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See my blog on Psychology Today: Dr. Sybil on Solitude. Encouraging Alone Time and Self-Reflection for Health and Well-Being
I received my PhD in developmental psychology from McMaster University in 2000, and my Masters degree in clinical psychology from Western University in 1990.
I joined Laurier in 2006. I have served as vice-chair of the university’s Research Ethics Board, vice-chair of University Senate, and as Assistant Dean of Program Development in the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences. I have over 29 years of university instructing, and I typically teach abnormal psychology, clinical psychology, and special education. Since 2013, I have been a member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario, with specialties in the areas of clinical psychology, school psychology, and counselling. My clinical work has always been informed by empirically-supported methods of assessment and treatment.
My early work focused on the development of the perception of facial attractiveness. I examined perceptions of faces in infants, I looked at individual differences in the perception of facial beauty, and I studied the role of visual experience on people's aesthetic judgments of faces. Next, I explored verbal labels of beauty, and the underlying attitudes that influence usage of beauty labels by adolescents and emerging adults.
Another area that piqued my interest was occupational health psychology. With colleagues from McMaster University, I have examined attributions made by workers and management regarding the causes of accidents, I have looked at various organizational practices related to health and safety, and examined employees' perceptions of how work organization and workplace incivility impact people's mental health. Given the surge in remote work in Ontario and abroad, I have written a commentary (in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health) that makes evidence-based recommendations to both workers and employers on how to achieve worker health and safety from home.
As a practicing clinical psychologist, I have researched evidence-based methods and tips for improving self-awareness, mood, and life satisfaction across various aspects of life - work, homecare, and leisure. You will find a collection of recommendations in my new self-help book (published by Rockpool Publishing; distributed by Simon & Schuster) in print March 2024. My new book is entitled Alone Time: Embracing Solitude for Health and Well-Being.
I am taking on undergraduate students for supervision on an ongoing basis. I am taking on graduate students as of September 2026. Feel free to chat with me if you are a student of psychology - undergraduate or Masters' student - and you have research interests in the general areas of grief and loss, interpersonal relationships and happiness, workplace mental health, and more broadly, the mental health of children and adults.
Geldart, S. (2024). Alone Time. Embracing solitude for health and well-being. Australia: Rockpool Publishing.
Geldart, S. (2024). Psychological services for transgender youth: A push towards better language and understanding of gender issues. Chapter to appear in S. Bisson, C. Sinclair, and I. Djuraskovic (Eds.), Counselling Ethics from the Margins: The Lived Experiences of Practitioners. University of Calgary Press.
Geldart, S. (2022). Remote work in a changing world: A nod to personal space, self-regulation and other health and wellness strategies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(8), 4873.
Geldart, S., & Alksnis, C. (2020). Building an effective safety culture: Actions, commitment and perceptions. In R.J. Burke and S. Pignata (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Stress and Well-Being in the Public Sector (pp. 216-231). UK: Edward Elgar.
Geldart, S., Langlois, L., Shannon, H.S., Cortina, L.M., Griffith, L.E., & Haines, T. (2018). Workplace incivility, psychological distress, and the protective effect of co-worker support. International
Journal of Workplace Health Management, 11, 96-110.
Geldart, S. (2018). Improving workplace health and safety: A glimpse at modern organizational practices. In R.J. Burke and C.L. Cooper (Eds.), Violence & Abuse in and around Organizations
(pp. 399-419). New York: Routledge.
Marchiondo, L. A., Cortina, L. M., Shannon, H. S., Haines, T., Geldart, S., & Griffith, L. (2015).
Service with a smile meets customer with a snarl: Implications for worker wellbeing. In M. Paludi (Ed.), Bullies at Work. Westport, CT: Praeger.
Geldart, S. (2014). Health and safety in today’s manufacturing industry. In N. Bassim (Volume Editor), Health, Safety and Environmental Issues, Vol. 8 of Comprehensive Materials Processing (S. Hashmi, Editor-in-Chief), Elsevier.
Py, J., Bouffard, T., Desmette, D., Fontayne, P., Geldart, S., Gosselin, P., Lories, G., et al. (2012). A summary of the publications appearing in ERAP from 2009 to 2011, including some notable developments that have emerged during this period. European Review of Applied Psychology, 62, 1-2.
Geldart, S. (2011). Perceptions of attractiveness in female adolescents, university students and mothers with experience viewing immature faces. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 8, 295-310.
Geldart, S. (2010). That woman looks pretty, but is she attractive? Female perceptions of facial beauty and the impact of cultural labels. European Review of Applied Psychology, 60, 79-87.
Geldart, S., Smith, C.A., Shannon, H.S., & Lohfeld, L. (2010). Organizational practices and workplace
health and safety: A cross-sectional study in manufacturing companies. Safety Science, 48, 562-569.
Geldart, S. (2008). Tall and good-looking? The relationship between raters’ height and perceptions of attractiveness. Journal of Individual Differences, 29, 148-156.
MacDermid, J.C., Geldart, S., Williams, R.M., Westmorland, M., Lin, C.A., & Shannon, H. (2008). Work organization and health: A qualitative study of the perceptions of workers. Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation, 30, 241-254.
Cooper, P.A., Geldart, S.S., Mondloch, C.J., & Maurer, D. (2006). Developmental changes in perceptions of attractiveness: A role for experience? Developmental Science, 9, 530-543.
Geldart, S., Shannon, H.S., & Lohfeld, L. (2005). Have Ontario companies improved their health and safety approaches over the last decade? A longitudinal study. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 47, 217-226.
Mondloch, C.J., Geldart, S., Maurer, D., & de Schonen, S. (2003). Developmental changes in the processing of hierarchical shapes continue into adolescence. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 84, 20-40.
Mondloch, C.J., Geldart, S., Maurer, D., & Le Grand, R. (2003). Developmental changes in face processing skills. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 86, 67-84.
Geldart, S., Mondloch, C.J., Maurer, D., de Schonen, S., & Brent, H.P. (2002). The effect of early visual deprivation on the development of face processing. Developmental Science, 5, 490-501.
Geldart, S., Maurer, D., & Carney, K. (1999). Effects of eye size on adults’ aesthetic ratings of faces and 5-month-olds’ looking times. Perception, 28, 361-374.
Geldart, S., Maurer, D., & Henderson, H. (1999). The effects of the height of faces’ internal features on adults’ aesthetic ratings and 5-month-olds’ looking times. Perception, 28, 839-850.
Magazine Publications
Geldart, S. (2019). Language-based learning disability and non-verbal learning disability: What’s in a name? Feature Article, Canadian School Counselor Magazine, Summer issue. Market Zone Publications.
Geldart, S. (2019). Concurrent disorders. Feature Article, Canadian School Counselor Magazine, Spring issue. Market Zone Publications.
Geldart, S., & Burgoyne, S. (2013). When attractive isn’t beautiful: Exploring verbal labels of beauty. Feature Article, Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA) Online News, March issue.
PS280 Abnormal Psychology
PS379 Exceptionalities during Childhood, Adolescence, and Adulthood
PS381 Introduction to Clinical Psychology
PS451 Applied Forensic Psychology
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Office location: RCE 210
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