۲ݮƵ

Dr. Bassam Khoury

Title: 
Associate Professor
Academic title(s): 

Director, ۲ݮƵ Mindfulness Research Lab | William Dawson Scholar

Dr. Bassam Khoury
Contact Information
Email address: 
bassam.el-khoury [at] mcgill.ca
Phone: 
514-398-1054
Address: 

Education Building
3700 rue McTavish
Montréal, Quebec H3A 1Y2
Canada

Division: 
Counselling Psychology Supervisors
Department: 
Educational and Counselling Psychology (ECP)
Area(s): 
Mental Health, Intervention and Psychopathology
Areas of expertise: 
  • Mindfulness and Compassion theories and applications
  • Interpersonal mindfulness
  • Mindfulness and compassion-based treatments
  • Effectiveness of psychotherapy
  • Mental health
  • Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses
  • Application of technology and programming in research
Biography: 

Dr. Khoury is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology (ECP), and he heads the ۲ݮƵ Mindfulness Research Lab where he and his team conduct research on advancing the theory, research, and applications of mindfulness and compassion. The global aim of the research is to make a deep lasting societal change by embracing new ways of interacting with oneself, other people, and the natural environment through the practices of mindfulness and compassion.

Prof. Khoury published numerous papers on mindfulness and compassion in leading journals in the domains of clinical psychology and physical/medical health. His work has gained international recognition, was cited more than 5,000 times and was selected by the University of Cambridge's Insights for Impact Report; a report published by the department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge citing the most impactful research papers in psychology worldwide. Furthermore, his work was ranked 67th worldwide on Web of Science in the category of clinical psychology. Dr. Khoury has also been recognized through multiple awards and nominations, including the Association of Psychological Science Emerging Scholars Rising Stars Award, and the University’s William Dawson Scholar Award.

Dr. Khoury conducted his doctoral research at Université de Montréal and his postdoctoral research at Harvard University and ۲ݮƵ University. He is a clinical psychologist (Ordre des Psychologues du Québec) with a specialization in mindfulness-based treatments.

