Dr. Krissy
Everyday Neuroscience
I help busy people understand how brain health leads to good mental health. Research shows that taking care of your brain can help to prevent some mental illnesses.
Hi I’m Dr. Krissy!
I am a Medical Neuroscientist and Professor. I research and teach about how the brain works in different brain and mental health conditions and how treatment of these conditions change the brain. I am passionate about helping people understand how they can improve or maintain good mental health by understanding how the brain works. To do so, I share mental health strategies based on scientific research that promote healthy mindful living.
Learn More About Dr. Krissy
Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas is a Professor in Brain Disorders Management and Mental Health and Disability Management at Mohawk College. She is also a Medical Neuroscientist. Her imaging research uses Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to understand the structural and functional properties of the brain among those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and how they relate to clinical symptoms. Most recently, Dr. Krissy has focused her attention on understanding the neural pain signature in ASD as a clinical aid in pain detection and management.
Dr. Krissy has been a part of research consortiums, namely the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders (POND) Network and NeuroDevNet. Within these consortiums, Dr. Krissy has contributed to research that explores the neural indices of social cognition, language processing, and repetitive behaviours in ASD. Dr. Krissy received her PhD from McMaster University in 2010 and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital at the Autism Research Centre.
Dr. Krissy has received several prestigious fellowships for her research, including fellowships from the Canadian Institute for Health Research and the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada. She has published numerous high-impact peer-reviewed articles and has presented her research at conferences nationally and internationally. Dr. Krissy was also featured in CBC’s HERstory in Black as one of Canada’s top 150 black women who have made a place in Canadian history for excellence within her field.
At Mohawk College, Dr. Krissy developed courses for and now teaches into Ontario’s first graduate certificate programs in Brain Disorders Management and Mental Health & Disability Management. She continues her imaging research and has also expanded this work to explore the effectiveness of interventions in brain disorders.
Offerings
Life Coaching
I am a certified Life Coach. If you want to improve your mental clarity and focus, manage your emotions and stress, increase your confidence and self-awareness, improve your productivity and efficiency, and/ or improve your decision-making and problem-solving skills, life coaching is for you. I will help you achieve your personal and/ or professional goals using neuroscience-informed personalized coaching strategies. If you are ready to improve your mental wellness get in touch with me today.
SafeTalk Certification
(suicide prevention)
I am a certified LivingWorks SafeTALK facilitator. I can train anyone 15 or older, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. Most people with thoughts of suicide don’t truly want to die, but are struggling with the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they invite help to stay alive. I train individuals on how to recognize these invitations and take action.
Speaking and Workshops
I am always excited to speak with business professionals, community workers, parents and students about brain tips that promote mental health, wellness, and resilience. These workshops can be customized to your needs. In general, we discuss how to manage stress, maintain a good thought-life and adopt healthy life practices. These strategies are based on brain research that explains why doing these things are good for your brain and mental health.
Blog and Social
In my blog and on social media I share research-informed self-help tips about mental wellness. My blog and social media make neuroscience relevant to your everyday life in ways that help you maintain healthy mindful lives.
@dr.krissy.phd
Articles
Dr. Krissy named an honouree in the fourth edition of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women book.
This press release was posted on www.visionnewspaper.ca on August 9. 2022. This Year’s 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women Announced The 4th edition of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian women (100ABCWomen) Gala presented by TD Ready Commit returns in-person at the Woodbine Banquet Hall, 30 Vice Regent Blvd, Toronto on Saturday September 17th, 2022 at 6:00pm EST. The biennial Book Launch and Gala spotlights the achievements of Black Canadian women. “We are excited...
New Canadian Study by Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas looks at if pain can be detected in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders by just looking at their brain.
By Stephen Weir A new peer-reviewed study by Canadian researcher and professor Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas titled “Investigating Sensory Response to Physical Discomfort in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy” has just been published by the American Public Library of Science’s PLOS One peer-reviewed open access scientific journal. This ground-breaking study looks at how well a portable, inexpensive, brain imaging tool was in measuring...
What is the connection between the Brain and Mental Health?
Great question! The brain and mental health are closely interconnected. The brain is the control center of the body, responsible for regulating emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and bodily functions. Mental health refers to the state of our emotional, psychological, and...
Why are we always trying to make sense of things?
Meaning making is a crucial cognitive process that allows us to derive significance and purpose from our experiences. Our brain plays a vital role in this process by constantly analyzing, synthesizing, and connecting information from our environment, memories, and...