Eddy M. Elmer

City: Vancouver, British Columbia

E-mail: Please use this form

Web: http://www.eddyelmer.com

Date of Birth: 15 May 1977

Education

Research Interests

• Personality psychology, with strong interest in personality development, self concept, self image, personal identity, and individuality
   
• Influence of attachment on personality
   
• Loneliness, social isolation, and group insularity: development, cognitive components, and individual and social implications
   
• Isolation and loneliness in special populations (e.g., prison inmates, mental inpatients, emergency services personnel, war veterans)
   
• Counselling psychology, with focus on humanistic psychology, Carl Rogers, and Gestalt psychology; renewed interest in Adlerian psychology
   
• Gay and lesbian issues in counselling
   
• Public perceptions of mental illness
   
• History of psychology and developments in general psychology
  
   

A few words on my view of psychology, counselling, and psychotherapy:

I am very much influenced by the humanistic tradition in psychology (although I am often told that I have a strong psychodynamic streak in me). For most people, psychology is generally defined as the scientific study of the structure and processes of the mind and of universal principles of behaviour. For me, however, psychology is more specifically the study of how people move ever closer towards realising their full potential. It is the study, experience, and appreciation of the processes of growth. It is also the understanding of the influences and processes that push people off their healthy developmental paths and those that guide them back ("healthy", of course, being defined only by the individual).

I like to view people as self-directing human beings, who are fully aware of their needs and desires and who have the innate capacity to achieve them. Psychology is there to guide them in that process by discovering and sharing knowledge about the mind and human potential, and by applying that knowledge in the form of counselling and psychotherapy. Of course, by "guide" I do not mean "psychoanalysing" people, telling them what they already know deep down, giving advice, or otherwise telling them what to do. In this sense, I think counselling and psychotherapy should essentially be non-directive in nature.

I also wish to say that although medical notions of mental illness, mental disorder, or psychopathology have their use as heuristic aids, I think they are often limiting in describing the problems people experience when their innate, natural, healthy development is thwarted by external (namely social) forces. The emotional difficulties people experience are often so much more than mere disorders. Such labels may be useful as starting points of reference, but they often put people in a position of dependence and powerlessness and undermine an appreciation of their innate strengths.

Finally, I should note that I approach psychology in a very broad, generalised manner, resisting whenever possible to adopt the narrow, ultra-specialised perspectives so in vogue in today's regimented, mechanised world. This likely derives from my tendency to be a divergent rather than convergent thinker. Whatever the reason, I think any full, meaningful understanding of people must involve a broad-based knowledge and appreciation of all facets of human existence.
 

Relevant Courses Taken

Work Experience

• organization and maintenance of law library
• implementation of electronic research system
• retrieval and compilation of case law

• organization and maintenance of law library
• evaluation and purchasing of library materials
• legal research on electronic databases and Internet
• education and training of staff on electronic and Internet research
• design, planning, implementation, and programming of firm website
• information development

• planning, design, implementation, and programming of firm's computer network
• introduction of new law office management and accounting program
• implementation and administration of Internet systems
• research and purchasing of all computer equipment and software
• training all staff on computer and network use
• on-going analysis of information technology and research needs and implementation of appropriate solutions
• hiring of assistant personnel

• updating of website content
• information development

• tutoring ESL students in writing and conversation skills
• tutoring students in psychology
• assisting students with essay writing
• editing essays and business documents
• technical writing for various clients

• PSYC99W: Brain, Mind and Society
• teaching critical thinking and writing skills in context of psychology
• moderating class debates
• marking papers and examinations

• GERO300: Introduction to Gerontology
• facilitating online discussions
• marking papers and examinations

Workshops, Seminars, Training

• focus on health promotion for university students, in areas including mental health, interpersonal relations, and sexuality
• peer counselling and intervention skills
• learning to locate appropriate resources and direct students as appropriate

• 65 hours of extensive training in crisis counselling skills for emotional and mental health issues
• suicide intervention
• familiarization with mental health and related resources in the community
• referral skills

• One of those valuable courses that helps me appreciate being in the moment—a very Rogerian virtue

• Challenging Suicidal Callers
  Facilitator: Richard Kramer, Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia
• Introduction to Victimology
  Facilitator: Delaine Milette, Abbotsford Police Department Victim Services Unit, British Columbia
• The Joy of Stress
  Facilitator: Ted Kuntz, M.A., family therapist

• crisis and suicide intervention skills in an online environment
• specific skills for dealing with youth
• familiarization with mental health and related resources for youth
• referral skills

Writing and Publications

• writing on variety of community issues and events

• writing numerous articles on variety of topics of interest to students
• staff writer during 1995 and 1996; occasional writing thereafter

• designing and editing monthly health promotion newsletter for UofT community

• design and updating of annotated online index of over 750 quality Internet research resources and interactive instruments covering all branches of psychology

Psychology Reference Charts and Tools

• design and updating of several helpful organizational charts and quick-reference guides for those studying psychology

• extensive biography of the Hamilton law firm
• also assisting with preparation of modified version for firm website

• An assessment of contemporary psychosocial perspectives on solitude and loneliness in Defoe's Robinson Crusoe
• An evaluation of psychology students' and clinical trainees' influence on the orientation, teaching, and practice of psychology
• The role of personal meaning in gay men's lives
• Is psychology really in the service of the individual?

• assisting Dr. Paul Wong (Chair, Graduate Counselling Psychology Program, Trinity Western University) in designing a web portal for this new society
• site will be a jumping-off point for information and resources on existential psychology and therapy
• a companion to the website of the International Network for Personal Meaning

• receiving submissions
• day-to-day administrative duties
• liaison with authors

Other

• discussion on Canadian unity

• Author and co-author of numerous other articles and essays for newsletters and smaller publications, including The Hamilton Lawyer, monthly publication of the Hamilton Law Association
• topics have included: co-operative education, reliance on modern inventions, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder), physical effects of alcohol and marijuana, shyness and social anxiety disorder, community parenting and school violence

Volunteer Service

• research data entry
• survey analysis
• preparation of presentation material

• working closely with student to complete English assignments

• data entry
• reception, switchboard

• working closely with client to help develop computer skills necessary for re-entry into workforce

• providing short-term emotional support for callers in emotional distress
• suicide intervention
• directing to appropriate community resources when needed

• crisis counselling and suicide intervention for youth experiencing emotional difficulties

Professional Skills

• Microsoft NT-Server (day-to-day management)
• Microsoft LAN
• Microsoft Excel, Access
• SPSS
• QuickLaw
• Reference Manager and other bibliographic programs
• HTML, Microsoft FrontPage, Dreamweaver, CorelDraw
• LOGO
• Search engines and Internet research

Additional Languages

• French: written
• Serbo-Croatian: conversant

Awards and Honours

Memberships and Associations

• Subdivision Memberships: International Society for Existential Psychology and Psychotherapy, Executive Committee Member (Webmaster)

Personal Interests