Troy Boucher

Clinical Psychology doctoral student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

I am a Métis doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program. I am in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Lab (ADDL) where I conduct research in autism and intellectual disability across the lifespan. I grew up in Edmonton, Alberta and moved to Burnaby to attend SFU, where I completed my Honour's degree in Psychology and my MA in Clinical Psychology. Throughout my time at SFU, I have worked with the Autism in Education Lab in the Faculty of Education and collaborated with researchers across Canada and internationally. My research has been funded by Special Olympics Canada and Special Olympics International. In the Spring 2024 semester, I will be teaching PSYC 391 – Indigenous People and Psychology, which examines the legacy of colonialism and policies of the Canadian government, such as Residential Schools and Indian Hospitals, and their effects on the psychological and physical well-being of Indigenous peoples.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COME TO SFU?

I came to SFU for my undergrad, where I was a goaltender for the Men's Lacrosse team. As I completed my undergraduate degree, I began working with the ADDL. This spurred my passion for research, and I developed an interest in working with neurodiverse populations, such as people diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability. I wanted to continue conducting research with Dr. Iarocci, with whom I completed my Psychology Honour's degree, so I knew that SFU would be the perfect fit for me to complete my graduate studies.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RESEARCH OR YOUR PROGRAM TO A FAMILY MEMBER?

I want to learn about the challenges that autistic people encounter, learn about their strengths and passions, and work with autistic people, advocates, and community members to create a world that is accessible to everyone. The overarching theme of my research is that of inclusivity. I aim to understand factors such as autism stigma and collaborate with autistic people to enact societal change, such as by developing an educational program to improve autism knowledge in children and adolescents.

WHAT ARE YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOYING ABOUT YOUR STUDIES/RESEARCH AT SFU?

I have greatly enjoyed the breadth of learning experiences available to me through the Clinical Psychology program at SFU. While my primary research and clinical interests are in autism and other developmental disabilities, I have completed coursework and conducted therapy and assessments in other clinical areas in which I previously had little or no experience. I also appreciate the range of therapeutic orientations held by my professors and clinical supervisors with whom I have worked, which I believe enables me to be a more informed and well-rounded clinician.

HAVE YOU BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF ANY MAJOR OR DONOR-FUNDED AWARDS? IF SO, PLEASE TELL US WHICH ONES AND A LITTLE ABOUT HOW THE AWARDS HAVE IMPACTED YOUR STUDIES AND/OR RESEARCH.

I am honoured to be a Vanier scholar, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). I am also the recipient of the Robert Russell Family First Nations Graduate Scholarship, Dean’s Graduate Fellowship, BC Graduate Scholarship, and the SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s. I am incredibly grateful to receive these awards, as they have helped ensure that I have financial peace of mind so that I can volunteer and engage with my community to produce high-quality research. I am also a proud collaborator and co-investigator on several research projects with my amazing colleagues, funded by the Community Engaged Research Initiative (CERi) and Community Engagement Initiative (CEI).