I am interested in the diagnosis, etiology and treatment of gynecological pain, in particular dyspareunia and vaginismus. My current research focuses on evaluating the efficacy of cognitive, behavioural and medical interventions in treating dyspareunia, as well as investigating the role of the affective, cognitive and relationship variables involved in this problem. My work has led to the development of a cognitive-behavioural program integrating pain management and sexual therapy for treating women suffering from dyspareunia.

My research projects focus on improving treatment for people with severe mental illness, either by creating new treatments, evaluating needs or training mental health workers. For instance, I have collaborated on creating and validating group interventions in cognitive behaviour therapy to improve self-esteem or the symptoms of people suffering from psychoses. My current research bears mainly on first-episode patients, but I am also interested in patients with longer clinical histories.

My current research looks at the impact of cognitive behaviour therapy on the symptoms and functioning of people after a first psychotic episode (CIHR grant); profiles of first episodes who follow or ignore treatment recommendations for their psychosis (MSFHR grant, Norma Calder); the impact of motivational interviews on treatment persistence among first-episode patients; care and clinical profiles, and the creation of group treatment, for people suffering from psychoses as a result of methamphetamine abuse (CIHR grant); the impact of cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis on an incarcerated psychiatric clientele; support for employment (CIHR grant) and education for people with severe mental illness; cognitive remediation related to social functioning among people with psychoses and cognitive deficits. I am also interested in the stigmatization of psychosis and knowledge transfer in the community.

My research work addresses different themes linked to couple relationships, in the general population and in clinical populations. First of all, the adult attachment theory shapes much of my research. Drawing inspiration from this theoretical model, I examine the close bonds between attachment, conjugal support and sexuality, to better understand the dynamics of conjugal relations among different populations of couples. Second, I am especially interested in infertility. My work aims at 1) assessing the psychological, conjugal and sexual impacts of this problem, 2) assessing the specific needs of couples undergoing infertility treatment and 3) developing interventions for optimizing these couples' well-being. Lastly, conjugal abuse and dyadic coping are also among my fields of interest.