Aravindhan Natarajan
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS, INTERESTS, AND EXPERIENCE
EducationPh.D. (2010) in Social Welfare, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences (MSASS), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
M.Phil. (2001) in Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India.
M.A. (1998) in Social Work, Madras Christian College, University of Madras, Chennai, India.
Teaching Interests
Human behavior and the social environment, oppression and social justice, social work practice, community mental health, social research methods, psychopathology and mental health, medical and psychiatric social work, substance abuse treatment, family therapy and child welfare.
Teaching Experience and Qualification
Required core courses taught at MSW level:
Human Development in Context II: Adult; Theories of Oppression and Social Justice; Direct Practice Foundation Methods and Skills; Research Methods in Social Work(MSASS, Case Western Reserve University); Research Methods for Micro Practice; (University of Toledo)
Specialization course taught at MSW level:
Co-taught a substance abuse concentration class (MSASS, Case Western Reserve University)
Required core courses taught at BSW level:
Perspectives on Social Work Research I; Perspectives on Social Work Research II; Field Practicum I;
Field Practicum II; Basic Generalist Practice (Cleveland State University School of Social Work); Social Work Practice II; Social Work Practice III; Research Methods for Social Work (University of Toledo)
Course taught at First Year Level
Introduction to Social Welfare (University of Toledo)
Teaching Award
The John A. Yankey Outstanding Adjunct Teacher Award 2009
MSASS, Case Western Reserve University
Practice Experience
Worked as a psychiatric social worker (1998-2002) at NIMHANS, Bangalore, India. Practiced family systems therapy, cognitive-behavior therapy, group therapy and psychosocial rehabilitation; worked with patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence, depression, bi-polar affective disorder, schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder; worked with children diagnosed with developmental, anxiety and conduct disorders; worked in satellite clinics to provide mental health services to people living in remote suburbs of Bangalore, India.
Research Interests
Arts based engagement with clients, Mental health and Substance abuse treatment. Studied alcohol consumption and related problems among sanitary workers – vulnerable minority population - in the suburbs of Chennai (Madras), India, for M.A. (Social Work) dissertation, and studied group processes in groups for alcohol dependants at NIMHANS for M.Phil. dissertation.
Aravindhan Natarajan, M.A (Social Work), M.Phil., Ph.D.
EDUCATION
§ Ph.D.(Social Welfare), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. 2010.
§ M.Phil. (Psychiatric Social Work), National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India. 2001.
§ M.A. (Social Work), University of Madras, Madras Christian College (Autonomous), Chennai, India. 1998.
§ B.Sc. (Physics), University of Madras, Madras Christian College (Autonomous), Chennai, India. 1996.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Fall 2012- Ongoing Research Methods for Micro Practice; Social Work Practice II; Social Work Practice III; Social Work Research Methods; Introduction to Social Welfare
(Department of Criminal Justice, Social Work, and Legal Specialties, University of Toledo)
Fall 2011- Direct Practice Foundation Methods and Skills;
Spring 2012 Research Methods in Social Work (MSASS, Case Western Reserve University)
Fall 2009 - Perspectives on social work research I; Perspectives on social work research II;
Spring 2011 Field Practicum I; Field Practicum II; ‘Basic generalist practice’ (Cleveland State University School of Social Work )
Spring 2008- Human Development: Adult; Theories of Oppression and Social Justice (MSASS, Case Western Reserve University).
Summer 2009
2003-2004 Teaching Mentorship
Supervisor: Kathleen J. Farkas, Ph.D.
Co-taught a substance abuse concentration class for master’s level students.
1998-2002 Supervised and conducted classes for MSW trainees posted at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS, Bangalore, India)
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Ph.D.
May 2004 –2010 Dissertation titled “Stages of Change and Mandated Substance Abuse Treatment under the Criminal Justice System”
Supervisor: Kathleen J. Farkas, Ph.D.
M. Phil.
1998 – 2000 Dissertation titled ‘Group processes in groups for alcohol dependants’.
Designed and conducted a research study to examine group processes that take place in groups conducted for alcohol dependants at the substance abuse treatment center at NIMHANS.
M. A.
1996 -1998 Dissertation titled ‘Alcohol consumption and related problems among sanitary workers in the suburbs of Chennai’.
Conducted a survey of sanitary workers in the suburbs of the south Indian city of Chennai to learn more about substance abuse problems in this vulnerable population.
RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES
Sep – Dec 2006 Research Assistant
Supervisor: Merl C. Hokenstad, Ph.D.
Contributed to the preparation of “World Ageing Situation Report – 2007” to be published by the United Nations in 2008.
Jan – July 2006 Research Assistant
Innovations in Aging Project
Supervisor: Merl C. Hokenstad, Ph.D.
Involved in the planning of a post-graduate certificate program in aging, reviewing literature and helping with the development of distance learning for the aging concentration.
