Dr. Lisa Gray

Dr. Gray is a Registered Psychologist in Alberta with a PhD in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta. She has extensive experience working with post-secondary students, having completed a doctoral practicum at Counselling Services at the University of Alberta and her pre-doctoral internship at Counselling Services at the University of British Columbia.

She completed her master’s practicum at the Calgary Family Therapy Centre, where she developed a strong foundation in systemic and relationship-centred practice. Her master’s thesis examined shifts in parenting following participation in the 8-week Circle of Security© Parenting program. She is a Registered Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator and was honoured to receive the Governor General’s Gold Medal in recognition of academic excellence.

Dr. Gray operates a private practice serving individuals, couples, and families. She was a sessional instructor for several years before becoming an Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Health Disciplines at Athabasca University, where she also serves as Student Mentorship Coordinator. She is the director of the Parent Lab, where her research focuses on parenting beliefs and practices, maternal mental health, instructor training, qualitative research methods, and program evaluation. Her doctoral research explored mothers’ experiences of guilt and shame within the mother–child relationship, and she continues to examine how factors such as cultural identity and social media shape these experiences.

She remains committed to teaching excellence through both research and ongoing professional development. As a Graduate Teaching + Learning Program Scholar (a four-level program) through the University of Alberta, her scholarly project focused on skills-based professional development in teaching.

Across her clinical, research, and teaching roles, Dr. Gray values connection, curiosity, and creating spaces where people feel supported, understood, and capable of growth.

Dr. Gray is currently accepting thesis students whose research interests align with her areas of scholarship.

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Research interests

• Maternal mental health
• Mother-child relationship
• Parenting practices and interventions
• Instructor education and professional development
• Utilizing online technologies to conduct qualitative research

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Educational credentials

• PhD- Counselling Psychology, University of Alberta
• MC- Master of Counselling, Athabasca University
• BA- Psychology, Athabasca University
• SSW- Social Service Worker Diploma, Sheridan College

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Professional affiliations

• College of Alberta Psychologists
• Canadian Psychological Association
• Psychologists' Association of Alberta

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