Degree(s): 
  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Harvard and ۲ݮƵ Universities: Psychology
  • Ph.D., Université de Montréal: Clinical Psychology
  • B.A., Concordia University: Honours Psychology
  • B.Sc., Lebanese University: Electrical Engineering
Prizes and Awards: 
William Dawson Scholar
Awards, honours, and fellowships: 
  • Heather Reisman and Gerald Schwartz Award for Excellence in Teaching, Faculty of Education, ۲ݮƵ University, 2022
  • William Dawson Scholar, ۲ݮƵ University, 2021-2026 
  • Association of Psychological Science Emerging Scholars Rising Stars Award, 2019
  • Rising Stars, ۲ݮƵ University, 2017
  • Nominated for APA-Div 12 David Shakow Early Career Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Clinical Psychology, 2020/2021
Selected publications: 
  1. Dias Martins, C.*, Vergara, R.C., & Khoury, B. (accepted). Validation of a Scale Assessing Empathy Toward Animals. Գٳdzö.
  1. Khoury, B., & Vergara, R.C. (2024). Compassion for Animal Questionnaire: Scale Development and Validation. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 100, 102470. .
  1. Bryan, B.*, Burdayron, R., Mazor Goder, G., Lewis, C., Vendette, M., Khoury, B., & Pennestri, M-H. (2024). The Association Between Infant Sleep, Cognitive, and Psychomotor Development: A Systematic Review. Sleep.
  1. Khoury, B. & Vergara, R.C. (2024). Embodied and Embedded Mindfulness: A Mindful Path to Well-Being. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. (IF 3.0)
  1. Manova, V.*, Grosso, F., Khoury, B. & Pagnini, F. (2024). Social anxiety: Topics and emotions shared on Reddit before and during the Coronavirus pandemic. Current Psychology (IF 2.8).
  1. Fleischmann, M.H.*, Boudreau, A., Charman, M., Collie, E., Johnston, R., Khoury, B., & Vincent, M., (2024). A pilot study on the efficacy of an online mindfulness intervention for Canadian police officers. Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being, 9(2), 1–8.
  1. Matin, H., Savari, Y., Etemadi, O., Fatehizade, M., & Khoury, B. (2024). Women's Perceptions of the Consequences of Self-Compassion as an Intrapersonal Source in Marital Relationships: A Qualitative Study in Iran. Current Psychology,
  1. Benchimol-Elkaim, B.*, Khoury, B., & Tsimicalis, A. (2024). Nature-Based Mindfulness Programs Using Virtual Reality to Reduce Pediatric Perioperative Anxiety: A Narrative Review. Frontiers in Pediatrics - Pediatric Surgery, 12 (IF 2.6).
  1. Schmelefske, E.*, Per, M.*, & Khoury, B. (accepted with minor changes). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals who engage in non-suicidal self-injury. Suicide and Life Threatening Behaviour.
  1. Spinelli, C.*, Ibrahim, M.*, & Khoury, B. (in-press). Enhancing ambiguity tolerance in counsellors-in-training: A pilot program. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy (IF 1.7)
  1. Tran, M. A. Q.*, Khoury, B., Chau, N. N. T., Van Pham, M., Dang, A. T. N., Ngo, T. V., Ngo, T. T., Truong, T. M., & Le Dao, A. K. (2024). The Role of Self-Compassion on Psychological Well-Being and Life Satisfaction of Vietnamese Undergraduate Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Hope as a Mediator. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 42(1), 35-53.
  1. Bolanis, D.*, Vergunst, F., Mavoa, S., Schmelefske, E.*, Khoury, B., Turecki, G., Orri, M., & Geoffroy, M.-C. (2024). Association between greenspace exposure and suicide-related outcomes across the lifespan: A systematic review. Science of the Total Environment (IF 10.8), 906, 167451.
  1. Palii, V., Velykodna, M., Pereira, M., McElvaney, R., Bernard, S., Klymchuk, V., Burlachuk, O., Lupis, A. A., Diatel, N., Ireland, J. L., McNeill, K., Scarlet, J. L., Jaramillo-Sierra, A. L., Khoury, B., Sánchez Munar, D. R., Hedlund, S. L., Flanagan, T., LeBlanc, J., Agudelo Velez, D. M., & Gómez-Maquet, Y. (2024). The experience of launching a psychological hotline across 21 countries to support Ukrainians in wartime. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 28(4), 321-325.
  1. Manova, V., & Khoury, B. (2024). Interpersonal perfectionism and social anxiety: The mediational role of mindfulness. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 56(3), 205–215.
  1. Fuchs, D. E.*, Fleischmann, M. H.*, Wisener, M.*, & Khoury, B. (2024). The relationship between mindfulness facets, self-compassion, and aggression in young adult women. Current Psychology, (IF 2.4) 43(6), 5443-545.