July – Dec 2005 Research Assistant
Supervisor: Merl C. Hokenstad, Ph.D.
Prepared an extensive literature review on social work and disaster management
Jan – May 2005 Research Assistant
Supervisor: Merl C. Hokenstad, Ph.D.
Involved in the preparation of a report on social security and a report on retirement Communities in New York.
May – July 2004 Doctoral Assistant
Supervisor: Victor Groza, Ph.D.
Assisted in the implementation of the Mandel School’s Strategic Plan which involved curriculum development and collecting information on top-ranking social work doctoral programs in the country. Collected extensive literature on adoption and updated coursework materials on Children, Youth and Families concentration.
June 2003 – June 2004 Research Assistant
Supervisor: David Biegel, Ph.D.
Assisted in research conducted in Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment as part of Ohio Substance Abuse Mental Illness Coordinating Center of Excellence (Ohio SAMI CCOE)
June 2003 – June 2004 Research Assistant
Supervisor: David Crampton, Ph.D.
Presented a paper and co-authored an article on group work and family meetings in child welfare practice.
PUBLICATIONS IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL
2014 Chokkanathan, S., Natarajan, A., & Mohanty, J (2014). Elder Abuse and
Barriers to Help Seeking in Chennai, India: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Elder
Abuse and Neglect, vol. 25 (4).
2005 Crampton, D. & Natarajan, A. (2005). Connections Between Group Work and Family Meetings in Child Welfare Practice: What can We Learn from Each Other? Social Work with Groups, vol. 28(1), pp 65-79.
PRESENTATIONS
June 2013 Exploring use of the Arts in Qualitative Research
Invited seminar at NIMHANS, Bangalore, India.
June 2013 Exploring use of the Arts in Social Work Practice
Madras Christian College, University of Madras, India
June 2005 The stages of change and substance abuse treatment.
Guest lectured (by invitation) at the department of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India.
October 2003 Connections between group work and family meetings in child welfare practice: what can we learn from each other?
Paper presented with David Crampton, Ph.D., (Assistant Professor, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University) in Boston, MA., at the international conference The Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups
POST M. A. (Social Work) PRACTICE EXPERIENCE 1998-2002
Psychiatric Social Worker
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Worked in adult psychiatry unit, child and adolescent psychiatry, family psychiatry, behavior therapy unit, community psychiatry, department of psychiatric and neurological rehabilitation, and the departments of neurology and neurosurgery.
· Attended various extension clinics in the suburbs of Bangalore as part of the community psychiatry unit.
· Practiced marital and family therapy using systems theory to understand and evaluate family systems.
· Conducted individual therapy sessions with children and adolescents.
· Conducted group therapy sessions for parents of children with mental retardation and for those of children with conduct disorders.
· Educated parents in the use of behavioral techniques in training their children with autism in acquiring daily living skills.
· Counseled children with dyslexia and other reading disorders.
· Practiced behavioral therapy in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders.
· Applied principles of cognitive behavior therapy in treating depression.
· Assessed residual capabilities of patients to facilitate their allocation to various vocational training sections in the department of psychiatric and neurological rehabilitation.
· Provided rehabilitation and referral services by networking with other Non Governmental Organizations and hospitals.
· Provided Life Skills Education as part of school mental health program in schools in the suburbs of Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
· Conducted group psychotherapy sessions for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, bi-polar affective disorder, alcohol dependants, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Also conducted psycho-educational group therapy programs for the family members of patients.
· Conducted intake and follow-up sessions in the outpatient department. This involved using the techniques of psychiatric interviewing to make both a social and clinical diagnosis of new patients who come to the out-patient department, to help formulate a management plan, and provide follow-up services.
· Supervised and conducted classes for MSW trainees from other universities posted in NIMHANS.
· Presented seminars on child sexual abuse, general systems theory, and the use of family therapy in the treatment of problems associated with adolescent development.
· Attended ward rounds and presented case histories of patients for discussion by multi-disciplinary team to facilitate formulation of a management plan. Attended and participated in units’ academic teaching programs and case conferences by presenting cases and seminars on topics related to psychiatry and application of social work.
· Attended and participated in classes, departmental meetings, academic teaching programs, team meetings on the assessment of case progress, weekly review meetings with supervisors.
AWARDS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Teaching Award The John A. Yankey Outstanding Adjunct Teacher Award 2009
MSASS, Case Western Reserve University
Teaching
Mentorship Co-taught a substance abuse concentration class for master’s level students.
Award
2003-2004
Research
Fellowship
2002-2004 Awarded research fellowship and tuition waiver at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University.
Lectureship
2000 Passed the SLET (State Level Educational Testing) for lectureship conducted by the Bharathidasan University, Trichy, India. Passing this exam - which is approved by the University Grants Commission, India - makes me eligible for the post of lectureship in schools of social work throughout India.
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