Elke D. Reissing Ph.D., C.Psych.

Biography

I am Professor of Psychology at the University of Ottawa and Clinical Supervisor at the Centre for Psychological Services and Research. I also have a private practice in clinical psychology serving the Ottawa/Gatineau region. I graduated with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from McGill University in 2002 and joined the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. I am a member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario and numerous other national and international scientific and clinical organizations (e.g., IASR, ISSWSH, NVA, CPA, CSRF, SSTAR, etc.). I am on the editorial board of the Archives of Sexual Behavior, the Journal of Sexual Medicine, and the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality.

Research

My particular research interests are the investigation of the causes and maintaining factors of pain associated with sexual activity and the diagnosis of vaginismus. I am also interested in how aging affects sexuality. In addition, we have other interesting projects that have been carried out or are under way in the HSRL. Find out more about recent and ongoing research projects. My research program is supported by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and is approved by the Research Ethics Board of the University of Ottawa. I have published the results of my research in North America and Europe and have presented my scientific work at national and international conferences. View a selection of publications on my UNIWeb profile listed above.

In 2006 I received the Canadian Psychological Association President’s New Researcher Award.

Clinical Practice

I am a registered clinical psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. In private practice I provide services mainly for individuals with sexual or chronic pain problems. At the Centre for Psychological Services and Research, I supervise doctoral students in clinical psychology and sex therapy.

Teaching

At the School of Psychology I teach a number of graduate courses on sex therapy, basic clinical skills, and cognitive behavioural therapy for adults. I also teach the Human Sexuality undergraduate course at the University of Ottawa.