Dr. Elena Kosterina

Dr. Elena Kosterina joined the Faculty of Education in 2025, following her relocation to Alberta. She is a Registered Psychologist in Alberta and received her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2016. Elena started her academic career at the American University of Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan, where she taught, conducted research, and engaged in clinical practice. Elena earned her master’s degree in Gender Studies from Central European University in Hungary in 2009, which informed her future research, teaching, and counselling practice.

Teaching Interests

Elena’s teaching philosophy is related to her values in counselling and postmodern thinking, emphasizing a humanistic approach, diversity and multiculturalism, as well as a relational vision of the teaching and learning process. Elena values applied and hands-on modalities, sees the learning environment as co-created by teachers and learners, and designs her courses to be rich in content, motivating, and challenging students to engage in self-reflection. She has taught master’s- and bachelor’s-level courses related to counselling theories and skills, assessment, group counselling, and the psychology of gender.

Research Interests

Elena’s research interests have evolved around the topics of gender equality and gender roles in families, including women’s rights and women’s health, masculinity, patrilocal family structures in Central Asia, and gender-based violence. Her work on these issues, with co-authors including students, has been published in peer-reviewed journals including Central Asian Survey (UK), Feminism & Psychology (USA), Men and Masculinities (USA), and more. She is interested in developing her expertise in the application of qualitative methods to a variety of topics, including gender and family and counselling. Elena is currently leading a research team and working on a new project focused on reproductive coercion and reproductive choices among women, funded by SSHRC. Elena has been engaged in service work in Kyrgyzstan through consultation and advisory work with specialists and communities.