  1. Høy Jensen, J., Rugulies, R., Meulengracht Flachs, E., Ugelvig Petersen, K., Ross, L., Hurwitz Eller, N., & Khoury, B. (2024). Shedding light on prognostic factors of symptom reduction in patients with prolonged work-related stress: A clinical follow-up study. Stress & Health 40(3), e3329. (IF 3.5)
  1. Khoury, B. (2023). Mindfulness and Happiness. Mindfulness (IF 3.6), 14, 2824–2828.
  1. Khoury, B., Vergara, R.C., & Spinelli, C.* (2023). Compassion Questionnaires: Scales Development and Validation. Cognitive Therapy and Research (IF 3.1), 47, 1006–1032
  1. Cinalioglu, K., Lavin, P., Bein, M., Lesage, M., Gruber, J., Se, J., Bukhari, S., Sasi, N., Noble, H., Bruneau, M-A, Launay, C., Sanders, J., Gauthier, S., Rosa-Neto, P., Lifshitz, M., Battistini, B.J., Beauchet, O., Khoury, B., Bouchard, S., Fallavollita, P., Vahia, I.V., Rej, S., Sekhon, H. (2023). Effects of Virtual Reality Meditation in Older Adults: The protocol of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Frontiers in Psychology (IF 4.3), 14.
  1. Khoury, B., Manova, V.*, Adel, L., Dumas, G., Lifshitz, M., Vergara, R.C., Sekhon, H., & Rej, S. (2023). Tri-Process Model of Interpersonal Mindfulness: A Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Frontiers in Psychology (IF 4.3), 14.
  1. Spinelli, C.*, Ibrahim, M.*, & Khoury, B. (2023). Cultivating ambiguity tolerance through mindfulness: an induction RCT. Current Psychology (IF 4.3), 42(15), 12929–12947.
  1. Anand, L.*, Per, M.*, Sadowski, I.*, & Khoury, B. (2023). Mindful parenting: A meta-analytic review of outcomes from a developmental perspective. Current Psychology (IF 4.3), 42(10), 8367-8383.
  1. Heshmati, R., Khoury, B., Azmoodeh, S., Zerang, M., Sadowski, I.* (2023). The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Emotional Flexibility and Ambivalence Over Emotional Expression in Divorced Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (IF 2.7), 211(4), 298-305.
  1. Khoury, B., Vergara, R.C., Sadowski, I.*, & Spinelli, C.* (2023). Embodied Mindfulness Questionnaire: Scale Development and Validation. Assessment, 30(2), 458-483. (IF 4.7).
  1. Mettler, J.*, Khoury, B., Zito, S., Sadowski, I.*, & Heath, N. L. (2023). Mindfulness-based programs and school adjustment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of School Psychology (IF 4.3), 97, 43-62.
  1. Manova, V.*, & Khoury, B. (2023). The Relationship Between Mindfulness and Perfectionism in University Students During Emerging Adulthood. Emerging Adulthood, (IF 1.6) 11(4), 828–844.
  1. Renault, R.*, Laurin, J, Khoury, B., & Spinelli, C.* (2023). The Mediating Role of Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction in the Relationship Between Trait Mindfulness and Psychological Distress. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, (IF 2.9) 36(3), 485-502.
  1. Xie, Q.*, Manova, V.*, & Khoury, B. (2023). How do dispositional mindfulness and self-compassion alleviate loneliness? The mediating role of rejection sensitivity. Current Psychology, 42, 23712–23721 (IF 4.3).
  1. Sekhon, H., Lavin, P., Vacaflor, B., Rigas, C.*, Cinalioglu, L., Su, C-L., Bodenstein, K.*, Dikaios, E.*, Goodman, A., Raymond, F.C., Ibrahim, M.*, Bein, M., Gruber, J., Se, J., Sasi, N., Walsh, C., Nazar, R., Hanganu, C., Berkani, S., Royal, I., Schiavetto, A., Looper, K., Launay, C., McDonald, E.G., Seitz, D., Kumar, S., Beauchet, O., Khoury, B., Bouchard, S., Battistini, B., Fallavollita, P., Miresco, M., Bruneau, M-A., Vahia, I., Bukhari, S., & Rej, S. (2022). Isolating Together during COVID-19: Results from the Telehealth Intervention Program for Older Adults (TIP-OA). Frontiers in Medicine (IF 7.2), 9.
  1. Sadowski, I.* & Khoury, B. (2022). Nature-Based Mindfulness-Compassion Programs Using Virtual Reality for Older Adults: A Narrative Literature Review. Frontiers in Virtual Reality (IF NA), 3.
  1. Tran, M. A.Q.*, Tan, V.T., Khoury, B., Mohammad, S., Nguyen, N.N.C. (2022). Self-compassion, Mindfulness, Stress, and Self-esteem among Vietnamese University Students: Psychological well-being and Positive Emotion as Mediators. Mindfulness, 13, 2574–258.
  1. Geoffroy, M-C., Bouchard, S.*, Per, M.*, Khoury, B., Chartrand, E., Renaud, J., Colman, I., & Orri, M. (2022). Prevalence of suicidal ideation and self-harm behaviors in children aged 12 years and under: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry (IF 77.1), 9(9), 703-714.
