Our team consists of primarily clinical-developmental psychology trainees, including PhD and MA level students.
PhD Students
Rivka Levin
Rivka Levin is currently in her final year of her PhD in Clinical Developmental Psychology set to be completed in 2024. Her research interests include Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Emotion Regulation, Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating eating among young adults. She is also interested in applying this research to create and evaluate evidence-based prevention and intervention programs.
Contact information: rivka@yorku.ca
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rivka-levin-91a90a97
What has helped you succeed: Support from my lab, family, and friends
Samantha Chan
Samantha Chan completed her PhD in Clinical Developmental Psychology. She completed her Honours BSc in Psychology at Queen’s University, and her MSc in Developmental Psychopathology at Durham University in the U.K. Her research mainly focuses on emotion regulation, emotion regulation flexibility, mental health and relationships among adolescents and emerging adults. She is also interested in applying research to develop evidence-based mental health intervention and prevention programs for children and youth. Samantha is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Kate Lee
Kate Lee completed her Honours B.A. in Psychology and MA in Clinical Developmental Psychology and is currently in her third year of her PhD in the Clinical Developmental Psychology program. Her research interests include parent-child dynamics and the role of parenting in the development of emotion regulation among youth and emerging adults. She is also interested in examining emotion regulation, mental health, resilience, and well-being among first-generation university students in Canada. She is interested in applying this research to develop effective evidence-based practice and intervention for youth, emerging adults, and families.
Contact Information: katelee@yorku.ca
What has helped you succeed: Support from family, friends, supervisors/mentors.
Paolina Onorato
Paolina Onorato has completed an HBSc and MA in Clinical Developmental Psychology, and is currently completing her PhD (in year 2) with anticipated year of completion 2027. Her research involves investigating the links between emotion regulation in interpersonal contexts, feelings of anxiety in social situations, and well-being. Specifically, she is interested in explaining how emotion regulation and anxiety can influence the well-being of emerging adults. Additionally, Paolina hopes to apply this research to inform evidence-based programs to promote well-being and positive mental health.
Contact information: onoratop@yorku.ca
What has helped you succeed: Support from supervisors, faculty, classmates, and family/friends.
Research Assistants
Aneeka Black
Aneeka Black is a third year student pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She is an undergraduate research assistant at the REACh lab, as well as a crisis responder at the Distress Centres of Greater Toronto. Aneeka is driven to pursue a career in Counselling Psychology with a focus on providing specialized support to youth from dysfunctional families, where the de-stigmatization of mental health is central to fostering transformative change within individuals and their communities. Her favourite course as a Psychology student is Research Methods
Contact Information: aneeka03@my.yorku.ca
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneeka-black-758a25235/
What has helped you succeed: Support from family, friends, and mentors
Nikita Baxi
Nikita Baxi is pursuing a Specialized Honours Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology, and is an undergraduate research assistant at the REACh lab. Nikita is driven to pursue Counselling Psychology, with an interest in supporting youth struggling with anxiety (e.g. Panic Disorder), school/work or transition stress, and trauma. She is passionate about developing a healthy set of tools to cope with life stressors and situations to create a strong, positive foundation for good mental health.
Contact information: nikita03@yorku.ca
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-baxi2003/
What has helped you succeed: My support system of kind-hearted family, friends, and professors who keep me optimistic
Lucas Liu
Lucas Liu completed a Specialized H.B.A. at York University in April 2022. Lucas is interested in researching the processes of well-being from adolescence to emerging adulthood. This includes understanding the influence of technology in inter- and intrapersonal emotion regulation, as well as the factors that support positive youth development, such as attachment and caregiver relationships. He aims to incorporate a trauma-informed and strengths-based perspective in his research. Lucas strives to engage in research that is informed by the lived experiences of those from marginalized groups, including people of colour, women, LGBTQ2S+, and the neurodiverse.
Contact information: lliu041@yorku.ca
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lucas-Liu-17/research
What has helped you succeed: His mentors, who have provided unwavering support in fostering his growth as a researcher and served as positive role models in his career.
Lab Coordinating Team
Lab Manager/Coordinator
Amanda Furlano
Amanda Furlano graduated from the Bachelor of Arts Specialized Honours Psychology Program at York in April 2021. Her primary research interests lie within emotional regulation in emerging adults in relation to self-harm. Also working towards enhancing the assessment, treatment, and diagnosis of mental disorder and implications for both assessment and intervention.
Contact Information: mandafurlano@gmail.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-furlano-55519a15b
What has helped you succeed: My family, friends, lab members, and faculty mentors within the Psychology department that have pushed me to continue my journey in academia and the field of Psychology!
Undergraduate Lab Coordinator and Student Success Support
Nicole Dimitrova
Nicole Dimitrova recently graduated from the Bachelor of Arts Specialized Honours Psychology Program. Her primary research interest lies in pain, particularly in investigating how people living with chronic pain cope with their emotions. Additionally, she aims to identify factors contributing to mental health issues and explore strategies to reduce these risks among emerging adults.
Contact information: nicdim@yorku.ca
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-dimitrova-229813279/
What has helped you succeed: Learning how to manage my time was crucial for my success in university. Balancing school with extracurricular activities was initially challenging, but once I learned how to organize and plan my time, everything became more manageable. Establishing a routine that suited me was key. I also learned how to recognize my limits and avoid overcommitting myself. Surrounding myself with motivated peers was another factor that contributed to my success. Above all, the unwavering support and encouragement of my family played a crucial role in my achievements. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for them.
