Dr. Ilvy Goossens

Ph.D, C.Psych
Clinical & Forensic Psychologist
Portrait of Dr. Ilvy Goossens

Province(s)

  • ON

Works With

  • Adults (18+)

Focus Areas

  • Risk Assessment
Book with Dr. Ilvy Goossens

Dr. Ilvy Goossens is a Registered Clinical and Forensic Psychologist (C.Psych.) with more than a decade of experience across inpatient and outpatient mental health services, neuropsychological settings, private practice, and academic institutions. She is a member of the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO), the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA), and the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS).

Alongside her clinical work, Dr. Goossens is an active researcher and educator. Her published work spans psychological and violence risk assessment, clinical decision-making and risk communication, intimate partner violence, trauma, and recovery. She has presented nationally and internationally, has held leadership roles with IAFMHS, and serves on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Forensic Mental Health. She is also a Research & Clinical Advisor to MHAVEN, a provincial initiative at the intersection of intimate partner violence and mental health, and a Research Partner with the FREDA Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children.

Dr. Goossens is also a co-author of the Decision-making in Abusive Relationships Interview (DIARI), a structured professional guide that helps clinicians and service providers understand the factors shaping a person’s decisions within an abusive relationship and support individualized safety planning. Her work in this area reflects a broader commitment to assessment and intervention that are evidence-based, context-sensitive, and responsive to the lived realities of the people she serves.

On a Personal Note

I’m happiest outdoors – near the water or out on a trail.

Dr. Ilvy Goossens is a Registered Forensic Psychologist (C.Psych.) who earned her PhD in Psychology within the dedicated Psychology and Law stream at Simon Fraser University. With over a decade of experience across inpatient and outpatient facilities, neuro-clinics, private practice, and academic institutions, she brings an exceptionally fulsome clinical lens to her assessments.

Goossens, I., Helmus, L. M., & Viljoen, J. (2026). Risk communication practices in risk assessment tools: A systematic review across violent, sexual, or general offending. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/law0000491

Viljoen, J. L., Goossens, I., Monjazeb, S., Cochrane, D. M., Vargen, L. M., Jonnson, M. R., Blanchard, A. J. E., Li, S. M. Y., & Jackson, J. R. (2025). Are risk assessment tools more accurate than unstructured judgments in predicting violent, any, and sexual offending? A meta-analysis of direct comparison studies. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 43(1), 75–113. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.2698

Goossens, I., Fox, W., & Peikarnegar, M. (2025). A comprehensive examination of the role of the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide, Domestic Violence Risk Appraisal Guide, Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment, and Danger Assessment in Canadian courts and tribunals. Journal of Threat Assessment and Management, 12(2), 91–105. https://doi.org/10.1037/tam0000235

Viljoen, J. L., Vargen, L. M., Cochrane, D. M., Jonnson, M. R., Goossens, I., & Monjazeb, S. (2021). Do structured risk assessments predict violent, any, and sexual offending better than unstructured judgment? An umbrella review. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 27(1), 79–97. https://doi.org/10.1037/law0000299

Charette, Y., Goossens, I., Seto, M. C., Nicholls, T. L., & Crocker, A. G. (2021). Is knowledge contagious? Diffusion of violence-risk-reporting practices across clinicians’ professional networks. Clinical Psychological Science, 9(2), 284–293. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702620954797