Michelle Furtado, H.B.Sc., M.Ed., M.Psy. Candidate (She/Her)

Michelle is a practicum student at Flourish Health Services and is currently completing her Master of Education in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto. She previously completed a Master of Education in Developmental Psychology and Education at OISE and holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Toronto.

Michelle has experience working with children, adolescents, and families across developmental and mental health settings. She has provided individualized behavioural support to young children with developmental, behavioural, and communication differences and has supported youth experiencing emotional distress and crisis through Kids Help Phone. She has also worked closely with caregivers and families, which has formed the way she understands children within the context of the relationships and environments that are important in their lives.

Michelle has been involved in developmental and mental health research at the University of Toronto. During her graduate studies, she completed independent research examining parent-teacher agreement in children’s self-regulation, as well as the relationship between parental involvement during adolescence and coping later in life. She currently works in the Kang Lee Development Lab at OISE, where she contributes to research on children’s social and behavioural development. Her research interests centre on children and adolescents, particularly the role that family relationships and early experiences can play in their emotional and behavioural development.

As she begins her clinical training at Flourish, Michelle hopes to bring this developmental perspective into her work with children, adolescents, and families. She values taking the time to understand each young person and building a relationship where they feel comfortable, supported, and heard. Her approach is collaborative and strengths-based, with an appreciation for the important role that parents and caregivers can play in supporting a young person’s well-being.