Sherene Balanji, M.A.
Supervised Student Clinician
Background
Sherene is enrolled in a joint MA-PhD program in Clinical Psychology (Child Track) at Simon Fraser University, having completed her MA in 2023 and currently working toward her PhD. So far, she has training conducting psychoeducational, social-emotional, and autism assessments, as well as providing evidence-based therapy for children, teens, and adults. Her work at our clinic is currently supervised by Dr. Arnold and is offered at a reduced rate.
Areas of Speciality
Sherene specializes in comprehensive assessments for children, teens, and adults, focusing on neurodiversity, mental health, and academic/occupational concerns. Neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in brain function, including autism, ADHD, and learning disorders. In addition to neurodiversity and learning differences, Sherene assesses mental health challenges that can impact daily life, including anxiety, depression, mood dysregulation, trauma-related stress, disordered eating, and substance use. She helps children, teens, and families gain a deeper understanding of their strengths and challenges while also providing assessments for adults seeking clarity on lifelong differences. She emphasizes rapport-building and connection to ensure clients feel comfortable and supported before any testing begins, creating a safe and affirming assessment experience.
Sherene’s research at Simon Fraser University focuses on parent-teen attachment and emotion regulation, which informs her collaborative approach to assessment. She considers the broader family and social context in understanding a client’s strengths and challenges, ensuring that recommendations are practical and supportive of both the individual and their environment. She is committed to providing strengths-based, affirming assessments that empower individuals and families with clear insights to support their well-being.