Broderick Sawyer

Broderick Sawyer serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Loyola University Chicago within the College of Arts and Sciences. His academic appointment focuses on teaching and community engagement related to clinical psychology, diversity, and mental health. Dr. Sawyer maintains an active presence in both academic and public discourse, frequently contributing to media outlets like CNN on mental health topics.

Dr. Sawyer earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Louisville, completed his clinical internship at Stony Brook University, and received his B.S. in Psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University. His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in clinical psychology with emphasis on cultural and racial dimensions of mental health.

His research and clinical interests center on Liberation Psychology, which challenges Western individualistic views of human behavior by emphasizing environmental and systemic factors. Dr. Sawyer integrates mindfulness, self-compassion, and Buddhist psychological principles into his work, focusing particularly on racial trauma, emotion regulation, and cultural competence in clinical practice. He examines how helping professionals' unconscious biases and unprocessed trauma can impact their work, advocating for personal mindfulness practices to enhance professional effectiveness.

Dr. Sawyer's publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly contributions across multiple domains of psychology, particularly in racial trauma, cultural adaptations of evidence-based treatments, and mindfulness-based interventions. His work spans clinical, developmental, and social psychology, with a strong emphasis on African American mental health and culturally responsive care. Recent publications show increasing focus on liberation-oriented adaptations of traditional therapeutic approaches like CBT.

Dr. Sawyer is highly active in community engagement and professional training, conducting workshops for mental health professionals on liberation psychology, racial trauma, and mindfulness practices. His work extends beyond academia through media appearances, community programs at institutions like the Speed Art Museum, and collaborations with organizations focused on social justice and mental wellness.

He teaches courses including PSYC 239 Bias and Inclusivity and PSYC 560 Human Diversity, directly connecting his research interests with undergraduate education. His approach emphasizes developing self-awareness in helping professionals to reduce harmful projection and increase cultural competence in clinical practice.