Position: Instructor
Department: Psychology/Social Science
Faculty: Humanities and Social Sciences
Office: DL A3057
Office Phone: (604) 777-6274
Email: howellt1@douglascollege.ca
Education and Credentials
- Ph.D., Counselling Psychology, University of British Columbia
- M.A., Psychology (Specialization: Forensic Psychology), University of British Columbia
- B.Sc., Psychology (Specialization: Biopsychology), University of British Columbia
- R.Psych (College of Psychologists of BC)
Academic and Professional Profile
I am a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, therapist, teacher, and researcher. I am honoured to work on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples on the west coast of British Columbia. It is on this land that I am able to be a faculty member at Douglas College, as well as, a registered psychologist with an active therapy practice (www.howellcounsellingvancouver.com). I am driven by the facets of Indigenous epistemologies, community psychology, and social work, which allow me to understand and engage with people/communities from a broader systemic and socio-political perspective. I describe myself as a social justice educator and I have been working in the field of mental health and addictions for over 15 years. In my clinical practice, I have experience working with: trauma, mental health/illness/wellness, abuse, grief and loss, stress, residential school issues, the impact of colonization, relationship challenges, domestic violence, substance misuse and addictions.
Teaching Concentrations
It is a joyful honour to teach. My role is to foster students’ learning from a holistic perspective, which nurtures their abilities to embrace new learnings and incorporate them into everyday living. When I was a young child and people asked what I “wanted to be when I grew up”, my answer was always “teacher!”. I have fulfilled that dream through psychology. My work as a therapist informs and enhances my teaching practice. I would describe myself as a social justice educator and unique in my teaching style. I try to teach from an experiential perspective and I encourage students to be engaged and embrace the process of not only learning about the material/theory, but to learn about themselves as well. The nature of the courses that I teach, require students to learn who they are both personally and professionally. I hope students will become more aware of themselves in the context of the sociopolitical-cultural environment that we live in. Most of the courses that I teach: 2341(Psych Disorders and Treatment); 3120 (Gender relations); 3333 (Cultural Competency and Counselling Skills in the Indigenous Community) fit well within the realm of social justice education. Students in my courses can expect to critically think about the systems in which we live and to challenge themselves to “think outside the box”. I am passionate about teaching because it allows me to share and exchange knowledge with learners. As an educator, I provide a learning environment that empowers students and their passion for learning and respects diversity. I often feel very inspired and encouraged by students and am eager to continue enhancing my skills as an educator.
Courses
- PSYC 1200
- PSYC 2341
- PSYC 3120
- PSYC 3333
Research/Clinical Activities
My research interests include: Traditional Indigenous healthcare practices, cultural competency and cultural safety, mental health and addictions, and Indigenous offenders and the Criminal Justice System. I am an experienced researcher with an extensive program of research. I enjoy both the challenges and triumphs that research offers. The most recent large research project that I completed was an Indigenous Health research project, funded by the Vancouver Foundation. The project was titled: Sharing our Wisdom: a Holistic Aboriginal Health Initiative. Goals and outcomes of this research project included: creating an impact on social and health policy in reference to Indigenous health care strategies, promoting Indigenous knowledge and practices, and providing a voice for the community through research. I have also been awarded prestigious research grants from both the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institute of Health Research. I have experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. For future research, I would like to continue my work with Indigenous health and wellness. Specifically, I would like to collect more data on Indigenous participant’s experiences of traditional health care practices and the impact traditional health care practices have on mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health.
Open to Supervising Honours Students for 2022-23: YES
Professional Affiliations and Community Service
2011- present, Member, College of Psychologists of BC (#1955)
2011-present, Member, British Columbia Psychological Association
2010-current, Pro-bono Psychological Services, PHS Community Services Society
Hobbies and Interests
I am a mother of 3 and we are an active family. We enjoy travelling and are known to take many vacations throughout the year. We also enjoy exploring our local communities and particularly enjoy the outdoors. I like to snowshoe, go for walks in the rain, explore parks and forests, sit on the beach, and go for bike rides. I am also an avid yoga practitioner. I also enjoy watching my children engage with the world and embrace learning.
Selected Refereed Publications:
Howell, T.M., Auger, M., Gomes, T., Brown, L., Young-Leon, A (2015). Sharing Our Wisdom: A Holistic Aboriginal Health Initiative. International Journal of Indigenous Health, 11 (1), 111-132. DOI: 10.18357/ijih111201616015 Auger, M., Howell, T.M., Gomes, T. (2016). Moving toward holistic wellness, empowerment, and self-determination for Indigenous peoples in Canada: Can traditional Indigenous healthcare practices increase ownership over health and healthcare decisions? Canadian Journal of Public Health, 107, 393-398. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17269/cjph.107.5366 Howell, T.M. (2015). Stories of transformation: Aboriginal offenders' journey from prison to the community. American Indian Culture and Research Journal- Special issue on Criminalization and Prisonization, 40, 101-118. DOI: 10.17953/aicrj.40.1.howell Howell, T.M. (2014). Aboriginal Offenders’ perspectives on correctional programs in Canadian prisons. American Journal of Forensic Psychology, 32 (4), 1-19 Howell, T.M. & Yuille, J.C. (2004). Healing and treatment of Aboriginal offenders: A Canadian example. American Journal of Forensic Psychology, 22 (4), 53-76. Williams, K.M., Cooper, B.S., Howell, T.M., Yuille, J.C., & Paulhus, D.L. (2009). Inferring sexually deviant behavior from corresponding fantasies: The role of personality and pornography consumption. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 36, 198-222.
Selected Conference Presentations:
Howell, T.M., (2016). Learning from traditional health care practices and research: a culturally relevant approach to mental healthcare in urban Aboriginal settings. Presented at The Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference, June 17-18, Kelowna, BC. Howell, T.M., Charnley, K., Auger, M. (2016). Decolonizing Healthcare Practice. Presented at the Indigenous Health Conference, May 26-28, Toronto, ON. Howell, T.M, Brown, L. & Lewis, H. (2013). The Institute for Aboriginal Health’s Teaching and Research Garden 90 minute Workshop presentation. Presented at the Stronger Nations: Connecting Creativity and Innovation to Practice Conference March 21-22, Vancouver, BC Smith, P. & Howell, T.M. (2013). Improving Health through Inclusivity: Experiences of Aboriginal Programming in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside 90 minute workshop presentation. Presented at the Stronger Nations: Connecting Creativity and Innovation to Practice Conference March 21-22 2013, Vancouver, BC Howell, T.M. (2012). The Person in the Prisoner: the Role of Culture and Identity in Aboriginal Offenders Transition from Prison to the Community. Presented at the 2nd Annual Counselling Psychology Research Conference, Trinity Western University, Langley, BC. Howell, T.M. (2012). The Journey from Prison to the Community: Aboriginal Offender's Share their Stories of Transformation. Presented at the 8th Annual Pacific Forensic Psychiatry Conference. Howell, T.M. (June 2010). Aboriginal offenders’ voices of wellness and their journey of transition from prison to the community. Invited presentation for: Building Prison Health Connections with Public Health and Communities to Address Gaps and Inequities. Vancouver, BC. Howell, T.M. (March 2009). Utilization of the Correctional and Conditional Release Act- Section 84: Aboriginal Offenders Transition to the Community. Aboriginal Policy and Research Conference, Ottawa, ON. Howell, T.M. (December 2008). Stories of transformation: Aboriginal offenders' lives in the community after incarceration. Prison-Academic-Community Health and Education Conference, Vancouver, BC.