UNews - psychologist

Master's studies gain insight into tragedy

trevor.kenney — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:27:35 +0000

As news reports filtered out of fire-ravaged Slave Lake, Alta., recently, tales of heroism and perseverance in the midst of personal tragedy riveted the public. The stories took on even more meaning to ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge master's student Ainslee Kimmel, who is completing her thesis by studying the effects of wildfire and the resiliency of people who experience its wrath.

Kimmel's study focus is on the 2009 West Kelowna fire but she couldn't help but draw similarities to the stories she hears about the residents of Slave Lake.

Master's student Ainslee Kimmel pursues a Master in Education degree while working with noted health sciences researcher Dr. Judith Kulig.

"I think a big thing I see that's similar between the two is the factor of the unknown," she says. "A lot of people said the most stressful thing about the fire was the act of being evacuated, and then hearing reports on what parts of town were and were not affected by the fire, not knowing if they had or had not lost everything."

Kimmel, a Calgary native, came to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ with a bachelor of psychology degree from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria. Her goal is to eventually become a registered psychologist, which might seem contrary to her master's work (MEd in the Faculty of Education) at first glance, but it's all by design. She chose the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge over other graduate programs because it is allowing her a more hands-on, practical approach to her vocation.

"The other schools I was accepted to were more research oriented and I wanted to finish my master's with a practical skillset, and I found that here," she says. "It allows me to focus more on counselling as opposed to a master's in health psychology, which puts you in the stream for studying a PhD and possibly teaching."

Working with supervisor Dr. Judith Kulig, an expert in wildfire research and community resiliency from a health sciences perspective, Kimmel sees the practical potential of her findings.

"I just want to know how people cope after something like a wildfire event," she says. "Wildfires in Canada are increasingly a big issue and if we can determine how people cope, hopefully we can develop strategies to help people function better after a wildfire."

Kimmel actually worked with Kulig as a research assistant for a year prior to the beginning of her thesis. Despite the fact that she's pursuing a master's of education degree, she was given special dispensation to have Kulig as her supervisor. She travelled with Kulig to conduct interviews and acquire data following a wildfire event in Barriere, B.C., and is using that experience to guide her through her study of the West Kelowna event.

"Through the work I did with Dr. Kulig, we saw people in Barriere who made it through the fire without losing their homes and yet they had lingering symptoms of depression, while some of those who lost their homes were able to bounce back quicker," says Kimmel. "Understanding how that works and how we can help these people on various levels is the ultimate goal."

While Kulig's research emphasis focuses on community resiliency as a whole, Kimmel's approach, as a psychologist in training, is more specific.

"I felt I could pursue something more on the individual aspects of wildfire," she says, noting that her findings, although preliminary, are not entirely negative. "I'm also looking at how people grow from the experience as a result. It's termed post-traumatic growth in the literature and discusses how people can go through something traumatic and months and even years later benefit from it in terms of developing closer relationships, a better attitude on life and a feeling of strength and confidence that they were able to get through it."

To date, Kimmel has made one trip to Kelowna, interviewing a host of government and firefighting personnel. She expects to return to complete her interviews this fall and will finish writing her thesis over the winter. Kimmel says her excellent relationship with Kulig has been integral to the process.

"She's such a caring person and is really there to help a student. She's also always included me, in terms of authorship, on anything we've worked on," says Kimmel. "We get along so well on a personal level and I don't know if everybody has that with their supervisor – it really can make a difference."

Kimmel's research was made possible by a $17,500 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant.

GET THE FACTS

· Kimmel's study actually includes three fire events in and around West Kelowna in 2009, including: Terrace Mountain Fire (9,277 hectares burned); Glenrosa Fire (400 hectares); and the Rose Valley Fire (200 hectares).

· Only four structures were lost in West Kelowna, despite the potential of losing many more that were threatened, and Kimmel says her preliminary findings show a sense of pride from residents over how the crisis was handled.

· Kimmel accompanied Dr. Kulig to Texas to present findings from her research at an international conference.

