Background

I began the Clinical Psychology program at UNB in September 2004 under Dr. Carmen Poulin's supervision after completing a BSc (Hons) in Psychology at the University of Prince Edward Island. My clinical and research interests lie in women's psychology, and more specifically, violence against women. I am presently completing a research project that examines a rural community's perception of services and resources available for victims of intimate partner abuse. In particular, I am examining the need for a coordinated community response to violence, as well as identifying additional barriers to services that rural women face when seeking such services. Future research will also look at barriers to services for victims of intimate partner abuse, with the main focus being identification of barriers in the criminal justice system. To support this research, I have received a CGS Doctoral Scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. I have also been awarded a Canadian Federation of University Women Scholarship (2005).

I am also involved with the Tantramar Family Violence Research Team, which is a multidisciplinary team based out of the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research. This team is conducting research to identify the perceived needs and gaps in services and resources for abused women, with a view to developing family violence interventions and educational strategies.

My teaching interests mirror my clinical and research interests. I am primarily interested in teaching courses related to the psychology of women and family violence, as well as courses in gender and sexuality.


Presentations

Ryan, D.L., & Papps, F.A. (October, 2004). Men, masculinity, and Muscularity: A qualitative inquiry into male body image. Paper presented at the annual conference of Emerging Issues in Psychology, Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Ryan, D.L., & Papps, F.A. (June, 2004). Beauty of the Beast: Exploring male body image perceptions and ideals. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Psychological Association, St. John’s, Newfoundland.

O’Brien, D.L., Poulin, C. M., Doherty, D., & Hornosty, J. (June, 2006). Abused Women
Negotiating Access to Services:  A Community's Perception and Experience. Poster
presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Psychological Association, Calgary,
Alberta.