About Dr. Kyla McDonald
Every behaviour has a story
Dr. Kyla McDonald, C.Psych., is a registered psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario, with declared competencies in Clinical Health Psychology and Clinical Psychology with children and adolescents. She is passionate about helping children, adolescents and families better understand challenges, build on their strengths, and navigate emotional, developmental and health-related experiences with confidence.
Kyla's approach is warm, collaborative and evidence-based. She believes every child deserves to feel understood and works closely with families to provide individualized care that is developmentally informed, neurodiversity-affirming and family-centred.
Kyla has extensive experience supporting children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, mood concerns, emotional regulation difficulties, and the psychological impact of chronic and complex medical conditions. She is committed to providing affirming care for neurodivergent children and adolescents by recognizing each child's unique strengths, ways of learning and lived experiences, while supporting families in navigating challenges across home, school and healthcare settings.
Drawing on her expertise in pediatric clinical health psychology, Kyla has a special interest in helping children and adolescents adjust to illness, injury and changes in physical functioning. As a former NCAA soccer player and lifelong athlete, she is particularly passionate about supporting young athletes in coping with injury, rebuilding confidence, navigating changes in identity, and returning to the activities that are meaningful to them.
Kyla holds two doctoral degrees: a Ph.D. in Psychological Science (Life Span Development) from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Ph.D. in Clinical Developmental Psychology from York University, where her research focused on supporting youth at risk of sexual exploitation. This unique combination of developmental and clinical training provides a strong foundation for understanding children's development while delivering evidence-based psychological care.
She completed her pre-doctoral residency at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), with specialized training in child and adolescent mental health, youth justice and psychological assessment. Her clinical training also included the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Lakeridge Health's Eating Disorders Program, and CAMH.
Kyla continues to collaborate on research at CAMH aimed at improving transitional care and health outcomes for youth experiencing homelessness. She currently practices as a pediatric clinical health psychologist at SickKids, where she partners with children, adolescents and families navigating complex medical conditions.
Whether working with children experiencing emotional or behavioural concerns, supporting families through complex medical journeys, helping neurodivergent youth thrive, or assisting young athletes in returning to sport following injury, Kyla is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care that helps children and families better understand challenges, recognize strengths, and move forward with confidence. See Dr. Kyla's publications.
