APHD :: Marg Schneider :: Applied Psychology and Human Development at OISE

Marg Schneider

phone: (416) 978-0684
email: mschneider@oise.utoronto.ca
email: mschneider@oise.utoronto.ca

Department: Applied Psychology and Human Development

Research Overview

Major areas of research and teaching:

sexual orientation and gender
professional ethics
human-animal interaction/ human-animal bond

For over 25 years, Marg’s primary areas of research, writing, and practice has been sexual orientation, gender, and gender variance. She is particularly interested in psychosocial issues for lesbian, gay and bisexual (lgb) adolescents and young adults, and her current research in this area concerns the impact of sexual orientation on academic and career choices.

Marg has had a long-standing interest in professional ethics that began with her Master’s thesis, subsequently published, which was an analysis of ethical issues in social psychological research.

The study of human animal interaction is an interdisciplinary area that encompasses all aspects of the relationships between humans and animals. Within this subject of study, Marg has been fortunate to be able to link her professional work with her personal interest in animals, particularly dogs and horses.

Current Projects:

sexual orientation and gender
-The influence of sexual orientation on career and academic choices for lesbian, gay and bisexual adults.
-Historical perspectives on counselling issues with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients: 1950 to the present.

Professional Ethics
-A content analysis of the minutes of the SSHER Research Ethics Board (2000-2008) to identify the most common ethical issues and concerns.

Human Animal Interaction
-What psychologists need to know about mental health and human-animal interactions.

Teaching Overview

AEC1219 Ethical Issues in Professional Practice in Psychology
AEC1263 Research Seminar in Counselling Psychology
AEC1289 Community Mental Health

Professional Activities

Marg has made many significant contributions to her profession. She was a member of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Committee on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns for three years, chairing the committee for one year. She served on the Executive of APA’s Division 44 (Society for the Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues), and on the Board of Directors of the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada. She also serves on the Executive of the University’s Research and Policy Advisory Committee, and participates in the U of T Centre for Ethics Working Group. Most recently, Marg and Lorah Pilchak Harley, a student in the doctoral program, collaborated on a study of how the presence of a companion animal influences clients' perceptions of psychotherapists.

Marg is a member of the North York Obedience Club where she assists in teaching beginners' classes, and attends Open and Utility classes with Charlie (read Charlie article). Marg was also trial chair for the North York Obedience Club Trial in 2004. She belongs to the Cross Country Tracking Club where Charlie is working toward his TD title, and she is on the Health and Genetics Concern Committee of the Irish Water Spaniel Club of America. She is an assistant tracking instructor at Camp Gone to the Dogs in Stowe Vermont and she is on the Health and Genetics Concern Committee of the Irish Water Spaniel Club of America.

Lastly, Marg is on the Mental Health Committee of the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association, which developed standards and guidelines for the certification of instructors in equine facilitated mental health as well as a code of ethics for practitioners.

Representative Publications

Harley, L.,, & Schneider, M. (in preparation). The impact of therapeutic riding for the disabled on mental health factors.

Schneider, M., & Dimito, A. (2008). Educators’ beliefs about raising LGBT issues in the schools. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Education, 5(4), 49-66.

Schneider, M., & Harley, L. (2006). How dogs influence perceptions of psychotherapists. Anthrozoos, 19(2), 128-142.

Harper, G., & Schneider, M. (2003). Oppression and discrimination among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people and communities: A challenge for community psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, 31(3/4), 243-252.

Schneider, M., Brown, L., & Glassgold, J. (2002). Implementing the Resolution on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation: A guide for the perplexed. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33(3), 265-276.

Schneider, M. (2001). Ethics and the professional responsibilities of counsellors. In W.E. Schultz (Ed.), Counselling Ethics Casebook 2000. Ottawa: Canadian Counselling Association.