Biography
Yi-An Burleson, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, teaches Mental Health Practicum with Children, Trauma and Resiliency, and Mental Illness and the Movies.
Students in her classes engage in active learning, professional manners for academic work settings, and the practical application of psychological theories to diverse cases. They engage in analyzing and conceptualizing psychological issues through the lens of mind-body connections and multicultural contexts in psychotherapy through group case studies, class discussions, film analysis, or coached role-plays.
Through semester-long, team-based collaborations that involve perspective-taking and empathy-building with individuals/cases from international and minority backgrounds, students gain experiential, hands-on training. This approach equips students for advanced study and fosters the development of multicultural competence as future mental health professionals or researchers.
Dr. Burleson collaborates on undergraduate research each semester resulting in students presenting the research at national leading conference in the field. Through these, students are able to practice public speaking, analyze the data, elaborate research results, and generate posters or slides to summarize research. These skills prepare students to work in the field of human services, leadership positions, advanced degrees and/or professional clinical licenses.
Research Interests
- Health psychology: impact of sleep, eating, and exercise on mental health problems (e.g. panic attacks)
- OCD and social media use
- Effective learning activities in fostering empathy and multicultural humility in higher education
- Needs of student career and life development beyond teaching knowledge and skills
Education
B.A. in Japanese, National Chengchi University, Taiwan
M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Maryland
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, West Virginia University