Psychology Class And A Little Bio

All students come to a first class with there own ideas addressing the answer to that question-some accurate; some not. Here is a formal definition: psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Mental processes include thoughts, emotions and related phenomena. The subfields of psychology are the focus of this introductory class: biology and behavior; sensation and perception; consciousness; learning; memory; cognition; human development; personality; social psychology health psychology; and clinical psychology. Here is a brief summary of my background: 

I was born in Seattle, love the Pacific Northwest and visit often.  My family came to California when I was in elementary school and I've lived in the Golden State ever since.  I enjoy nature and the outdoors, sports and working out, the arts, and boating-I own a little houseboat birthed at the Freeport Marina on the Sacramento River.  I read a lot- professional literature of course but with large gobs of fiction and an occasional biography.

Teaching is one of several career passions for me. I started as a special education teacher in an institutional setting where I worked with people with intellectual disability, autism and cerebral palsy.  There, I developed a great appreciation for people with disabilities and deep concern for failures of care in institutional settings including neglect and abuse. I continued my education, studying clinical psychology and launched a second career as a clinical psychologist and adjunct professor in psychology.  I've taught courses in psychology and education at San Jose State University, National University and, primarily, at Mission College.  Later I went on to develop a small virtual life coaching practice and devote time to volunteering and meditation practice.

I was taught meditation at the San Francisco Zen Center as an undergraduate. Along the way I helped co-found The Tashi Lhunpo Sangha.

I like to write and have done so across all these careers including "Guardianship of the Infantilized Elder: A Pipeline to the Institution Industrial Complex?". Google Scholar lists other publications. My blog holds additional writing on a variety of topics.

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