  1. Kern, A.*, Khoury, B., Frederickson, A.*, & Langevin, R. (2022). The associations between childhood maltreatment and pregnancy complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research (IF 3.0), 160, 110985.
  1. Khoury, B., Vergara, R.C., & Spinelli, C.* (2022). Interpersonal Mindfulness Questionnaire: Scale Development and Validation. Mindfulness (IF 4.7), 13(4), 1007-1031.
  1. Shireen, H.*, Khanyari, S.*, Vance, A.*, Johannesson, H.*, Preissner, C.*, Dor-Ziderman, Y., Khoury, B., & Knäuper, B. (2022). Paying Attention to the Self: A Systematic Review of the Study of the Self in Mindfulness Research. Mindfulness, 13(6), 1373-1386 (IF 4.7).
  1. Bajaj, B., Khoury, B., & Sengupta, S. (2022). Resilience as Mediator in the Relationship of Mindfulness to Happiness, and Stress. Frontiers in Psychology. (IF 3.0), 13.
  1. Per, M.*, Schmelefske, E., Brophy, K.*, Austin, S.B.*, & Khoury, B. (2022). Mindfulness, self-compassion, self-injury, and suicidal behaviour: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mindfulness (IF 4.7), 13(4), 821-842.
  1. Wisener, M.*, & Khoury, B. (2022). Which Emotion-Regulation Strategies Explain the Negative Relationship Between Dispositional Mindfulness and Self-Compassion with Eating to Cope? Appetite (IF 3.9), 172, 105912.
  1. Khoury, B. & Dionne, F. (2022). Les dimensions incarnée et interpersonnelle de la compassion. Annales Medico-Psychologiques (IF 0.3), 180(6, Supplement), S57-S65.
  1. Schmelefske, E.A.*, Per, M.*, Khoury, B., & Heath, N. (2022)(2022). The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on suicide outcomes: A meta-analysis. Archives of Suicidal Research (IF 2.3), 26(2), 447-464.
  1. Per, M.*, Simundic, A.*, Argento, A.*, Khoury, B., & Heath, N. (2022). Examining the Relationship Between Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Emotion Regulation in Self-Injury. Archives of Suicidal Research, (IF 2.3) 26(3), 1286-1301.
  1. Fleischmann, M. H.*, Manova, V.*, Wisener, M.*, & Khoury, B. (2022). Mindfulness facets and self-compassion as moderators of the relationship between occupational stressors and mental health symptoms in Canadian police officers. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 54(4), 347–353.
  1. Sadowski, I.*, Böke, N., Mettler, J.*, Heath, N., & Khoury, B. (2022). Naturally mindful? The role of mindfulness facets in the relationship between nature relatedness and subjective well-being. Current Psychology, 41(8), 5358-5373.
  1. Wisener, M.*, & Khoury, B. (2022). Mindfulness facets, self-compassion, and drinking to cope: How do associations differ by gender in undergraduates with harmful alcohol consumption? Journal of American College Health, 70(6), 1704-1710.
  1. Wisener, M.*, & Khoury, B. (2021). Specific Emotion-Regulation Processes Explain the Relationship Between Mindfulness and Self-Compassion with Coping-Motivated Alcohol and Marijuana Use. Addictive Behaviors (IF 3.6), 112, 106590.
  1. Spinelli, C.*, Paradis-Gagne, E., Per, M.*, Fleischmann, M. H.*, Manova, V.*, Wallace, A.*, and Khoury, B. (2020). Evaluating the use of mindfulness and yoga training on forensic inpatients: A pilot study. Frontiers in Psychiatry (IF 3.5), 11(1447).
  1. Gill, L.-N.*, Renault, R.*, Campbell, E.*, Rainville, P., & Khoury, B. (2020). Mindfulness induction and cognition: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Consciousness and Cognition (IF 2.0), 84, 102991.
  1. Wisener, M.*, & Khoury, B. (2020). Is Self-Compassion Negatively Associated with Alcohol and Marijuana-Related Problems Via Coping Motives? Addictive Behaviors (IF 3.6), 111, 106554.
  1. Khoury, B. (2020). The root causes of COVID-19 screech for compassion. Mindfulness (IF 4.7), 11(8), 1910-1913.
  1. Khoury, B., Dionne, F., & Grégoire, S. (2020). La dimension interpersonnelle de la pleine conscience. Annales Medico-Psychologiques (IF 0.3), 178(3), 239-244.
  1. Carletto, S., Cavalera, C., Sadowski, I.*, Rovaris, M., Borghi, M., Khoury, B., Ostacoli, L., & Pagnini, F. (2020). Mindfulness-based interventions to improve psychological and physical functioning in people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychosomatic Medicine (IF 4.0), 82(6), 600-613.
  1. Per, M.*, Spinelli, C.*, Sadowski, I.*, Schmelefske, E.*, Anand, L.*, & Khoury, B. (2020). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Incarcerated Populations: A Meta-Analysis. Criminal Justice and Behavior (IF 1.5), 47(3), 310-330.
