معرفی
Dr. Olga Smoliak is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Relations & Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph, part of the College of Social & Applied Human Sciences. She holds dual roles as a clinical/counselling psychologist and family therapist, with expertise in discursive and poststructuralist approaches to psychotherapy. Her research critiques the apolitical framing of therapy, emphasizing its role in reinforcing societal norms around gender, kinship, and inequality. She advocates for therapy’s potential as a tool for social change, particularly in addressing structural inequities.
Research interests include critical discursive psychology, feminist therapy, and the intersection of neoliberalism with mental health practices. Dr. Smoliak’s work spans qualitative methodologies, focusing on how language and power shape therapeutic interactions. She is actively involved in training future clinicians through graduate supervision in the FRHD and SOPR programs, emphasizing social justice-oriented practices.
Her recent publications (2022–2025) reflect a focus on gender dynamics in therapy, emotion regulation, and the sociopolitical dimensions of mental health. Key themes include the critique of neoliberal influences on selfhood, stigma around self-injury, and redefining collaborative practices in couples’ therapy. While no specific awards are listed, her work aligns with interdisciplinary efforts to democratize mental health discourse.
Dr. Smoliak’s advising emphasizes graduate training in discursive research methods, with a commitment to ethical, client-centered approaches. Her office is located in Macdonald Stewart Hall, Room 228, and she can be reached at osmoliak@uoguelph.ca for academic inquiries.
