Christina Robillard, MSc.

Emotional Intelligence: What It Is & How to Enhance It

From a young age, we are taught how to read, write, do arithmetic, and ride a bike. However, many of us are not explicitly taught the critical skills of emotional intelligence - the ability to understand, acknowledge, and respond to our own and others’ emotions. And yet, without the ability to understand and regulate our own emotions, or to understand the emotional experiences of others, we are limited in our ability to achieve our goals. Emotional intelligence is integral to our ability to regulate our emotions, work effectively or communicate with others, and overcome challenges. In the workplace, emotional intelligence is essential to optimizing productivity, workplace cohesion and culture, and problem-solving. We need emotional intelligence in order to promote our wellness intelligence. 

Christina’s talk provides a foundational overview of emotional intelligence, including what it is, the many ways it shows up in our lives (both at work and at home), and why it is so important. Christina also provides knowledge and tools that enable audience members to cultivate their own emotional intelligence. Specifically, she will equip attendees with strategies to observe and describe their own and others’ emotional experiences, regulate their emotions in the moment, and effectively validate and de-escalate another person’s emotions. Christina’s talk provides the vital, foundational information to build emotional intelligence, which promotes wellbeing and efficacy within our lives.

After this talk, attendees will be able to…

  • Understand what emotional intelligence is and be able to describe it to others 

  • Be knowledgeable about why emotional intelligence is important in your personal and work life

  • Have strategies to enhance your emotional intelligence

  • Be able to effectively respond to others’ emotions

Christina’s talk can be customized to include content on effective communication skills. Contact us to learn more about our customization options for Christina’s talk.

Interested in this emotional intelligence talk? Get in touch!


Christina provides emotional intelligence speaking services in Vancouver, BC, and virtually across Canada. She also loves to travel, so contact us to inquire about opportunities in other cities.

About Christina

Christina is an accomplished mental health speaker with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology from McGill University and a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from the University of Victoria. Currently, she is completing her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Victoria while based in Vancouver, BC. Christina has established herself as a prominent researcher, supervised therapist, and dynamic speaker who specializes in mental health, wellbeing, and emotion regulation.

Christina’s research focuses on understanding why some people engage in high-risk behaviors, including substance abuse, self-injury, and disordered eating. She is particularly interested in how difficulties with emotion regulation, self-criticism, and impulsivity influence the onset and persistence of these behaviors. Her research accomplishments have been recognized by several federal scholarships and prestigious awards, such as the IODE War Memorial Scholarship. Christina has contributed significantly to the academic community, publishing her research in multiple peer-reviewed scientific journals, co-authoring chapters for esteemed publishers like the Oxford University Press and Academic Press, and writing original articles for various mental health blogs. She has also delivered over 40 presentations at national and international conferences, showcasing her research on high-risk behaviors and emotion regulation. Notably, she was featured on the Psychology of Self-Injury Podcast, where she discussed her research and its real-world implications. 

In addition to her research contributions, Christina has been invited to deliver lectures on mental health for undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, and McGill University. She has also delivered talks on these topics in the community, including to corporate employees, non-profit organizations, and local high school students. Furthermore, she developed and taught an original undergraduate course on mental health and well-being at the University of Victoria, demonstrating her commitment to making complex topics accessible and impactful.

With aspirations to become a professor at a post-secondary institution, Christina is passionate about educating others and sharing her research in ways that resonate with audiences. Her expertise and dedication to mental health make her a compelling speaker and advocate for positive change in our understanding of mental health and well-being. When Christina is not working, you can find her reading a book, playing guitar, and exploring beautiful British Columbia.

WellnessIntelligence.