Inspired by Abaya Yalan (Latin American) Feminist and Queer social movements, I am passionate about transforming clinical psychology practice and training to embrace diverse gender, sexual, and cultural embodiments.
As a queer Mexican-Canadian cisgender white woman and an uninvited first-generation settler on the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, Huron-Wendat, and Seneca, I lead and support projects that focus on hermeneutical responsibility, relational ethics, and participatory methods. I draw from Critical Pedagogy, Transgender Studies, and Narrative approaches in my work.
I was first introduced to critical theories by my brilliant mentors Dr. Lee Airton and Dr. Michelle Searle during my Master of Education degree at Queen’s University (Katarokwi). I am continuing my journey into critical psychology under the compassionate and irreplaceable supervision of Dr. Maria Gurevich at the SHiFT Lab.
Currently, I am completing my clinical psychology training at Toronto Metropolitan University (Tkaranto, Treaty 13). In my research, I collaborate with trans and gender expansive people to improve the training that clinical psychologists receive about trans and gender expansive health. Together, we are developing a teaching and testing tool about trans health for mental health professionals. This work has been funded by the Ontario Women’s Health Scholars award, the Jean Royce Fellowship, the Soroptimist Foundation of Canada, and the Joseph Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship.
I always love meeting new people and collaborating. You can connect with me on twitter @SofiaIMelendez and at my website https://sofiamelendezron.wixsite.com/queering
Critical Psychology Network 