Makayla Freeman (she/they) received her BA (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Calgary in 2020, and her MA in Counselling Psychology at the University of British Columbia in 2024 under the supervision of Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen. She is currently a PhD student at the University of British Columbia in Counselling Psychology under Dr. Tomfohr-Madsen’s supervision. They are interested in the experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ pregnant individuals, specifically in accessing health care and mental health supports, as well as the intersections of sexual orientation, gender identity, race-ethnicity and various sociodemographic factors. Makayla’s research thus far has focused on improving the health of parents and their children. Her research focuses on the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and discrimination on perinatal and child health outcomes, as well as practices for conducting gender-inclusive pregnancy research. They are interested in interventions, resiliency factors, and best practices that support the mental health of parents and their children in the early years of child development.