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Johnson Ma, Ph.D.

Professor

Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)

Vancouver

jma@adler.edu (236) 521-2493

OVERVIEW

Teaching is a transformational process that can foster mutual growth between the presenter and the listener. As a professor, I foster personalized learning experiences and promote learner agency through accommodation of different educational styles in an environment conducive to learning.

As a clinician, I am committed to make mental health services accessible and culturally-appropriate for minority groups. Furthermore, I intend to develop accessible community-based psycho-educational programs addressing the effects of acculturation on mental health among minority groups. My goal is to take what psychology has to offer out of the therapy room and meet clients at where they are in the community.

As an instructor and a researcher at Adler University, I collaborate with my colleagues and students to continue research and advocacy on issues of social justice and mental health disparity among visible minorities in Canada. Moreover, I provide guidance and support to our students in cultivating their own professional identities as community-minded psychologists who strive to improve the quality of mental health care in the underserved communities.

MEMBERSHIPS + ASSOCIATIONS

  • Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) Membership #13568 (1 yr)
  • BC Association of Clinical Counsellor (BCACC)
  • Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) Registrant #13761 (2 yrs)
  • California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources
  • Registered Member of College of Psychologists of British Columbia
  • Member of British Columbia Psychological Association

Publications + Presentations

Publications

Bullying as a Social-cultural Pathway to Suicide.

2014 In P. Goldblum, D. L. Espelage, J. Chu, & B. Bongar (Eds.),
The challenge of youth suicide and bullying. New York, NY US: Oxford University Press.
Author(s): Chu, J. P., Ma, J., Bongar, B., & Goldblum, P.

Relative Effects of Cultural Versus General Factors on Suicide Risk.

2015 Manuscript submitted for publication.
Author(s): Robinett, E. N., Chu, J. P., Ma, J. K. L., Shadish, K. Y., Goldblum, P., & Bongar, B.

An Empirical Model for Cultural Meaning of Suicide.

2016 Manuscript submitted to Journal of Clinical Psychology for publication.
Author(s): Chu, J. P., Khoury, O., Ma, J., Bahn, F., & Bongar, B., & Goldblum, P.

Presentations

Examining Universal and Culture-Specific Meanings of Suicide Among Ethnic Minority Populations in the U.S.: A Mixed Methods Approach.

2016 Paper presented at the 49th Annual Conference of American
Association of Suicidology, Chicago, IL.
Author(s): Ma, J., Chu, J. P., Khoury, O., Bahn, F., Bongar, B., & Goldblum, P.

A definitive model of Cross cultural meaning of suicide themes.

2015 Paper presented at the 48th Annual Conference of American
Association of Suicidology, Los Angles, CA.
Author(s): Chu, J. P., Khoury, O., Ma, J., Bahn, F., & Bongar, B., & Goldblum, P.

Exploring cultural meaning of suicide among ethnic minority populations in U.S.

2014 Poster presented at the 47th Annual Conference of American
Association of Suicidology, Los Angeles, CA.
Author(s): Ma, J., Bahn, F., & Chu, J. P.

Differentiating the protective effects of religiosity among North American Asians.

2013 Poster presented at the 121st Annual American Psychological
Association Convention, Honolulu, HI.
Author(s): Ma, J., Robinett, E., Shadish, K., & Chu, J. P.

Exploring the protective effects of spirituality among North American Asians.

2013 Poster presented at the 93rd Annual Western Psychological Association
Convention, Reno, NV.
Author(s): Ma, J., Robinett, E., Shadish, K., & Chu, J. P.