Gladiola Musabelliu

Doctor of Philosophy in School and Clinical Child Psychology (SCCP), Class of 2020

What are some words of wisdom you would give to a new or incoming student in your program?
It takes time and hard work to finish a Ph.D. program and it is not easy, but it is doable. Believe me when I say this; I was a mother of two when I started this program and became a mother again for the third time. You can do this! Keep calm, rely on your friends and faculty for support and encouragement, and follow your dream.

What next?
Now, I have started a new journey to becoming a registered psychologist working with children and adolescents. I am working at the Toronto Catholic District School Board and a private practice setting as a Psychologist in Supervised Practice.

Why OISE?
I had only a few months in Canada as a newcomer when my future supervisor at OISE and one of the best professors I ever had during my academics, Dr. Judy Wiener, encouraged me to apply for a Ph.D. in the SCCP Program at OISE. When I read the description of the program I immediately realized that this was the program I had always wanted to pursue. This program offered a unique combined approach by bringing together the clinical and school facets of children’s lives and it provided comprehensive training in clinical and psycho-educational assessments, psychosocial and instructional interventions for children and their families, offering the possibility to apply this knowledge in diverse work settings, such as schools, clinics, private practice or research. I was blessed to have had the chance to study at OISE with friendly administrative staff and supportive professors and peers who made this journey easier for me.