  1. Khoury, B. (2019). Compassion: Embodied and Embedded. Mindfulness (IF 4.7), 10(11), 2363-2374.
  1. Wisener, M.*, & Khoury, B. (2019). Mindfulness Facets and Self-Compassion as Predictors for Internally-Motivated Drinking, Problematic Consumption, and Alcohol-Related Problem. Mindfulness (IF 3.6), 10(10), 2073–2081.
  1. Poissant, H., Mendrek, A., Talbot, N., Khoury, B., & Nolan, J. (2019). Behavioral and Cognitive Impacts of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review. Behavioural Neurology (IF 2.1), 16.
  1. Spinelli, C.*, Wisener, M.*, & Khoury, B. (2019). Mindfulness training for healthcare professionals and trainees: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, (IF 3.3) 120, 29-38.
  1. Khoury, B., Dionne, F., & Grégoire, S. (2019). L’embodiment, un concept unificateur entre les traditions orientales et occidentales de la pleine conscience. Annales Medico-Psychologiques (IF 0.3), 177(7), 633-640.
  1. Carrière, K.*, Khoury, B., & Knäuper, B. (2018). Author response to ‘Effects of mindfulness on weight loss’ by Dr. Kristina Bergman. Obesity Reviews (IF 8.5),
  1. Carrière, K.*, Khoury B., Günak, M.* & Knäuper, B. (2018). Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on weight loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews (IF 8.5) (19), 164–177.
  1. Khoury, B. (2018). Mindfulness: Embodied and Embedded. Mindfulness (IF 4.7), 9(4), 1037-1042.
  1. Carsley, D.*, Khoury, B., & Heath N. L. (2018). Effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for mental health in school: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Mindfulness (IF 4.7), 9(3), 693-707.
  1. Khoury B., Knäuper, B., Pagnini, F., Trent, N., Chiesa, A., & Carrière, K.* (2017). Embodied Mindfulness. Mindfulness (IF 4.7), 8(5), 1160–1171.
  1. Khoury, B., Schlosser, M.*, Knäuper, B., Carrière, K.*, & Chiesa, A. (2017). Effectiveness of traditional meditation retreats: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research (IF 3.3). 92, 16-25.
  1. Naeem, F., Khoury B., Munshi, T., Lecomte, T., Kingdon, D., & Farooq, S. (2016). Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for psychosis (BriefCBTp): A Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy (IF 0.6), 9(1), 73-86.
  1. Khoury B., Sharma, M. Ruth, S. E., Fournier, C. (2015). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as a Stress Management Intervention for Healthy Individuals: A Meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research (IF 3.3), 78, 519-528.
  1. Naeem, F., Asmer, M. S., Khoury, B., Kingdon, D., & Farooq, S. (2015). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for schizophrenia and related disorders (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (IF 7.9) (6).
  1. Khoury B., Lecomte, T., Comtois, G., & Nicole, L. (2015). Third wave strategies for emotion regulation in early psychosis: A pilot study. Early Intervention in Psychiatry (IF 3.1), 9, 76-83.
  1. Dionne, F., Blais, M-C., & Khoury B. (2014). TRANSDIAGNOSTIC CBT: A COMPLEMENT (OR AN ALTERNATIVE) TO THE DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH OF THE DSM-5. La revue québécoise de psychologie (IF NA), 35(3), 231-249
  1. Khoury, B., Langer, E. J., & Pagnini, F. (2014). The DSM: Mindful Science or Mindless Power? A critical review. Frontiers in Psychology (IF 2.3), 5(602).
  1. Khoury B., Lecomte, T., Fortin, G., Masse, M., Therien, P., Bouchard, V., Chapleau, M.-A., Paquin, K., Hofmann, S. G. (2013). Mindfulness-Based Therapy: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis. Clinical Psychology Review (IF 8.9), 33(6), 763-771.
  1. Khoury B., Lecomte, T., Gaudiano, B. A., & Paquin, K. (2013). Mindfulness interventions for psychosis: A Meta-analysis. Schizophrenia Research (IF 4.6), 150(1), 176-184.
  1. Tranulis, C., Lecomte, T., El Khoury, B., Lavarenne, A., & Brodeur-Côté, D. (2013). Changing the name of schizophrenia: patient perspectives and implications for DSM-V. PLoS ONE (IF 2.7), 8(2), e55998.
  1. Khoury, B., & Lecomte, T. (2012). Emotional Regulation and Schizophrenia. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy (IF 0.6), 5(1), 67-76.
Program: 
  • M.A. Counselling Psychology
  • Ph.D. Counselling Psychology
Graduate supervision: 

I am open to graduate applications (MA and PhD) for Fall 2025.

Back to top