Cathy Chovaz

Dr. Cathy Chovaz is a Professor at King's University College, part of The University of Western Ontario. She holds a Ph.D., M.A., and B.Sc.N. in Clinical Psychology and Nursing from the same institution. Her research focuses on mental health within Deaf and Hard of Hearing populations, including clinical tool development, interpreter training, and systemic barriers faced by Deaf individuals in healthcare and legal systems. She has authored/co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and textbooks addressing Deaf mental health disparities, neurocognitive assessment adaptation, and professional well-being for sign language interpreters.

Notable contributions include developing the ASL version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, investigating secondary traumatic stress among interpreters, and analyzing Deaf community experiences in the Canadian justice system. Dr. Chovaz has presented globally, delivering keynote addresses at international conferences in Norway, Singapore, and Turkey, and regularly conducts workshops for healthcare professionals on accessibility in practice. She leads initiatives to improve mental health care access for Deaf populations through community-engaged research and policy advocacy.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, The University of Western Ontario
  • M.A., Clinical Psychology, The University of Western Ontario
  • B.Sc.N., Nursing, The University of Western Ontario
• Key Research Themes:
  • Mental Health Access for Deaf Individuals
  • Clinical Assessment Adaptation
  • Interpreter Well-being
  • Social Justice in Healthcare Systems
• Presentations:
  • Over 25 invited lectures internationally (2013-2023)
  • Workshops on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Deafblind Support
  • Webinars for organizations like the Canadian Association of the Deaf
• Labs/Teams:
  • Center for Deaf Mental Health and Education (CDEAF)
  • Collaborations with Western University Sign Language Club