Alexandra Tighe, M.Sc., Ph.D. Candidate (She/Her)

Alexandra is a Ph.D. candidate in Clinical Psychology at Queen’s University. She provides comprehensive assessments and therapy for children, adolescents, and their families under the supervision of Dr. Kerry Wells and Dr. Kyla McDonald.

In her clinical practice, Alexandra integrates evidenced-based treatment modalities including Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) in individualized, family-centered care for children, adolescents, and their caregivers. She takes a trauma-informed approach to all treatment plans and has a neuro- and gender-affirming stance. She works actively with caregivers to support children and youth experiencing challenges.

Alexandra previously worked at the multidisciplinary Adolescent Medicine Clinic at McMaster Children’s Hospital, where she provided comprehensive assessment and therapy to gender diverse adolescents and their families, as well as children and teens with a variety of health concerns. Prior to this, Alexandra completed her pre-doctoral residency at Hamilton Health Sciences, where she provided assessment and individual and group therapy in the Child and Youth Mental Health Outpatient Program, Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation, Child and Youth Mental Health Inpatient Unit, Mental Health Assessment Unit (Emergency Department), Child Advocacy and Assessment Program, and Family Therapy services. Additionally, she had the privilege of completing the ECHO Trans & Gender Diverse Healthcare training program.

Through her graduate training, Alexandra provided clinical services in community and private practice settings in Kingston Ontario, including a clinical and neuropsychological private practice, Psychology Clinic at Queen’s University, Hotel Dieu Hospital (Kingston Health Sciences Centre), and the Community Brain Injury Service (CBIS – Providence Care). Her graduate research examines parent-adolescent emotion dynamics, specifically flexible emotional expression of mothers and adolescents in conflict interactions. She also studies parent and adolescent emotional functioning in the context of the pandemic.

Alexandra is passionate about creating safe and affirming spaces with mental health practitioners. Outside of clinical work, Alexandra spends her time in the Beaches community with her energetic toddler and family, and tries to be in nature as much as possible.