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Dr. Marie-Hélène Pennestri

Title: 
Associate Professor
Academic title(s): 

Associate Dean of Research & Graduate Studies | FRQS Research Scholar Junior 2 Scientist | William Dawson Scholar

Dr. Marie-Hélène Pennestri
Contact Information
Email address: 
marie-helene.pennestri [at] mcgill.ca
Phone: 
514-398-8079
Address: 

Education Building
3700 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1Y2
Canada

Group: 
Associate Dean
Department: 
Educational and Counselling Psychology (ECP)
Professional activities: 
  • Regular Researcher, Hôpital en santé mentale Rivière-des-Prairies (CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal)
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal
Area(s): 
Mental Health, Intervention & Psychopathology
Areas of expertise: 
  • Development and consolidation of the sleep-wake cycle in infants and children
  • Mental health
  • Parental expectations
  • Families
  • Sleep disorders (children and adults) 
  • Child development 
  • Attachment
  • Polysomnography
  • Autonomic nervous system
  • Heart rate variability 
  • Premature birth
Biography: 

Dr. Pennestri investigates the development of the sleep-wake cycle in infancy, in relation with physical and mental health, family functioning, and parental expectations. Her research program also focuses on more vulnerable populations, such as social pediatric, foster children and premature birth. Dr. Pennestri completed a Ph.D. in Psychology at the Université de Montréal and was trained at the Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, where she specialized in sleep, sleep disorders and cardiovascular function. She pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, where she worked on several developmental psychology projects. In addition, Dr. Pennestri is a clinical psychologist working with children, adolescents, and adults (clinical license: Ordre des Psychologues du Québec; Hôpital en santé mentale Rivières-des-Prairies). She has a multidisciplinary approach and her projects integrate physiological and psychological measures. Her research program is funded by SSHRC, CIHR, FRQS, and FRQSC. She is a FRQS Research Scholar Junior 1 Scientist and she received the Bourse Yvon Gauthier Award from the Association Québécoise pour la Santé Mentale du Nourrisson and the Wayne Hening Young Investigator Award from the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group.

 

Link(s): 
Research Site
Degree(s): 
  • Postdoctorate Fellowship, Douglas Research Centre / McGill University
  • Ph.D., Université de Montréal: Research/Clinical Psychology
  • M.Ps., Université de Montréal: Clinical Psychology
Awards, honours, and fellowships: 
  • (2021-2026) The associations between infant sleep, parental sleep and the quality of the parent-infant relationship: a longitudinal study in mothers and fathers; Principal investigator; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) - ($258,561)
  • (2021-2024) Sommeil après une commotion cérébrale : Impact sur le bien-être et le fonctionnement familial; Co-investigator; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) - ($221,587)
  • (2020-2021) Online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia and anxiety in older adults: a feasibility study using e-SPACE, a multidomain web platform for health promotion; Co-investigator; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Programme d’appui à des projets de recherche stratégiques et structurants - ($10,000)
  • (2019-2022) Améliorer le sommeil de son enfant: une intervention innovante et bénéfique pour les familles vivant en contexte de vulnérabilité; Co-investigator; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) - ($173,150)
  • (2018-2023) Transition to parenthood: realistic sleep-related expectations as a protective factor for mothers' and fathers' mental health; Principal investigator; Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR, Project Grant) - ($353,203)
  • (2018-2022) Mieux comprendre les liens entre le sommeil du nourrisson, les interactions mère-enfant, la santé mentale des parents, et la santé mentale et physique des enfants: une perspective familiale; Principal investigator; Salary Award - Fonds de recherche du Québec-Santé Grant (FRQS) - ($80,000)
  • (2017-2022) Répondre aux besoins développementaux des enfants qui vivent en situation de vulnérabilité psychosociale et de négligence – Groupe de recherche et d'intervention auprès des enfants vulnérables et négligés (GRIN); Co-investigator; Fonds québécois de recherche société et culture (FRQSC) - ($592,000)
  • (2016-2019) - Quality of infant and maternal sleep as predictors of the mother-infant relationship: the moderating influence of maternal perceptions and expectations; Principal investigator; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) - ($63,819)
  • (2017-2019) - Développement du sommeil du nourrisson, dans le contexte de la transition à la parentalité: qu’en pensent maman et papa?; Principal investigator; Association québécoise pour la santé mentale des nourrissons - ($2,500)
  • (2018-2019) - Increasing the dissemination of best practices in psychology: Practice guidelines, practice-research networks, clinical tools, progress tracking, and evidence based practice; Co-investigator; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC, Connection Grant) - ($45,761)
Program: 

Counselling Psychology

Graduate supervision: 

Accepting students for 2023-24

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