Degrees in Progress:

PhD in Psychology (Clinical Stream)

Research Interests:

Alex completed her Master of Science at Queen’s University in Developmental Psychology. Her
Master’s research in the Adolescent Dynamics and Bullying Laboratories examined individual
differences in emotional processes (e.g., emotion recognition, emotion regulation) among
children and adolescents who are chronically victimized by their peers. At present, her doctoral
dissertation in the Biopsychosocial Laboratory is investigating the influence of familial factors,
such as parenting practices and attitudes, parent mental health, and parent emotion regulation, on children’s abilities and strategies used to regulate their emotions. She has also completed work in the Child Self-Regulation Laboratory, conducting research on a transdiagnostic group treatment for adolescents with learning disabilities and mental health problems (Integra Mindfulness Martial Arts).

Clinical Interests:

Alex is currently completing a practicum at the ROCK: Reach Out Centre for Kids. She has
worked in the past at St. Michael’s Hospital Department of Community Medicine (Clinical
Psychology Training Clinic) and the Integra Child Development Institute. Her clinical
experiences across these sites include comprehensive assessment (e.g., psychodiagnostic,
psychoeducational, and socioemotional) of children and adolescents as well as intervention (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, attachment-based therapies) with youth, parents, and families.

Research Support:


2016 – 2019 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship ($105, 000 over 3 years)

2016-Institute for Stress and Well-Being Harry Rosen Research Grant ($2, 250)

2015 Canada Graduate Internship Research Program Mitacs-Accelerate Research Internship, co-PI Karen Milligan, Ph.D. ($30, 000)

2013 – 2014 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Canada Graduate Scholarship ($17, 500)

Publications:

Milligan, K., Irwin, A., Cox, M., Wolfe-Miscio, M., Mintz, L., Woon, S., Gage, M., & Phillips,
M. (2016). Mindfulness enhances use of secondary control strategies in high school
students at risk for mental health challenges. Mindfulness, 7(1), 219-227. doi:
10.1007/s12671-015- 0466-8

Irwin, A., Li, J., Craig, W. M., & Hollenstein, T. (2016). The role of shame in peer victimization
and mental health outcomes. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 1-26. doi:
10.1177/0886260516672937

Selected Presentations:

Irwin, A., Besharat, N., McKeough, T., & Milligan, K. (2017, November). Self-monitoring
moderates the impact of mindfulness on attributional change in youth with learning and mental
health challenges. Poster presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), San Diego, CA.

Irwin, A., Haydicky, J., Meixner, T., Wiener, J., Phillips, M., & Milligan, K. (2015, November).
More treatment is not always better: A longitudinal examination of the impact of mindfulness
treatment on executive functions in youth with learning disabilities. Poster presented at the
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), Chicago, IL.

Meixner, T., Irwin, A., Wolfe-Miscio, M., Hamilton, L., Cox, M., Woon, S., Gage, M., Mintz,
L., & Milligan, K. (2015, October). Integra mindfulness martial arts: Recommendations for
implementation in a school setting. Poster presented at the Ontario Psychological Association
(OPA). Toronto, Canada.

Irwin, A., Li, J., Craig, W., & Hollenstein, T. (2015, August). The role of shame in chronic peer
victimization and mental health outcomes. Poster session presented at the American
Psychological Association (APA). Toronto, Canada.

Li, J., Irwin, A., Craig, W., & Hollenstein, T. (2015, June). The role of shame in chronic peer
victimization in children. Poster session presented at the Canadian Psychological Association
(CPA). Ottawa, Canada.

Meixner, T., Irwin, A., Wolfe-Miscio, M., Hamilton, L., Cox, M., Woon, S., Gage, M., Mintz,
L.,& Milligan, K. (2015, June). Integra mindfulness martial arts: An exploration of themes
for implementation in a school setting. Poster session presented at the Canadian
Psychological Association (CPA). Ottawa, Canada.

Li, J., Irwin, A., Craig, W. M., & Hollenstein, T. (2015, April). Predicting chronic peer
victimization and mental health symptoms in early adolescents: The mediating role of shame.
Poster presented at the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA). Baltimore, MD.

Irwin, A., Li, J., Craig, W., & Hollenstein, T. (2015, March). Understanding the relationship
between peer victimization and psychosocial functioning: The role of shame in peer
victimization. Poster symposium presented at the Society for Research in Child Development
(SRCD). Philadelphia, PA.

Irwin, A., Lanteigne, D., Craig, W., & Hollenstein, T. (2015, March). Emotion recognition in
youth victimized by their peers. Poster session presented at the Society for Research in Child
Development (SRCD). Philadelphia, PA.

Irwin, A., Lanteigne, D., Craig, W., & Hollenstein, T. (2014, May). Emotion recognition in
adolescents victimized by their peers. Poster session presented at Development 2014: A
Canadian Conference on Developmental Psychology. Ottawa, Canada.