Dr. Ivana Di Leo, Child Psychologist
WORKSHOPS · PRIVATE PRACTICE · Consultations · RESOURCES
For the children who are often misunderstood,
and the adults who want to understand them better.
Grounded in child psychology, attachment science, and learning research, and translated into something you can actually use at home and in the classroom.
A resource hub for parents, educators, and organizations who want to understand children more deeply.
Evidence-based guides, professional workshops, and clinical support, built by a psychologist who has spent her career figuring out and helping others understand what's really going on beneath the behaviour.
About
The Psychologist Behind the Work
Dr. Ivana Di Leo trained at McGill University in School and Applied Child Psychology, spent years working in Montreal elementary and high schools, and has been supporting children and families in private practice in Montreal, Quebec ever since.
Over the years, her work has been shaped not just by the children and teens she supports, but by the parents and educators who care for them, often feeling overwhelmed, stuck, and unsure what to try next.
What she's seen, time and time again, is how quickly things can begin to shift when there's a clearer understanding of what's really going on for a child.
Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences across North America, Europe, and Australia. Through her experience, she’s created a space to help more parents and educators access that same clarity, so they can respond in ways that feel more effective, more grounded, and more connected to the child in front of them.
Credentials & Affiliations
Education & Licensure
PhD in School & Applied Child Psychology, McGill University
Master of Science, Psychiatry, McGill University
Licensed Member, Order of Psychologists of Quebec
Practice & Teaching
Former School Psychologist & Member of the Centre of Excellence for Mental Health, Lester B. Pearson School Board
Clinical Supervisor & Guest Lecturer, McGill University
Conference Presenter
European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction
American Educational Research Association
National Association of School Psychologists
Concordia University
SERVICES
Ways to Work Together
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For Schools & Organizations
Professional development, workshops, and consulting for schools, daycares, and organizations supporting children. Topics include emotional de-escalation, co-regulation, attachment-informed support, anxiety in the classroom, and more. Available as single workshops, professional development days, or ongoing consulting.
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Private Practice
Individual therapy for children and teens, and parent coaching and consultation for caregivers in Montreal, Quebec. Specializing in anxiety, fears, OCD, and helping parents develop secure attachment with their child. If you're looking for direct one-on-one support for you or your child, Dr. Ivana's private practice is the right place to start. She is available in person at her clinic located at 4150 Sherbrooke St W, Westmount, Quebec or anywhere in Quebec online.
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Resources for Parents
Practical, evidence-based guides for parents navigating homework struggles, big emotions, and hard moments. Each resource pairs the psychology with something you can actually use — targeted support for what’s getting in the way for your child and for you as the adult who wants to feel more equipped to respond.
"The child who shuts down gets called lazy. The child who acts out gets called difficult.
Neither label is accurate. And both can cause harm.
This is a place to understand what's actually going on, and to respond in a way that helps."
— Dr. Ivana Di Leo, Ph.D.