Sally O’Rourke, Ph.D.
Registered Psychologist
I am a member in good standing of the College of Alberta Psychologists (#3496), the Psychologists Association of Alberta, the National Association of School Psychologists, and am an Associate Member of the Canadian Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Resource Alliance (CADDRA). I am also a qualified teacher in B.C. and am a member of the B.C. College of Teachers.
I received my doctorate in Applied Psychology, majoring in Special Education, from the University of Calgary. The focus of my dissertation research was on successful post-secondary students with learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). I completed my master’s degree in Educational Psychology, special education, at the University of Alberta, focusing on gifted youth with ADHD. I completed my undergraduate degrees in psychology and special education from the University of British Columbia.
My professional career has included working as an elementary special education teacher, as an accessibility advisor at a university, developing and instructing courses for struggling university students, working as an instructor in inclusive education, and most recently, as a registered psychologist.
Together with my work and educational experiences, my lived experiences as a wife, mother and an aunt, have shaped who I am today, professionally and personally. In my private practice, I work with individuals across the life span who are experiencing barriers in their educational setting. I have special interests in gifted and talented youth, “twice exceptional students”, as well as ADHD, learning disabilities, and mental health.
Public and Community Contributions:
Past member of the Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta (LDAA) Board of Directors (2010 – 2013). Served on the Education Committee.
Volunteer instructor of the Inclusive Practice course, Faculty of Education, University of Calgary (2009). Salaries were donated to the Dr. Michael C. Pyryt Scholarship Fund.
Volunteered at the Center for Gifted Education, Faculty of Education, University of Calgary, and the Society for Advancement of Gifted Education (SAGE) conferences in Calgary.