Aaron Palachi

MA, Doctoral Associate

Aaron (he/him) is currently pursuing his PhD in Clinical Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). He received his Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology at TMU and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from York University.

Aaron has provided clinical services at St. Michael’s Hospital and assessment services in a research setting working with the Clinical Addictions Research Equity Lab at TMU.

Aaron has experience working with adolescents and adults of all ages from diverse cultural backgrounds, sexual and gender identities, and learning needs (including ADHD, dyslexia, and ASD). He has assessed and treated individuals presenting with a wide range of concerns including OCD, anxiety (generalized, social, and agoraphobia), PTSD and complex trauma, depression, insomnia, addiction, and eating disorders. He has also treated concerns related to general worry, pessimism, life transition stress, gender-based stress, and avoidance using Exposure Therapy. Additionally, Aaron has experience with completing comprehensive autism spectrum and other neurodiversity assessments.

Aaron has worked with individuals with a range of OCD concerns including obsessions and compulsions related to harm, morality, ‘just-right feelings’, contamination, vulnerability, relationships, and checking behaviours. He has also worked with individuals experiencing symptoms of body-focused behaviours such as excoriation disorder (i.e., skin picking) and body dysmorphia.

Aaron takes an integrative approach to providing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy by incorporating elements such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Inference-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (I-CBT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to match his clients’ needs. 

Aaron aims to build resilience and compassion among those he works with by taking a strengths-based, trauma-informed, and collaborative approach to therapy, believing that treatment should be tailored to the unique needs, goals, and values of each person. 

Aside from his clinical work, Aaron conducts research at both TMU and Sunnybrook Research Institute, broadly focused on equity-deserving and underserved groups. He has a particular interest in studying the impact of trauma in diverse groups including 2SLGBTQI+ individuals and Veterans, as well as mental health and barriers to prosocial transitioning in a forensic context. 

Aaron has several publications and has presented research on various topics at both national and international research conferences on a range of topics, with the goal of continuing his learning and sharing knowledge.

In his leisure time, Aaron enjoys trying out new recipes, music, and going on adventures with his dog.