Student testimonials

Sarah Buydens

"I realized that I really wanted to work with kids, not teach them. Then I realized that I really wanted to work with their families." For her master's thesis, Sarah chose The Lived Experience of Women Veterans of the Canadian Forces, which was funded by a $10,000 scholarship from the Department of National Defence.

"I loved trauma work. I'm trained as a trauma therapist, and I wanted to work with people who encounter high risk in the workplace. I had worked at the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre and seen the work that the counselors do there, and that led me to investigate the experiences of women in the military. Surprisingly, there was little existing research about them."

Sarah will pursue the importance of mentorship among military women in her PhD research, which she's already started, under the guidance of her master's supervisor Dr. Tim Black. Sarah also works as a therapist with Victoria's Men's Trauma Centre and serves as a volunteer board member.

Tanya Ward

Tanya's MA thesis in Counselling Psychology was related to the work and educational aspirations of young single mothers in rural communities. Here's what she had to say about the program: "I am truly grateful for the support and encouragement I received from the department. My supervisors and professors were always available for questions and guidance."

After graduation, Tanya plans to start her own practice and spend some quality time building sand castles with her daughter. Her words of wisdom to new students? "Don't forget to breathe."