Stephen Rassi is a PhD student in social work and psychology. His doctoral research focuses on definitions of, and the development of gender identity and sexual orientation, and the relationship between what is taught about these topics at graduate schools of social work and psychology, and what is actually observed and reported about them by
TBLG people. Other research interests include outcome measures on the effectiveness of interventions to reduce the unwanted effects of trauma, in particular the treatment of P.T.S.D. using the "Power Therapies" (Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR), EMDR, TFT and V/KD), and the intersection of poverty/minority/oppressed status with trauma symptomatology. Stephen’s post-MSW practice experience includes an internship from 2001-2005 with the Stress and Anxiety Disorders Program in the Outpatient Psychiatry Department of the University ofMichigan Hospital, and a 1998-2000 research assistantship at the MOMS Study (The Meaning ofMotherhood Study), a study of the intersection of severe mental illness and motherhood. He also has extensive community organizing and advocacy experience, both on the U-M campus and at the city, state and national levels. As a graduate student instructor at U-M since 2000, Stephen has taught Mental Health and Mental Illness of Children and Youth at the School of Social Work, and assisted with The Psychology of Teaching and Learning, a course designed to assist graduate student instructors in strengthening their psychology teaching skills. In addition, he has extensive experience teaching undergraduate courses in Introductory Psychology, Personality Psychology, and Practicum in the Multicultural Community.