{"id":3125,"date":"2019-03-22T12:45:41","date_gmt":"2019-03-22T19:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forourwellness.org\/?p=3125"},"modified":"2025-11-11T09:07:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T15:07:13","slug":"qa-with-international-psychology-professor-dr-patricia-perez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/for-our-wellness\/qa-with-international-psychology-professor-dr-patricia-perez\/","title":{"rendered":"International psychology allows us to question the way we think of psychology as a whole"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Patricia Perez is an associate professor in the International Psychology (IP) Program<\/a> on the Online Campus<\/a>. Having come to the program after leaving a tenured professorship elsewhere, Dr. Perez is one of the program\u2019s biggest boosters. For her, IP is more than just a specialty within the field of psychology, and she takes that to heart, traveling frequently out of the country on field experiences with students to further give them a global, rather than just a Western, psychological outlook.<\/p>\n

Dr. Perez, a 2018 recipient of the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award<\/a> for inspiring students, answers questions about the discipline and explains why she loves her work.<\/p>\n

Q: Why do you think it\u2019s important for international psychology to exist as a discipline?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Perez:<\/strong> International Psychology is a unique, innovative field that allows us to question the way we think of psychology as a whole. IP allows psychology professionals to describe, explain, predict, and understand psychological phenomena that have no geographical bounds, is contextually-relevant, and aspires to be a responsive psychology. IP trains professionals to harness all their skills and talents to address global psychological issues. We can also apply IP core concepts in research, applied practice, ethics, diversity, and foundational literature within any branches of psychology, thereby internationalizing all of psychology.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Dr. Perez with students on a field experience in Kuwait
<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Q: What led you to teach in international psychology?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Perez: <\/strong>I was working as a tenured core faculty in child development at Harold Washington College. We had an intern working in our Department of Applied Sciences. She mentioned that I would be a good fit to teach diversity courses on The Chicago School’s Chicago Campus. By 2011, I had met the chair of the IP Department, Online Campus, and became a dissertation affiliate faculty. Over time, I learned that IP spoke to my past, current and future personal and professional perspectives. The acknowledgment that the study and application of psychology are not held only to the standards of \u201cWestern\u201d models was what hooked me to the field.<\/p>\n

Q: How does international psychology differ from other psychology disciplines offered at The Chicago School?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Perez: <\/strong>First, we look at the \u201ccontext\u201d (e.g., population, individual, history, economics, culture) rather than anyone gold standard in psychology to guide our research, consultation, and collaborative intervention efforts.\u00a0 Secondly, we don\u2019t make assumptions that we are competent in all ways of knowing as psychology professionals. Lastly, although we may be experts in our own psychology, we are encouraged to learn how psychology may be viewed or translated within other contexts.\u00a0 As a result, students participate in experiential learning through service learning projects embedded in our courses as well as our required field experience courses.<\/p>\n

Q: What is\/are your favorite aspects of the discipline?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Dr. Perez with students on a field experience in Ghana<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dr. Perez: <\/strong>I enjoy creating, developing, mastering, and then letting go. My training and mentorship in music and dance have allowed me to apply these skills to my work as faculty, part of a departmental team, a dissertation chair, and an international psychology consultant.\u00a0 In addition, I really love to see students \u201ctransform\u201d into IP professionals through their time with us in the Department.\u00a0 Seeing any of my students give back to their own communities as a result of their training with us gives me tremendous joy.<\/p>\n

Q: What would you say are characteristics that make a person a good international psychology practitioner?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Perez: <\/strong>There are many personal characteristics that would make someone an appropriate candidate.\u00a0 Some of these qualities include: a) being comfortable with being uncomfortable, b) awareness of self and how one impacts others, c) coming from a place of cultural humility, and d) being open and curious as the norm.\u00a0 We recognize that with time, professional experience, guidance, mentorship, and completion of rigorous academic and service-learning coursework, we can progress towards being \u201csuccessful.\u201d\u00a0 Lastly, we are lifelong learners and the IP field allows us to do just that!<\/p>\n

\n

Learn more about The Chicago School<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you would like to learn more about programs at The Chicago School, fill out the form below to request more information. You can also apply today through our application portal.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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