La Dre Danielle Alexander-Urquhart est professeure adjointe à l’École de kinésiologie et des sciences de l’activité physique de l’Université de Montréal. Son programme de recherche vise à mieux comprendre et soutenir les expériences sportives des athlètes et des entraîneur·e·s issus de groupes en quête d’équité. Plus précisément, ses travaux portent sur le sport pour les personnes en situation de handicap et le sport au féminin, en mettant l’accent sur l’apprentissage et le développement des entraîneur·e·s, les cultures d’excellence et les pratiques d’entraînement holistiques. Elle mobilise diverses méthodes qualitatives, telles que l’analyse thématique réflexive (Alexander-Urquhart & Culver, 2025), l’analyse critique du discours (Alexander, Duncan et al., 2022), l’analyse de contenu ethnographique (Alexander, Hallward et al., 2022) et l’analyse narrative thématique (Alexander-Urquhart et al., 2025), afin de développer une compréhension approfondie des expériences vécues dans le sport et d’identifier des recommandations concrètes pour améliorer la performance et le bien-être dans ce domaine. Elle se passionne particulièrement pour l’utilisation de méthodes narratives (p. ex., la création non romanesque) comme moyen d’illustrer les expériences vécues individuelles, afin de susciter des émotions et de favoriser le changement par la recherche. Danielle est consultante certifiée en performance mentale et mentore agréée auprès de l’Association canadienne de psychologie du sport (ACPS) et de l’Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).

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Dr. Danielle Alexander-Urquhart is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences at Université de Montréal. Her program of research is centered on better understanding and supporting the sport experiences of athletes and coaches from equity-deserving communities. Specifically, her research has focused on disability sport and women in sport, with an emphasis on coach learning and development, cultures of excellence, and holistic coaching practices. She uses diverse qualitative methods, such as reflexive thematic analysis (Alexander-Urquhart & Culver, 2025), critical discourse analysis (Alexander, Duncan et al., 2022), ethnographic content analysis (Alexander, Hallward et al., 2022), and thematic narrative analysis (Alexander-Urquhart et al., 2025), to develop in-depth insights into lived experiences within sport and to identify practical recommendations to improve performance and well-being in this domain. She is particularly passionate about using storytelling methods (e.g., creative non-fiction) to illustrate individuals’ lived experiences in ways that evoke emotion and promote change through research. Danielle is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and Approved Mentor through the Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA)/Association For Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).

Postdoctoral Fellowship (2023-2025): University of Ottawa, Faculty of Health Sciences. Specialization: Sport Psychology. 

Doctor of Philosophy (2018–2023): McGill University, Faculty of Education. Specialization: Sport Psychology.

Master of Arts (2015–2017): McGill University, Faculty of Education. Specialization: Sport Psychology. 

Honours Bachelor of Arts (2011–2015): Brock University, Faculty of Social Sciences. Specialization: Psychology.

Glaude, M., Alexander-Urquhart, D., Henderson, H., Sheppard, M. B., Loughead, T. M., & Bloom, G. A. (in press). A longitudinal case study of a sport psychology intervention designed to facilitate team culture change. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology.

Henderson, S., Bloom, G. A., & Alexander-Urquhart, D. (2026). Using creative non-fiction to explore Canadian university coaches’ experiences and challenges with mental health. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 43, 160-169.doi:10.1080/10413200.2026.2638369

Alexander-Urquhart, D., Bloom, G. A., & Callary, B. (2025). A qualitative exploration of the mentoring and learning experiences of Special Olympics Canada coaches. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 33, 1-10.https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2025-0081

Alexander-Urquhart, D. & Culver, D. M. (2025). Exploring the experiences of a gender equity program in the disability sport context from the perspective of program participants and facilitators. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal. https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2025-0035

Alexander-Urquhart, D. Culver, D. M., & Rourke, S. (2025). A creative non-fiction approach to illustrate sport experiences of girls and women athletes with disabilities, from the perspective of Canadian athletes and coaches. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 43(1), 7-16. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2024-0189

Alexander-Urquhart, D., Bloom, G. A., & Fraser, M. M. (2025). Understanding the career experiences and reflections of Special Olympics Canada’s National Team Program coaches. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 17(1), 32-46. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2024.2425430

Washington, C., Bloom, G. A., Alexander-Urquhart, D., & Falcão, W. R. (2025). Black Canadian university football players’ perspectives on the coach-athlete relationship. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 37(2), 185-206. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2024.2377971

Alexander-Urquhart, D., Bentzen, M., Kenttä, G., & Bloom, G. A. (2025). Exploring interpretations and implications of coaches’ use of humour in three national Paralympic teams. International Sport Coaching Journal, 12(3), 481-489. https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2024-0003.

