Educational and Professional Bio
Julia LeFrancois (she/her/ella) is earning her second master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at the University of New Haven. Alongside counseling, she conducts research at The Yale Consultation Center (TCC), focusing on social justice-oriented evaluations. Julia earned her first master’s degree in community psychology, where she concentrated on research & evaluation, and worked as a graduate research assistant for Esperanza United, a national gender-based violence resource center. She remains actively involved with the Center, offering ongoing guidance in research literacy and student theses. After completing her first degree, she also collaborated with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) to study housing insecurity among Black immigrant and refugee survivors of domestic violence.
Julia is currently interning as a counselor at APT Foundation, a community-based nonprofit that provides open-access treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder and co-occurring mental health challenges. The Foundation emphasizes harm reduction, integrated care, and accessibility, particularly for individuals navigating systemic barriers to recovery.
Julia identifies as a healer, storyteller, and change-maker, with a practice rooted in feminist and decolonial frameworks. Her work focuses on embodied narratives related to body-image, disability, and trauma. Prior to her academic path in community and clinical psychology, she worked as a sign language interpreter and has been active in the Deaf community since 2012. Julia is committed to challenging oppressive systems through community-based and compassion-centered strategies, which she applies across her work as a researcher, educator, and counselor.
Academic Institutions & Communities
University of New Haven, CT
2024 – Expected Completion in Fall of 2025
Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
University of Hartford, CT
2023 – 2024
Doctor of Psychology
After a year of study, I transitioned out of this program for sociopolitical and personal reasons. I transfered my training and education to a clinical mental health counseling program to prepare for Professional Counselor licensure (LPC).
University of New Haven, CT
2021 – 2023
Master of Community Psychology with a concetration in Research & Evaluation
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA
2018 – 2021
Bachelors in Psychology
Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA
2007 -2014
Sign Language Interpreting Training Certificate
Honors & Recognitions
University of Hartford
Diversity Fellow (2023)
University of New Haven
Excellence in Graduate Community Psychology Research Award (2023)
Phenomenal Woman Award (2023)
Inclusive Excellence Award (2023)
Dean’s Scholarship (2022, 2021)
Martin Luther King Jr. Vision Award Nominee (2021)
Michael A. Morris Community Psychology Endowed Scholar (2021)
Cal Poly Pomona
Research Distinction Award (2020)
Ronald E. McNair Scholar & Summer REU Scholar (2020, 2019)
President’s Scholar (2019)
Access DisABILITY Scholar (2018)
Staff Council Scholar (2018)
Dean’s List & President’s Honors List (2018-2021)
Professional Memberships
American Psychological Association (APA)
American Evaluation Association (AEA)
Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH/HAES)
Access & DisABILITY Alliance (ADA – Cal Poly Pomona University)
Eastern Psychological Association (EPA)
Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) – Volunteer
National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSP)
Psi Chi International
Registry for Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program
Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA)
Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI)
Professional Certifications
Doctoral Student and Trainee Certificate of Clinical Excellence in Clinical Suicidology
National Register of Health Service Psychologists
Intimate Partner Violence: Screening & Interventions for Health Professionals
Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence