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We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ellen Gutowski to the department of Applied Psychology and Human Development who has officially been named Assistant Professor (tenure track), effective, July 1, 2024.

Dr. Gutowski will be teaching in the Clinical & Counselling Psychology Program. She graduated with a PhD in Counselling Psychology from Boston College and is a registered psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario in Counselling and Clinical Psychology. Throughout her training, she has largely worked in public and community-based settings and is very passionate about increasing access to high quality mental healthcare that is relevant to the needs of those who are currently underserved by our mental healthcare system.  

Dr. Gutowski completed a clinical fellowship at a community-based clinic through Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital and her clinical residency at Grady Hospital through Emory School of Medicine. During her doctoral studies, she was trained in community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods and has used this approach to work with and understand the needs of survivors of intimate partner violence.  

"These were really valuable learning experiences that continue to inform my research, practice, and teaching today", says Dr. Gutowski.

Below we learn more about Dr. Gutowski.

Can you tell us more about your current research and why it's important?
My research focuses on intimate partner violence.  This is important because it is an extremely widespread issue but one that is so commonly misunderstood. Sadly, these misunderstandings can lead to a range of harms that survivors experience in the process of seeking help and support.  Through my work, I hope to enhance public awareness of this topic and transform practices and systems-responses to this issue so that survivors can get the sensitive and just treatment that they deserve.

What courses are you teaching this year? How would you describe your approach to teaching and learning?
I am teaching Theories & Techniques of Counselling and Psychotherapy and it has been a privilege to teach this course for the past three years.  I aim to take a collaborative approach and to examine anti-oppressive and critical perspectives in the classroom.  I love teaching here because our students are brilliant and I am always coming away from our conversations with many lessons and reflections.

What do you like to do in your spare time (any favourite activities)?
I love getting outside and going for walks in the parks here in Toronto with my dog, Ernie.

What is your favourite cuisine and why?
It is hard to choose one because I love food!  I have been enjoying trying different perogies since moving here (Toronto) because it is hard to find pierogies in Boston. I like feeling connected to my Polish roots and also eating cheese and potatoes.

What is the one thing you like about Toronto and why?
One of my favorite things about Toronto is how diverse and huge it is.  There is so much to do and so many interesting people to meet who are doing important work.  It is a great place to teach and do research for this reason.

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishments, personally and professionally?
I just received funding from SSHRC which I am excited about because it will enable me to continue to study legal systems responses to intimate partner violence.  I am most proud of the ways in which I have been able to translate my research into practice in the form of trainings for professionals and other knowledge dissemination projects.  For example, I recently did a training for over 200 judges on intimate partner violence that was very meaningful.  Finally, I am proud of and feel really grateful for the relationships I have developed with mentors, mentees, colleagues, collaborators, and students which is one of the aspects of this role that I value the most.

What are you looking forward to accomplishing at APHD/ next in your career?
I look forward to furthering my research here by growing my lab, creating meaningful learning opportunities for students, learning all I can from community partners and agencies who are already working to address the issue of intimate partner violence locally and globally, and amplifying survivors’ perspectives through my research to change the way we (professionals and systems) approach this issue.