Hallward, L., Alexander, D., Feng, O., & Duncan, L. R. (2025). Navigating the social landscape of Instagram: Exploring the experiences, motivations, and perceptions of eating disorder recovery content creators. Psychology of Popular Media, 14(2), 276-285.

Zhu, Q., Bloom, G. A., Xu, C., Alexander-Urquhart, D., Guo, L., & Zhu, Y. (2024). Elite tennis player’s perceptions of coaching effectiveness. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 19(6), 2310-2320. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541241266700

Alexander, D., Bloom, G. A., Bentzen, M., & Kenttä, G. (2024). Exploring the experiences and perceptions of coaches, athletes, and integrated support teams towards the management of three national Paralympic teams. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 71, 102588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102588

Alexander, D. & Bloom, G.A. (2023). Exploring coaches’ experiences and perceptions of a virtual parasport coach mentorship program. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 64, 102303. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102303

Pomerleau-Fontaine, L., Bloom, G. A., & Alexander, D. (2023). Elite wheelchair basketball athletes’ perceptions of the coach-athlete relationship. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 40(1), 105-125. doi:10.1123/apaq.2022-0003

Culver, D., Shaikh, M., Alexander, D., & Fournier, K. (2022). Gender equity in disability sport: A rapid scoping review. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 16(4), 383-405. doi:10.1123/jcsp.2021-0074

Alexander, D., Caron, J. G., Comeau, J., & Sweet, S. N. (2022). An exploration of the roles and experiences of SCI peer mentors using creative non-fiction. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(22), 6824-6832. doi:10.1080/09638288.2021.1977395

Henderson, S. Bloom, G. A., Alexander, D. (2022). Desired coaching behaviours of elite divers during competition. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 20(6), 1777-1794. doi:10.1080/1612197X.2021.2003417

Cai, A., Lefebvre, J. S., Alexander, D., & Bloom, G. A. (2022). Applying group norms in sport: Practical considerations for coaches. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 13(3), 195-207. doi:10.1080/21520704.2021.2002990

Alexander D., Duncan, L. R., & Bloom, G. A. (2022). A critical discourse analysis of the dominant discourses being used to portray parasport coaches in the newspaper media. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 14(4), 511-529. doi:10.1080/2159676X.2021.1947885

Thurston, R. J., Alexander, D. M., & Michaud, M. (2021). Practical considerations for coaching athletes with learning disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders. International Sport Coaching Journal, 9(2), 244-251. doi:10.1123/iscj.2021-0008

Rebner, J., Duncan, L. R., & Alexander, D. (2021). Talking your way to record times: The effects of instructional and motivational self-talk on 10 km time-trial running performance. Journal of Sport Behavior, 44(3), 393-406. 

Lefebvre, J. S., Alexander, D., Sweet, S. N., & Bloom, G. A. (2021). A mixed-methods case study examining the developmental networks of athletes in a wheelchair rugby team. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 56, 102000. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.102000

Milius, I., Gilbert, W. D., Alexander, D., & Bloom, G. A. (2021). Coaches' use of positive tactile communication in intercollegiate basketball. International Sport Coaching Journal, 8(1), 91-100. doi:10.1123/iscj.2020-0001

Bentzen, M., Alexander, D., Bloom, G. A., & Kenttä, G. (2021). What do we know about parasport coaches? A scoping review. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 38(1), 109-137. doi:10.1123/apaq.2019-0147

Alexander, D., Bloom, G. A., Taylor, S. T. (2020). Female Paralympic athlete views of effective and ineffective coaching practices. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 32(1), 48-63. doi:10.1080/10413200.2018.1543735

Alexander, D., Hutt, E., Lefebvre, J., & Bloom, G. A. (2019). Using imagery to enhance performance in powerlifting: A review of theory, research, and practice. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 41(6), 102-109. doi:10.1519/SSC.0000000000000490

Alexander, D., Hallward, L., Duncan, L. R., & Caron, J. G. (2019). Is there still hope for clean sport? Exploring how the Russian doping scandal has impacted North American sport culture and identity using an ethnographic content analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(5), 618-635. doi:10.1080/2159676X.2019.1589561

Duncan, L. R., Hallward, L., & Alexander, D. (2018). Portraits of the personal and situational risk factors that lead to doping initiation in adolescent athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 39, 163-170. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.08.012