Alberto Varona, Psy.D. Chicago Campus

Alberto Varona, Psy.D.
Core Faculty, Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Program

For years I have cultivated a passion for teaching psychology to students. This passion and my own educational experience has led me to adopt a discussion-based and practical teaching style that spans from the most abstract and theoretical discussions to the most functional application of those same discussions.  For this reason I try to ensure that every voice is heard in my classroom, and that everything we learn leads to an activity that students will need to perform as psychologists.  My students discuss the nature of the mind, the nature of mental illness and wellness, the cultural biases of diagnosing, the relationship of the mind to the body, the differences between empirical and speculative schools of psychology and many more abstract topics.  Then they diagnose cases, write a case formulation or do a clinical role play.

I came to psychology after many years of studying religion and philosophy.  I am particularly interested in mystical experience, theology, existentialism, phenomenology, process philosophy and contemporary psychoanalysis. I believe that empirical psychology is fueled by theoretical thought and requires innovative thinkers to inspire future research.  The dynamic exchanges between speculative schools of psychology and empirical schools of psychology are very fruitful.  I hope our students engage in this lively exchange, and graduate from the Adler School to become even more thoughtful about their work with clients and in promoting social change and justice.  I hope they will be amongst the most skilled and well-informed members of the professional psychology community.

Please e-mail or call me (312-662-4335) if you have questions or would like more information about me.

Education

• Psy.D. Clinical Psychology, The Wright Institute, Berkeley, California
• Psychoanalytic Psychology Certificate, Access Institute, San Francisco, California
• B.A. Religious Studies, California State University, Fullerton, California

Professional Memberships

• American Academy of Religion; Psychology, Culture and Religion, Steering Committee
  (2008-present)
• American Psychological Association. Division 39: Psychoanalysis
• American Psychological Association. Division 24. Society for Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology

Select Publications

• Varona, A. (2012). Expanding the concept of internal object relations: Introducing the concept of experiential horizons. Presencing EPIS. pp. 64-72

Select Presentations

• Theoretical Case Conceptualization: Presented a theoretical case conceptualization from a contemporary psychoanalytic perspective during a theoretical orientation discussion panel. Adler School of Professional Psychology. November, 2011
• Advanced Concepts Group: Conducted an eight month lecture series and discussion group on the clinical concepts of Melanie Klein, Donald Winnicott, Wilfred Bion, Thomas Ogden and Peter Fonagy. This discussion group was comprised of students who had completed psychodynamic courses and were interested in advanced consideration of clinical concepts. San Francisco, CA. February 2011 – August 2011
• Advanced Psychodynamic Concepts: Conducted a three-part lecture series to the Psy.D. Intern cohort concerning the assessment of clients using Nancy McWilliams’ Character Organization model and the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual’s Personality Axis.Psychological Services Center: CIIS Psy.D. Clinic January 18, 2011
• Advanced Psychodynamic Concepts: Conduct a four-part lecture series to the Psy.D. Intern cohort concerning the clinical impact and theoretical contributions of Wilfred Bion with an emphasis on Bion’s theory of thought & experience. Psychological Services Center: CIIS Psy.D. Clinic, April 24, 2010
• “Religious Practice, Doctrines, and the Production of Mystical States,” Conference Paper and Panel Presentation, American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting Chicago, IL.  Oct 2008
• “YHWH: A Structure Personality Assessment of the God Depicted in the Bible,” presented at the International Association for the History of Religion (IAHR) International conference. Toronto, Canada. August, 2010; and the American Psychological Association (APA) National Conference. San Diego, California. August, 2010
• “Soul Splitting Headache: Imagining a soul by leaving the best for last and the worst left behind,” presented at the American Academy of Religion National Conference. Atlanta, GA. Oct. 2010