Rya Buckley

About Rya

Rya Buckley is a doctoral student clinician providing therapeutic support to children, adolescents, and their families under the supervision of Dr. Zohrah Haqanee. She is completing her PhD in School and Clinical Child Psychology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto and holds a Master of Arts in School and Clinical Child Psychology from OISE. She has experience working in school board, private practice, and community mental health settings.

Rya works with children and adolescents presenting with a variety of mental health and behavioural concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, school-related difficulties, emotional dysregulation, and identity-related challenges. She draws upon multiple modalities to best meet the needs of each client, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). Rya prioritizes creating a safe and affirming environment for her clients. She takes a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach and believes in fostering collaboration with clients and families on their therapeutic goals.

Rya’s research explores mental health and help-seeking experiences among emerging adults from minoritized backgrounds, particularly racialized and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. She is interested in understanding and improving mental health experiences for minoritized individuals in educational contexts.