Dr. Geris Serran, C. Psych.
Clinical & Forensic Psychologist
Dr. Geris Serran is a registered clinical and forensic psychologist with extensive experience in forensic and institutional psychology, psychological treatment, sexual behaviour, professional supervision, teaching and research.
She completed her graduate training in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa and her undergraduate psychology degree at Queen’s University.
Dr. Serran has worked with Forensic Behaviour Services since 2019 and has extensive experience providing psychological services within institutional and forensic environments. Her professional work has included senior psychology leadership as well as direct clinical work with individuals presenting with complex mental-health, forensic and behavioural concerns.
A major focus throughout her career has been understanding what makes psychological treatment effective. Her research and professional writing have examined therapeutic relationships, treatment process, motivation, coping, cognition, emotional functioning, attachment, treatment engagement and the assessment and treatment of individuals who have committed sexual offences. Her publication history includes substantial work on therapist characteristics and the therapeutic process in forensic treatment.
Dr. Serran is a certified trainer in Static‑99R, STABLE‑2007 and ACUTE‑2007.
She also brings substantial teaching and professional-supervision experience. She taught within the Behavioural Psychology program at St. Lawrence College and has supervised psychology interns, practicum students and individuals completing supervised practice toward registration.
Her publication record includes peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and professional texts addressing forensic treatment, therapeutic process, sexual behaviour, attachment, cognition, emotional functioning and evidence-informed rehabilitation. Her more recent scholarly work includes writing on cultural considerations in treatment of people convicted of sexual offences and contemporary approaches to offence-related cognition in forensic practice.
She is a co-author of Rehabilitating Sexual Offenders: A Strengths-Based Approach and has contributed to major professional texts in forensic psychology and rehabilitation. Dr. Serran has also presented her professional work nationally and internationally, including invited workshops and professional presentations outside Canada.
Her ongoing professional development includes substantial additional training in trauma-focused approaches, CBT, ACT, EMDR-related interventions, Internal Family Systems-informed work and other contemporary clinical approaches.