Kafui Sawyer, M.A.

Kafui is a graduate student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Ottawa. Kafui has been among the few Black women practicing counselling and psychotherapy for the past 15 years. She has contributed effectively to community mental health as a Registered Psychotherapist, Family Therapist, Trauma Consultant, and Founding Chair of the Black Psychology Section of the Canadian Psychological Association. She has provided training, supervision, and consultation in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy to diverse populations, including Indigenous peoples in the Arctic Region. Kafuicompleted her Bachelor’s degree in Theology and Psychology at Saint Paul University and the University of Ottawa. She then completed her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Trinity Western University in British Columbia. She later furthered her interests in Community Mental Health in Queensland, Australia, while working for the BC government. Kafui helps children, youth and families who have suffered from traumatic experiences. She also worked as a consulting clinician for the Children’s Aid Society in Ottawa. Kafui has worked with diverse children and youth in schools, communities, and governmental organizations. She previously worked with the Miramichi School District in New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Community College, the Ministry of Children and Development in British Columbia, and the Stehiyaq Healing and Wellness Village in British Columbia for Indigenous youth struggling with addictions. Kafui has worked effectively with Black, Indigenous and Racialized families, promoting social-emotional and resiliency skills. Her Master’s thesis focused on the program implementation research of an evidence-based anxiety management program for children in a school district. She is currently pursuing her doctoral research in child maltreatment, trauma, and youth engagement with her research supervisor, Dr. Nicole Racine. Kafui is married with three teenage children. Besides the joy she finds working with children and families, Kafui enjoys cooking, baking, singing, and volunteering in her parish community.