Dr. Maria Pavlova

Biography

Maria Pavlova is an Assistant Professor in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences at the University of Guelph. Her research focuses on Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, particularly the intersection of pain and trauma with a special emphasis on child maltreatment. Pavlova's research aims to understand how children and families make sense of pain and distress, emphasizing the importance of these experiences in the development of traumatic stress. She is dedicated to creating, examining, and disseminating family-centered interventions to prevent pediatric pain linked to child maltreatment. Her clinical approach is grounded in evidence-based therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and is informed by developmental and attachment-based frameworks. Pavlova is a member in good standing with the College of Psychologists of Ontario and is currently accepting new experiential learning students.

Research Interests