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
Championing Diversity in Genomic Research: Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas Leads Inclusive Engagement in Canadian Precision Health Initiative
We congratulate Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas on her role as Diversity and Inclusion Co-Lead in the Canadian Precision Health Initiative (CPHI), a groundbreaking national effort to advance precision health for children and youth. Under the leadership of Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou, Vice President, Research at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Dr. Doyle-Thomas will co-lead the development of an engagement strategy to ensure diverse communities across Canada,...
Advancing Black Mental Health in the Durham Region: Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas Collaborates to Secure a $360K Federal Research Grant
We congratulate Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas and colleagues on securing a $360K research grant from the College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF), supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). In her role as a research advisor for the Health Research Council for People of African Descent (HRCPAD), she is collaborating with Durham College, The Black Health Alliance, Ontario Shores, and the Regional Municipality of Durham on this grant to tackle...
The Daily D.O.S.E: Balancing Your Brain Chemicals For Mental Wellbeing
Inside our brain, there are chemicals called neurotransmitters. They're like little messengers that control how we feel, what drives us, and our overall mental health. Four of these neurotransmitters—dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins, which we call...
New Beginnings and the Neuroscience Perspective
A Thought for You as We Start This New Year As we step into the new year, I've been reflecting on the concept of "new beginnings" from a neuroscientific standpoint, and I thought you might find it intriguing. Although every moment of our lives provides an opportunity...