Faculty Bio

Dr. Teresa Maynes

Assistant Professor, Psychology

Email: teresa.maynes@stmu.ca

I identify as a scientist-practitioner and educator, grounded in my clinical training in counselling psychology. Originally from Northern Utah, USA, I hold a BA in Psychology from Utah State University and an MA in Counselling with an addiction emphasis from Boise State University in Idaho. In the United States, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (Idaho) and a National Certified Counselor, and I am also a Canadian Certified Counsellor.

Prior to my graduate studies, I worked as a crisis responder and a shelter manager at a domestic violence shelter, as well as a case manager for individuals with disabilities and recently arrived immigrants. As a counsellor, I have worked with clients experiencing domestic and sexual violence, trauma, and substance use disorders, as well as anxiety, depression, suicide, self-harm, and relationship concerns. I completed my master’s practicum at the DBT Centre of Vancouver and my doctoral residency at UBC Counselling Services.
My research focuses on promoting and sustaining long-term recovery from substance use disorders. My dissertation examined the effectiveness of vocational interventions to improve career outcomes for individuals in long-term recovery. At UBC, I worked as the senior project coordinator for the SSHRC-funded Career Development in Recovery Study from 2021 to 2024. My master’s research on substance use and religiosity received awards from the Idaho Counselling Association conference in both 2019 and 2020. I have presented my research at the Canadian Psychological Association, Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, and American Psychological Association conferences, and I was also the recipient of UBC’s Four-Year Doctoral Fellowship.

Before joining St. Mary’s University, I was a teaching assistant in UBC’s Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special Education and a sessional instructor in the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Education. My teaching philosophy is closely aligned with my counselling philosophy – I draw on Carl Roger’s relationship-oriented approaches to foster student self-actualization and strive to individualize my teaching to each student’s needs.

When not working, I enjoy baking, traveling, and spending time with my loved ones (including my dog).


Specialization/Research Interest

Counselling psychology, addiction psychology, vocational psychology, quantitative research methods.

Education

PhD, Counselling Psychology, University of British Columbia (2025)
MA, Counseling, Boise State University (2021)
BA, Psychology, Utah State University (2017)