Dr. Bassam Khoury

Director, McGill Mindfulness Research Lab 

Associate Professor, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University 

William Dawson Scholar  

Headshot of Dr. Bassam Khoury.

Dr. Khoury is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology at McGill University. He is the Director of the McGill Mindfulness Research Lab, where he and his team conduct studies to advance the theory, research, and applications of mindfulness and compassion.

Dr. Khoury has published numerous papers on mindfulness and compassion in leading journals in the domains of clinical psychology and physical/medical health. According to Google Scholar, his work has been cited 9,400 times and his ResearchGate has cumulated nearly 72,000 reads. His work has gained international recognition, 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 William Dawson Scholars Award.

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

  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Harvard and McGill Universities: Psychology

    PhD, Université de Montréal: Clinical Psychology


    BA, Concordia University: Honours Psychology


    BSc, Lebanese University: Electrical Engineering

    • Mindfulness and Compassion theories and applications

    • Embodied and embedded mindfulness and compassion

    • Interpersonal mindfulness

    • Mindfulness and compassion-based treatments

    • Effectiveness of psychotherapy

    • Mental health

    • Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses

    • Application of technology and programming in research

  • Dr. Bassam Khoury has over 100 peer-reviewed publications.

    According to Google Scholar, his work has been cited 9,400 times (with over than 1,275 citations during 2024). His ResearchGate has cumulated nearly 72,000 reads.

    His H-index is 32 and his i10—index is 58.

    Explore Dr. Khoury’s publications here.

  • Dr. Khoury’s total number of conference presentations is 96 (19 first-authored and 61 led by students). The majority were presented at international conferences (e.g., International Symposium for Contemplative Research, International Congress of Applied Psychology, Society for Research in Psychology, and International Conference on Mindfulness).

    Student-led conference presentations can be found on their respective profiles. First-authored conference presentations are listed below.

    First-authored conference presentations:

    Khoury B. (2024, Jan 23), Embodied and Embedded Mindfulness and Compassion and their Clinical Applications [Oral Presentation, invited]. University of Belfast, UK.

    Khoury B. (2023, Nov 9), Embodied and Embedded Mindfulness and Compassion and their Clinical Applications [Oral Presentation, invited]. Universidad San Sebastian and Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Chile.

    Khoury B. (2023, June 22-23). Embodied and Embedded Mindfulness and Compassion Framework and its Applications [Oral Presentation]. Transcultural Psychiatry Summer School: Contemplative Studies Workshop, Montreal, QC.

    Khoury B. (2023, April 14), Self-compassion and mindfulness as protective emotion regulation processes in the prevention and treatment of mental health problems [Oral Presentation, Panel Discussant]. The 17th annual General Jewish Hospital Psychiatry Research Day, Montreal, QC.

    Khoury, B. (2019, May). La pleine conscience : un passage bidirectionnel entre l’intrapersonnel et l’interpersonnel. In A. Devault (Chair), Pleine conscience et relation d’aide. Symposium conducted at the Association francophone pour le savoir - ACFAS, Gatineau, QC.

    Khoury, B. (2018, December). Towards a second generation of mindfulness-based interventions. Workshop offered as part of the seminars conducted by the “Groupe de recherche et d’intervention sur la présence attentive (GRIPA)”, Université du Québec à Montreal, Montreal, Quebec.

    Khoury, B. (2018, November). Effects of meditation/mindfulness-based interventions and their mechanisms of action. Paper presentation at the Mind and Life International Symposium for Contemplative Research, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Khoury, B. (2018, August). New trends in the treatment of psychosis: Mindfulness-based Interventions. [Nuevas tendencias en el tratamiento de las psicosis: Intervenciones basadas en Mindfulness]. Universidad Austral, Valdivia, Chile.

    Khoury, B. (2017). “Approches théoriques de la pleine conscience et processus sous-jacents à l’efficacité de la pleine conscience”, Colloque Méditation et la santé mentale, Université de Sherbrooke, Quebec Canada (November,17th, 2017)

    Khoury, B. (2017). “Les effets de la méditation sur la schizophrénie”, Colloque Méditation et la santé mentale, Sherbrooke University, Quebec Canada (November,17th, 2017)

    Khoury, B., Carsley, D.*, & Heath N. L. (2017). “La pleine conscience: Théories, recherches et applications”, 29e congrès de l’association Québécoise des psychologues scolaires, Trois-Rivières, Quebec Canada (October, 21st, 2017)

    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. ACBS World Conference XI, Sydney, Australia (July 9-12, 2013)

    Khoury, B., Lecomte, T., Gaudiano, B. A., & Paquin, K. (2013). Third wave interventions for psychosis: A Meta-analysis. ACBS World Conference XI, Sydney, Australia (July 9-12, 2013)

    Khoury, B., Lecomte, T., Comtois, G., & Nicole, L. (2013). Third wave strategies for emotion regulation in early psychosis: A pilot study. ACBS World Conference XI, Sydney, Australia (July 9-12, 2013).

    Khoury, B., Lecomte, T., Fortin, G., Masse, M., Therien, P., Bouchard, V., Chapleau, M-A. (2011). "Mindfulness as a clinical intervention: A Meta-analysis". Presented at the annual meeting of the “Society for Research in Psychology”, Boston, USA, September, 22, 2011.

    Khoury, B., Lecomte, T. (2010). Méditation de pleine conscience comme intervention clinique : Une méta-analyse. Presented at the ACFAS, Université de Montréal.

    Khoury, B., Lecomte, T. (2009). Development and validation of a group therapy for young individuals with early psychosis using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation. Presented at the “Mind and Life Summer Research Institute”, Garisson, NY, June, 7 to 13, 2009

    Khoury, B. (2008). Acceptance, mindfulness and psychosis. Accepted for the “Mind and life Research Summer Institute” - NY.

    Khoury, B. (2005). Is Frontal Lobe Inhibition a Predictor of Hypnotizability? Presented at the “Second Annual Concordia University Undergraduate Research Day”.

    • Heather Reisman and Gerald Schwartz Award for Excellence in Teaching, Faculty of Education, McGill University, 2022

    • William Dawson Scholar program, McGill University, 2021-2026 (equivalent to Canada Research Chair – CRC-Tier 2). Salary Award. $75,000.

    • Association of Psychological Science Emerging Scholars Rising Stars Award, 2019

    • Rising Stars, McGill University, 2017

    • Nominated for APA-Div 12 David Shakow Early Career Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Clinical Psychology, 2020/2021

    • Nominated by the department of Psychology at the Université de Montréal for the Governor General’s Academic Medal, 2015

    • Postdoctoral Scholarship, “Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)”, 2015-2017 (value of 81, 000)

    • “Étudiants-chercheurs étoiles” Award - “Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Société et Culture (FQRSC)”, 2014 (value of $1,000)

    • Postdoctoral Scholarship, “Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Société et Culture (FQRSC)”, 2014‐2016 (value of $64,000)

    • Clinical Training Award, Clinic of Psychological Counseling, Université de Montréal, 2012 (value of $1,000)

    • Research Excellence Award, International Mental Health and Citizenship Alliance, 2010 (value of $5,000)

    • Psychology Department Awards, Université de Montréal, 2008/2009/2010/2011

    • The JW Bridge Medal for Psychology, Concordia University, 2008

    • Campaign for the New Millennium Scholarship Student Contribution, Concordia University, 2005

    • Faculty of Arts and Sciences Award, Concordia University, 2004/2005

  • Email: bassam.el-khoury@mcgill.ca