Instructor Spotlight: Latoya Conner, PhD
鈥淧sychology first chose me, then I chose psychology,鈥� says Dr. Latoya Conner, PhD. 鈥淎s a child, I told my family that I wanted to be a doctor that helped people not hurt and that I wanted to live in NY and Africa. I took psychology classes in high school, majored in psychology in college, and minored in dance and theater.鈥� Thinking back, she shared, 鈥淧sychology has always been a calling as much as a career path.鈥� We were fortunate that Dr. Conner鈥檚 path led her to join the 91精品 as an instructor in the Clinical Psychology Program this spring.
During graduate school, Dr. Conner 鈥渢raveled to Ghana with the to study indigenous healing methods.鈥� Then she 鈥渞eturned to [her] ancestral home of Ethiopia to volunteer at an American school.鈥� In 2006, Dr. Conner joined the inaugural class in the in Orvieto, Italy. 鈥淢y interest in global mental health was a natural progression from my public health research and interest in translational research interests that would reach beyond the individual and local levels,鈥� she reflected. 鈥淭he experience in the program was particularly impactful in helping to solidify my focus on studying trauma and recovery in culturally diverse communities.鈥�
Culturally-specific coping and the treatment of anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma are Dr. Conner鈥檚 primary areas of focus. 鈥淚 am intrigued by the intersection of illness and wellness,鈥� she shared. 鈥淢y passion is two-fold: to explore the onset and causes of mood disorders, grief and trauma, and understand the diverse culturally-specific ways that people cope with life challenges or psychological dis-ease.鈥� When asked about her research surrounding health disparities that disproportionately impact black, indigenous, and people of color, she said, 鈥済rowing up at the intersection of poverty and privilege in what was one of the most segregated cities in America, my interest in health disparities is longstanding.鈥�
Dr. Conner鈥檚 primary theoretical orientation is psychodynamic. In psychodynamic therapy, she 鈥渆xplore[s] the full range of a patient's emotions, psychological defenses and personality development.鈥� She is particularly interested in 鈥渢he impact of significant early childhood core experiences, past and current relationships with primary caregivers, interpersonal relationships with others, psychological defenses, recurrent themes and patterns in life and relationships in relation to personality development.鈥� Dr. Connor doesn鈥檛 limit herself to psychodynamic therapy. She also 鈥渋ntegrate[s] evidence-based skills training (cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy), mindfulness-based stress reduction, relational-cultural theory, motivational interviewing, family systems, and the Gottman method鈥� into her work.
As an accomplished forensic psychologist, Dr. Conner shared that her 鈥渋nterest in forensic psychology is long lasting and began early in life, growing up in Chicago, the location of the first juvenile court.鈥� She has served as an expert witness in over 400 criminal, civil, and family court cases in both New York and California. 鈥淐ollectively, my practice, knowledge and experiences inform my clinical work and academic teaching in dynamic ways,鈥� she said. Dr. Conner has also 鈥渃onceptualized and taught forensic psychology courses that focus on the differences and similarities in psychology and the law,鈥� using actual cases.
As a licensed psychologist in three states and Washington, DC, Dr. Conner shared her advice for 91精品 students who are interested in getting licensed in multiple states:
鈥淔irst, it is important for students to prepare for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), which is a licensing examination developed by the . In order to sit for the exam, you must first apply for licensure through the licensing board in the state, province or territory you would like to practice. You are typically only licensed in the state where you reside and practice, and/or where your patients reside.
Once licensed, students may want to consider exploring the , which is an interstate agreement that allows psychologists to practice telepsychology or offer temporary, in-person services across participating state boundaries without having to get licensed in other states. PSYPACT was approved by the and there are currently 14 states that are a part of the agreement.鈥�
Dr. Conner trained in improv at in Chicago, which is considered to be the world鈥檚 premier school of improv. 鈥淚 took [improv] classes in high school and loved it so much,鈥� she reflected. 鈥淚t frightened me and pushed me to the edge of my defenses, opening me up to a vibrant world of creativity.鈥� Thinking back on her training at Second City, she reflected that it 鈥渟urely helped me in all of my work, showing up authentically, candidly and learning the power of my voice.鈥� Dr. Conner added, 鈥淚n addition to their traditional conservatory, improv, stand-up, storytelling, and public speaking classes, Second City offers a , which I find compelling as a clinician.鈥� She also considers herself 鈥渁 performer at heart鈥� and enjoys creative arts, dance, theater, and yoga.
鈥淵oga therapy is a form of treatment to practice meditation, breath work and asanas or poses with the goals of improving mental and physical health in a holistic way,鈥� Dr. Conner shared. She is a certified yoga instructor who incorporates yoga and mindfulness practices into her work. 鈥淭he conceptualization of yoga as medicine is well established in literature and scientific research emphasizes its efficacy,鈥� she said, and 鈥減ractitioners of yoga can help patients improve health outcomes and health conditions.鈥� Dr. Conner also explained, 鈥淵oga benefits physical and mental health via interoceptive awareness, somatic regulation and a 鈥榪uieting effect鈥� of the hypothalamic鈥損ituitary鈥揳drenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. Integrating elements of mind, body and spirit balance, yoga therapy also functions as self-care, health promotion and health maintenance.鈥�.
Dr. Conner shared that she 鈥渇irst learned about the 91精品 in 2018 from colleagues and coworkers at the at Facebook,鈥� who were 91精品 alumni. She was impressed by their clinical acumen and began researching the 91精品 and 鈥渓earned of its well-regarded standing in the field and focus in educating clinicians-to-society, which is a good fit for [her] social justice-oriented clinical theories and practice.鈥� In conclusion, Dr. Conner shared that she is 鈥済rateful to be a member of the WI community.鈥�
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