Vancouver | Associate Professor | Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
In his book I and Thou (1923), German-Jewish philosopher and contemplative, Martin Buber, claimed that human beings become themselves – become who they truly are – through open and authentic encounters with other persons. As a professor, I see my work as accompanying students and trainees on this journey, with the aim of facilitating such encounters both in and outside of the classroom. I seek to do so in a manner that is compassionate and empathic, and that aims to embody acceptance, understanding, and justice in a context of becoming a professional psychologist.
I am deeply grateful that I have had the opportunity to teach and mentor students at different post-secondary institutions and training programs since 2009. My approach to teaching has been influenced by my training in existential-phenomenological psychology and psychotherapy. I have come to understand education as essentially transformational. Certainly, teaching also involves encountering new ideas and information, but this in and of itself is insufficient for the formation of compassionate and professional psychologists. Rather, education is about the engagement of the whole person with their discipline. I seek to model this way of being in the ways in which I engage with students, and likewise endeavour to be open to being shaped by my encounters with students and colleagues.
My research interests have been shaped by my background in existential-phenomenological psychology, an approach that I see as well aligned with Adlerian values around community engagement and social justice. I am keen to supervise students who are interested in research that is oriented towards understanding existential issues that emerge in psychotherapy and beyond (e.g., acceptance of myself and my limitations, emotional attunement and closeness, grief and loss, identity development, loneliness and alienation, existential crises and meaninglessness, etc.). The Existential Research Lab – a space shared with Dr. Janelle Kwee – is a place in which we seek to nurture community oriented and applied research, frequently employing phenomenological, voice oriented and other qualitative research methods. Examples of past projects that I have supervised include:
Please click here for a copy of my CV.
Adler University in Vancouver has been, like Canada itself, born and built with an open mind. Located in the midst of one of the world’s most exciting and breathtaking cities, Adler University reflects a true Canadian spirit. It’s smart, inclusive and determined to make a world of difference. By design, our Vancouver campus echoes the Adler values and intent down every hall and in every room. It is built to live, breathe and inspire those with the passion to pursue a more just society. This is where the work gets done.
At Adler Vancouver, you’ll find multiple collaborative areas with the absolute latest technology. Learning areas and windows have literally been situated to stimulate thought. To some, that may sound odd, but these things do matter. If students are given the space, opportunity and technology to achieve their goals, they are more likely to rock the boat of conventional thought.