/cbs0000331
  • Shoychet, G., Lowe, C. J., & Bodell, L. P. (2022). Does menu labelling influence food choice and consumption in female undergraduate students? Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 55(3), 220–227. https://doi.org/10.1037/cbs0000336

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