Dr. Catherine Costigan

Biography

Catherine Costigan is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Victoria. With a PhD from Michigan, her work primarily centers on clinical psychology, focusing on family dynamics and how they relate to the mental health of children and youth. She aims to enhance the understanding of the strengths family members bring while navigating challenging circumstances and the contextual factors that create risks for mental health issues. Her recent research has concentrated on immigrant parents' support of adolescents' identity development, the impacts of acculturation on co-parenting, and the psychological effects on youth related to their parents' experiences. Costigan investigates family dynamics in the context of settlement in Canada, looking at how discrimination and acculturation shape these experiences. Additionally, she explores strengths-based approaches to support immigrant and refugee families through community workshops that promote resilience and positive parenting. Her collaborations with the Victoria Immigrant Refugee Centre aim to identify practices for social integration and address social inequities. Costigan also researches community-based treatments for severe mental health conditions, examining the role of secondary traumatic stress among police and organizational supports in improving practices for vulnerable individuals at the intersection of mental health and law enforcement.

Research Interests