Teaching

Undergraduate courses taught regularly:

(Please consult the current UTSC Calendar for the most up-to-date course information)

Behaviour Modification (PSYB38H3, previously PSYB45H3)

A survey of attempts to regulate abnormal human behaviour. Basic principles of behavioural change including reinforcement, extinction, punishment and stimulus control; operant and respondent conditioning procedures; research strategies. Other topics include behavioural contracting, cognitive-behaviour therapy, rational-emotive therapy, and systematic desensitization; treatment of phobias; treatment of alcohol and drug abuse.

Sample learning objectives from my recent course syllabus:

At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to …

  1. Identify and describe basic principles of behaviour modification.
  2. Identify and describe basic procedures of behaviour modification.
  3. Demonstrate understanding of the application of behaviour modification principles and 
procedures across different domains and populations, including the development of 
effective behavioural programs.
  4. Demonstrate a basic understanding of how to deal with behavioural data in the context of 
assessment and research.
  5. Demonstrate understanding of key ethical issues in the domain of behaviour modification.

Psychological Assessment (PSYC37H3)

This course deals with conceptual issues and practical problems of identification, assessment, and treatment of mental disorders and their psychological symptomatology. Students have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the psychological tests and the normative data used in mental health assessments. Lectures and demonstrations on test administration and interpretation will be provided.

Sample learning objectives from my recent course syllabus:

At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to …

  1. Describe the historical origins of psychological testing, as well as recent and future trends
  2. Discuss key statistical concepts underlying psychological testing, and identify and 
describe the characteristics of valid and reliable psychological measures
  3. Describe ethical principles and considerations involved in the practice of psychological assessment, and apply knowledge of these principles to hypothetical scenarios
  4. Demonstrate understanding of key issues regarding psychological assessment in several clinical domains, including intellectual, personality, and neuropsychological testing, and discuss common assessment methods and tools in these domains
  5. Recognize and critically discuss limitations of psychological testing, including sources of bias and cultural issues in assessment

Cultural-Clinical Psychology (PSYD31H3)

This course provides an in-depth introduction to the field of cultural-clinical psychology. We examine theoretical and empirical advances in understanding the complex interplay between culture and mental health, focusing on implications for the study and treatment of psychopathology. Topics include cultural variations in the experience and expression of mental illness.

Sample learning objectives from my recent course syllabus:

At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to …

  1. Discuss the development of the field of cultural-clinical psychology, and its connection to other disciplines concerned with issues of culture and mental health
  2. Describe several fundamental ways in which the examination of cultural factors is crucial to the study of psychopathology, with reference to relevant examples from the empirical literature
  3. Critically analyze empirical work in this field, and clearly communicate their understanding of and ideas about recent research relevant to cultural-clinical psychology
  4. Apply their knowledge of this field and of psychopathology research to a critical evaluation of popular press coverage of culture and mental health issues.
  5. Conduct a careful literature search and review on a chosen topic in the area of cultural-clinical psychology, and select appropriate sources in the creation of an annotated bibliography
  6. Independently develop a proposed research study grounded in recent empirical work on a chosen topic within cultural-clinical psychology, and clearly communicate the proposed research idea in written assignments and a final research paper

Scientific Communication in Psychology (PSYC02H3)

How we communicate in psychology and why. The differences between scientific and non-scientific approaches to behaviour and their implications for communication are discussed. The focus is on improving the student’s ability to obtain and organize information and to communicate it clearly and critically, using the conventions of the discipline.

Sample learning objectives from my recent course syllabus:

At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to …

  1. Format written work according to guidelines described in the 6th Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
  2. Systematically search for scholarly articles using major research databases
  3. Critically evaluate the presentation of scientific information in the media, and the effective communication of information by psychologists
  4. Compare and contrast reports of psychological research from the popular press vis-à-vis original research reports
  5. Summarize and synthesize scientific information on a given topic in psychology, and present this information clearly and concisely

Previously taught undergraduate course:

Personality (PSYB30H3)

This course is intended to introduce students to the scientific study of the whole person in biological, social, and cultural contexts. The ideas of classical personality theorists will be discussed in reference to findings from contemporary personality research.

Sample learning objectives from my course syllabus:

At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to …

  1. Identify the major approaches to the psychological study of personality
  2. Identify and describe the defining characteristics of each of the major approaches 
examined in the course
  3. Identify and describe key differences between the major approaches examined in the 
course
  4. Demonstrate a basic understanding of research methodology in personality psychology
  5. Demonstrate understanding of recent trends and current research findings in personality 
psychology

Graduate courses:

Practicum in Psychological Interventions (CPS1803H)

Year-long MA II practicum course in the Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science. I provide weekly group and individual clinical supervision.