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Teaching Philosophy and Expertise:

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My teaching philosophy is to foster critical and comparative thinking. I want students to learn concepts and to question their social, cultural, and political impacts. I use a meta-theoretical approach to guide students. I want them to critically examine the assumptions about mental health, identity, and representation. I also want them to connect these ideas to their personal and professional contexts.

 

Current Courses Taught:

  • Psychopathology (PSY 745): This course goes beyond teaching diagnostic frameworks like the DSM-5, ICD-10, and PDM. I stress a meta-theoretical, comparative approach to understanding the classification and representation of mental illness. Students critically explore the ontological, phenomenological, and socio-political dimensions of diagnoses, delving into the social impact of delineating and representing mental health phenomena.

  • Gender, Sex, and Sexuality in Forensic Applications (PSY 784): This course merges forensic psychology with feminist and critical theories, examining the interplay of identity, power, and representation. Students engage with the genealogical and historical contexts of diversity, uncovering the resistance and fluidity of identity within systems of power and oppression.

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A Clinical Teaching Approach:

My diverse teaching experience at UCSC informs my work. I blend theory with a clinical approach to support students, both emotionally and intellectually. I guide them through rethinking established ideas and exploring unsettled questions of identity, diversity, and power. My teaching emphasizes connecting academic concepts to their lived experiences, fostering a dynamic and reflective learning environment.

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