Congratulations, Megan!

Megan Muise is a fifth-year PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of New Brunswick.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, her research focuses on couples, sexual well-being, and queer engagement in therapy, with the goal of fostering more inclusive and affirming clinical practice.

Megan’s research examines how queer people talk about sex in therapy and how therapists respond. While many people seek therapy to discuss issues related to relationships and sexuality, these conversations can be especially complex for queer clients, who may worry about being judged, misunderstood, or needing to explain aspects of their identity. At the same time, many therapists report uncertainty about how to address sexual well-being with queer clients, particularly if their training in this area has been limited.

For their dissertation, they are collecting stories from both queer clients and therapists to explore what makes it easier—or harder—for queer people to speak openly about sex in therapy, and how therapists either support or miss these opportunities. They are especially interested in moments when clients feel understood, accepted, and supported, as well as experiences where their needs were overlooked.

More broadly, their research interests include couples, sexual well-being, and creating therapy spaces that are affirming for people of all genders and sexual orientations. Through this work, they hope to help therapists develop greater confidence and skill in having open, respectful conversations about sex with queer clients. Ultimately, their goal is to make therapy a place where everyone—regardless of identity—can discuss all aspects of their lives, including sex, without fear of judgment.

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This award is open to any graduate student at the University of New Brunswick in any field of study who is undertaking a research project (thesis, publication, major paper, etc.) contributing to greater knowledge of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or intersex communities.

Together, we can build a future where 2SLGBTQIA+ and QTBIPOC individuals thrive through education, research, and meaningful opportunities.