Rebecca Cherner

Biography

After graduating from McGill University in 2003, I joined the Human Sexuality Research Laboratory at the University of Ottawa as a research coordinator. I worked on a study that examined the willingness of clients consulting for psychological services to discuss sexual health problems with their therapist, as well as the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in clients of a community psychology clinic.

I completed my Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Ottawa in 2012. My doctoral thesis research was conducted through the Human Sexuality Research Laboratory and I examined how women who experience pain with intercourse or difficulties with vaginal penetration respond physically and emotionally to sexual stimuli. I also explored the sexual function, behaviour, and cognitions of women with lifelong vaginismus.

I have also been involved in research and program evaluation at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services (CRECS) at the University of Ottawa since 2008. I am currently completing a postdoctoral fellowship at CRECS. My research at CRECS has focused on the mental health, physical health, and housing of vulnerable populations, in particular individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. I am also involved in program evaluation with community organizations and in healthcare settings.

Publications

Cherner, R., Aubry, T., & Ecker, J. (accepted). Predictors of the physical and psychological integration of homeless adults with problematic substance use. Journal of Community Psychology.

Aubry, T., Cherner, R., Ecker, J., Jetté, J., Rae, J., Yamin, S., Sylvestre, J., Bourque, J., & McWilliams, N. (2015). Perceptions of private market landlords who rent to tenants of a Housing First program. American Journal of Community Psychology, 55(3-4). doi: 10.1007/s10464-015-9714-2

Jetté, J., Aubry, T., Cherner, R., Ecker J., Yamin, S., & Bourque, J. (2014). La mise en œuvre d’une intervention Logement d’abord en région rurale canadienne. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 33(4), 41-59. doi: 10.7870/cjcmh-2014-029

Ecker, J., Aubry, T., Cherner, R., & Jetté, J. (2014).  Implementation evaluation of a Housing First program in a small Canadian city. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 33(4), 23-40.doi:10.7870/cjcmh-2014-028

Cherner, R., Olavarria, M., Young, M., Aubry, T., & Marchant, C. (2014). Evaluation of the organizational cultural competence of a community health center: A multi-method approach. Health Promotion Practice, 15(5), 675-684.doi: 10.1177/1524839914532650

Cherner, R., Aubry, T., Ecker, J., Kerman, N., & Nandlal, J. (2014). Transitioning into the community: Outcomes of a pilot housing program for forensic patients. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 13(1), 62-74. doi: 10.1080/14999013.2014.885472

Cherner, R., & Reissing. E.D. (2013). A comparative study of sexual function and sexual behavior of women with lifelong vaginismus. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 42(8),1605-1614. doi: 10.1007/s10508-013-0111-3

Cherner, R., Nandlal, J., Ecker, J., Aubry, T., & Pettey, D. (2013). Findings of a formative evaluation of a transitional housing program for forensic patients discharged into the community. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 52(3), 157-180. doi: 10.1080/10509674.2012.754826

Cherner, R., & Reissing, E.D. (2013). A psychophysiological investigation of sexual arousal in women with lifelong vaginismus. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10(5), 1291-1303. doi: 10.1111/jsm.12102

Conference Presentations

Cherner, R., & Reissing, E.D. (September, 2012). There is more to it than intercourse: The sexual difficulties of women with vaginismus. Paper presented at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Sex Research Forum, Ottawa, Ontario.

Ecker, J., Cherner, R., Nandlal, J., Aubry, T., & Pettey, D. (May, 2012). Findings of a Formative Evaluation of a Transitional Housing Program for Forensic Patients Discharged into the Community: Established Models, New Population. Poster presented at the Canadian Community Psychology Conference, Waterloo, Ontario.

Kerman, N., Ecker, J., Cherner, R., Aubry, T., & Pandalangat, N. (May, 2012).Forensic patients no longer: Outcomes of clients in the Transitional Rehabilitation Housing Pilot. Poster presented at the Canadian Community Psychology Conference, Waterloo, Ontario.

Cherner, R., & Reissing, E. (March, 2012). Sexual function and behaviour of women with lifelong vaginismus. Paper presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research, Chicago, United States.

Jette, J., Aubry, T., Ecker, J., Cherner, R., Siriois-Leclerc, H. (June, 2011). Implementation of a Housing First approach in a rural area in Canada.  Poster presented at the 13th Biennial conference of the Society for Community Research and Action, Chicago, United States.

Aubry, T., Cherner, R., Ecker, J., & Jette, J. (June, 2011). Implementation of a Housing First program in a small Canadian city. Paper presented at the 13th Biennial conference of the Society for Community Research and Action, Chicago, United States.

Cherner, R., & Reissing, E. (October, 2010). The sexual health of women with vaginismus. Paper presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Sex Research Forum, Toronto, Canada.

Cherner, R., Husne Ara, S., Nohra, G., Adan, F., Chibi, A., & Aubry, T. (May, 2010). A formative evaluation of the Civic Participation Training of the City for All Women Initiative. Paper presented at the National Conference on Community Psychology, Ottawa, Canada.

Cherner, R., & Reissing, E. (October, 2008). The psychophysiology of the sexuality of women with vaginismus: Research proposal. Paper presented at the 35th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Sex Research Forum, Montreal, Canada.

Burgess, M., Cherner, R., Mitchell, T., & Gruslin, A. (December 2008) Post Graduate Program Evaluation of the CanMEDS Framework at the University of Ottawa: An Innovative Model. Poster presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Association for the Professors of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada, Toronto, Canada.

Cherner, R. & Reissing, E. (October, 2008). The Psychophysiology of the Sexuality of Women with Vaginismus: Research Proposal. Paper presented at the 35th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Sex Research Forum, Montreal, Canada.

Cherner, R. & Reissing, E. (June. 2005). The prevalence rate of sexual dysfunction and client comfort in discussing sexuality in a clinical psychology practice. Poster session presented at the 66th Annual Canadian Psychological Association, Montreal, Canada.

Cherner, R. & Reissing, E. (October, 2004).  Preliminary findings of a survey of the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions in individuals presenting for non-emergency psychological services. Paper presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Canadian Sex Research Forum, Fredericton, Canada.