Dr. Flora Cohen is a queer, neurodivergent, mother, anti-colonial scholar, therapist, and friend.
Dr. Cohen’s scholarship illuminates the impact of the social determinants of mental health. She works alongside communities, largely in global majority countries, to elevate local knowledge. Using indigenous frameworks and mixed methods, Dr. Cohen is dedicated to developing equitable and sustainable solutions to persistent global mental health challenges.
As an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work, Dr. Cohen teaches courses on trauma-informed social work, group therapy, and international social development. Her teaching philosophy is both liberatory and practice-oriented.
Who Am I?
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My teaching philosophy is rooted in liberatory and anti-oppressive praxis. I recognize that education is a transformative journey, and social work is a social-justice oriented practice. High quality pedagogy should deepen students’ understanding of complex problems, engage them in innovative change efforts, and challenge social injustices.
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I aim to liberate knowledge in order to contribute to collective healing and recovery, on a global scale. Informed by decolonial liberatory praxis and intersectional theory, my research is driven by participatory methods. I engage communities in order to understand how they conceptualize mental health and their traditional methods for healing. My ultimate goal is not only to understand, but to develop, implement, and test community-based interventions. I have been honored to work alongside communities in order to engage and collaborate with local, regional, and national community leaders. My work lies at the intersection of mental health, implementation science, and participatory action research.
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I have worked with people experiencing common mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Trained in play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, couples, and family therapy, I bring a wide range of skills to support clients with diverse mental health needs.