This story first appeared in the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Senate chooses five to receive honorary degrees

trevor.kenney — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:30:06 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate has confirmed a diverse and distinguished group of persons as recipients of Honorary Degrees for 2010.

The recipients, who represent a cross section of the local, national and international community, will receive their degrees at the Spring 2010 and Fall 2010 Convocation Ceremonies.

This year's recipients are (in alphabetical order):

- Dr. Vincent DiLollo, a psychologist and world leader in research relating to how the brain processes vision. His findings are among the contributions that significantly changed the direction of psychological research in the twentieth century. (Spring, 2010)

- Ike Lanier, a leading member of the agricultural community in southern Alberta and Canada, and a proponent of minimal tillage crop production. Lanier has pioneered new crop development in southern Alberta, and is an active supporter of different ways to market and transport grain. (Spring, 2010)

- Dr. Hank A. Margolis, a professor in the Faculty of Geography and Geomatics at Laval ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Quebec, and a driving force for Canadian research into the carbon cycle of forests and wetlands. (Fall 2010)

- Shirley McClellan, a veteran Alberta politician and former deputy premier of the province of Alberta who has matched her interests in farming and education with a long tradition of community service. (Spring, 2010)

- Dr. Michael (Tom) Melling, one of Lethbridge‚s longest-serving physicians, an inventor of a mobility aid for the disabled and the founder and operator of a much-needed Lethbridge cancer clinic. (Spring, 2010)

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate has confirmed a diverse and distinguished group of persons as recipients of Honorary Degrees for 2010.

Here's a thought - Vancouver Gold

trevor.kenney — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:33:03 +0000

Canada's Olympic athletes work tirelessly to create strong bodies but what can't be overlooked is how mental strength can make the difference in reaching the medal podium in Vancouver. That's where ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumnus Derek Robinson (BA '00, MEd '03) makes his contribution to the Olympic effort.

Robinson, a mental training consultant at the Canadian Sport Centre in Calgary, works primarily with Canada's national long track speed skating team. It is one of Canada's strongest groups and presents a variety of medal hopes, but to optimize performance, the athletes need to be in a perfect frame of mind. Robinson's role is to help each of them find a mental balance that will allow for success.

"I try to really personalize the mental training for the individual so it is more effective, so that on a personal

Alumnus Derek Robinson.

level, as human beings, they are able to be at their absolute best," says Robinson. "That's where my background in counselling education really comes in. Athletes have to know themselves extremely well so they can make the right choices in many of the situations they encounter."

Robinson, a former U of L Pronghorn men's hockey player (1995-2000), knows of what he speaks, having been an athlete before he was a psychologist. In fact, his athletic past almost prevented him from pursuing his interest in psychology.

"I was always an analytical player and had a huge interest in the mental aspect of performance," he says. "I wanted to be a psychologist and obviously loved sports, but I was a hockey player, I swore in the dressing room, drank beer in the pub and never really thought I had the right material to be a psychologist."

Now, that common bond he shares with his athletes is a huge benefit.

"My background in sports has really helped me communicate with the athletes because we're on the same page; we speak the same language," he says.

And when an athlete stands proudly on the podium, Robinson shares in the thrill of that moment.

"There's a lot of satisfaction in seeing them succeed," Robinson says. "The reality is that it's the athlete who ultimately has to perform, but it's a team effort. The coaches and support team at this level are phenomenal, and we're all working together to help athletes achieve their absolute best."

Sound advice allowed Robinson to seek path

trevor.kenney — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:49:47 +0000

Derek Robinson (BA '00, MEd '03) always knew what he wanted to do – he just needed someone to tell him it was OK.

The former ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey forward had an interest in psychology that he wanted to pursue but it wasn't until a career counselor at the U of L affirmed it was a realistic path, that Robinson really believed he had the right stuff.

"Most of the guys I played with were in education or management and pretty much told me I'd never get a job in psychology," Robinson, now a mental training consultant at the Canadian Sport Centre in Calgary who works primarily with Canada's National Long Track Speed Skating team, says.

So he continued on, studying psychology but never fully committing to a major until his third year.

