Dr. Kyla McDonald, C.Psych. (She/Her)

Kyla McDonald is a local Beaches mom to three young children. She loves athletics, movies, poetry, and time with her family. These days, you’ll most often find her at the arena or on the sidelines, cheering on her sons, or exploring the neighbourhood with her youngest.

Kyla is a registered psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario, with declared competencies in Clinical Psychology with children and adolescents. Her approach to therapy and assessment is warm, collaborative, and grounded in developmental science, neurodiversity-affirming care, and family-centred practice.

Kyla received her B.Sc. in Psychology from Trent University (2011), and completed an M.A. (2013) and Ph.D. in Psychological Science (Life Span Development) at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2017. She later completed a second Ph.D. in Clinical Developmental Psychology at York University (2023), where she trained under the supervision of Dr. Jennifer Connolly in the Teen Relationships Lab, conducting research with youth at risk of sexual exploitation.

Her pre-doctoral residency was completed at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), where she worked in the Youth Justice Assessment Clinic and the Mood and Anxiety Service for Children and Youth. Kyla’s clinical training has included interprofessional settings across the GTA, such as the Hospital for Sick Children, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Lakeridge Health (Eating Disorders Program), CAMH, and the York University Psychology Clinic.

Kyla has experience conducting comprehensive psychological assessments for children and adolescents with learning differences, attentional and emotional regulation challenges, and complex mental health concerns. She works therapeutically with autistic children, those with ADHD, and children with co-occurring developmental and mental health needs. She is committed to supporting children and families in ways that affirm their identities and strengths while addressing the barriers they may face.

Kyla continues to explore lifespan development daily, through her work, her research, and through the ever-evolving experience of parenting three growing children.