Heather B. MacIntosh

Dr. Heather B. MacIntosh is an Associate Professor at McGill University's School of Social Work and an Associate Member of the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology. She holds adjunct roles as a Visiting Professor at the University of Toronto's Factor Inwentash School of Social Work and maintains a clinical practice as a registered psychologist. Her research focuses on couple and family therapy, particularly addressing trauma survivors and LGBTQ+ populations. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa, with a dissertation on Childhood Sexual Abuse and Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of Ottawa (2000-2005)
• B.A. Honours Psychology, University of Ottawa (2000)

Research Interests: Dr. MacIntosh specializes in trauma-informed couple therapy, systemic interventions for childhood trauma survivors, and the mental health needs of LGBTQ+ families. She explores how childhood trauma impacts adult relationships and develops therapeutic frameworks to address these challenges. Her work integrates psychoanalytic and trauma models to improve therapeutic outcomes.

Awards & Grants:

• Early Career Scholar Award (APA Division 39, 2014)
• SSHRC Insight Grant ($315K for child sexual abuse disclosure research)
• FQRSC grant ($39.6K for trauma and relationship dysfunction)

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with Dr. Sharon Bond on the Couple and Family Therapy Program at McGill and participates in interdisciplinary trauma research groups like the CRIPCAS (Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Conjugal Problems and Sexual Assault).