"I always wanted to be a psychologist and obviously loved sports but I was a hockey player, I swore in the dressing room, drank beer in the pub and never really thought I had the material to be a psychologist," he says.

"I think back now to the sessions I had with the counselor and everything we talked about I actually ended up doing."

The events he refers to include research projects, working with elite athletes and coaching at the highest level of sport. In February, Robinson will be in Vancouver as the long track speed skating team looks for a golden harvest at the 2010 Olympics.

A Victoria, B.C. native, Robinson found the U of L to be a perfect fit when he came to campus in the fall of 1995. The size of the city suited him well and he was joining a hockey program fresh off its first national title. However, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ would prove to be much more than just a hockey stop.

"The U of L was a great fit," Robinson says. "Lethbridge is a great place to go to university and it was a really good experience getting my BA there and playing for the Horns. Obviously I liked it enough to go back and complete my master's degree."

The research focus for his master's thesis was on the prevalence of mental training in hockey, specifically the Alberta Junior Hockey League, and whether the league's coaches felt it would be beneficial. The majority did but were lacking the resources to add a mental trainer to their staff.

"Over the course of my thesis, I formed a great relationship with Dr. Kerry Bernes," Robinson says. "I really respect both he and Dr. Kris Magnusson, who was running the program at the time. Those two guys were pivotal through my master's and were really helpful for my career."

He's looking for a career high note in February, after which he'll try and curtail his travel schedule and devote more time to his family.

"I'll be with the support staff at the Games," Robinson says. "Working with the athletes on such a personal level, it's very exciting to see them excel and I'll be thrilled if they do well in Vancouver."

GET THE FACTS

• Robinson and his wife Lisa (now an art teacher) both came to the U of L from Victoria and they have two children, a four-year old son and 18-month old daughter.

• Robinson has also worked in private practice with the Calgary Health Region.

• While at the U of L, Robinson had a 20-goal season in 1998-99.

Uncovering stories of healing

trevor.kenney — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:14:26 +0000

U of L health sciences professors Dr. Gary Nixon and Dr. Brad Hagen are aware of the potential stigma and suffering associated with psychosis. Both having worked in the field of mental health (Nixon as a psychologist and Hagen as both a registered nurse and a provisional psychologist), they've seen firsthand how people with psychosis struggle with not only with their conditions, but also with feelings of isolation and the side-effects of the psychotropic drugs they're often prescribed.

"People with psychosis very seldom say they receive messages of hope through the mental health system," says

(l-r) Dr. Brad Hagen, research assistant Krystal Kingston and Dr. Gary Nixon delve deeper into psychotic episodes and the sometimes positive transformations that can result.

Nixon. "They may be told that this is the way they'll be for the rest of their lives, and there's not much that can be done about it other than to take medication. After diagnosis people can lower their expectations."

During a two-year research project involving people with psychosis, however, Nixon and Hagen spoke with participants who claimed that their psychotic episodes, although troubling at the time, subsequently proved to be transformative in nature, often leading to significant spiritual or psychological growth.

"The entire concept of psychosis is always seen as very negative" says Hagen. "We're not trying to downplay how disturbing and crippling psychosis can be for many individuals, but our research suggests that there may be a significant number of people who describe their psychosis as a kind of spiritual or psychological awakening. We wanted to get those stories out there."

Nixon and Hagen, together with research assistant Krystal Kingston (BSc '07), a second-year master of education student, interviewed 30 people in Western Canada who felt their psychosis had resulted in a kind of personal growth or transformation. One important finding of the study is that this group of people – or "transformers," as the researchers have called them – found alternative ways to deal with their delusions and/or hallucinations, after finding that traditional treatments were not helpful.

Transformers reported success in managing their symptoms in a variety of ways, most often associated with meditation or other forms of spiritual practice. Successful transformers felt their journey through psychosis, although initially difficult, was eventually a path to greater inner peace and calm.

"We're certainly not saying that this approach works for everyone, but our research suggests that for some individuals, it does," Hagen says.

Hagen and Nixon are in the final stages of their study, and are presently writing several manuscripts describing their findings.

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