Meet Dr. Nahanni Freeman
Degrees and Experience
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology (Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University)
- M.A., Clinical Psychology (Biola University)
- B.A., Psychology (Biola University)
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Biography and Professional Achievements
Dr. Nahanni Freeman is an associate professor in the College of Undergraduate Studies (CUS), having previously worked in the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. Freeman has worked full-time for CUS since 2004. She also gained teaching experience at Regis University and Metropolitan State University as an affiliate instructor, and pursued a range of clinical experiences prior to entering the teaching profession.
Freeman developed a research program in the department of psychology based on an apprenticeship model, which includes mentorship of students, faculty-student research collaborations, advisement of student theses, and projects for which Freeman is the principal investigator and students are trained as research assistants. Please see the complete vita for a list of professional achievements. Many of these projects have been presented at research conferences, and some are being developed into full-length articles intended for submission to academic journals or book chapter proposals.
Freeman's recent work has focused on empirical collaboration and serving as the principal investigator with CCU alumni and current students on a range of ongoing research projects. Since 2006, Freeman has been a regular presenter and faculty sponsor at the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference, and she has also presented theoretical and/or empirical research at the American Scientific Affiliation and Psychology and the Other conference in Boston. A list of research presentations can be viewed on the complete vita.
Integration of Psychology and Theology
Freeman was trained at Rosemead School of Psychology and Biola University, where she was mentored in the integration of Christian faith with psychology, completing relevant coursework in theology, biblical studies, and integration. While it is challenging to concisely summarize a faith integration approach, Freeman approaches this topic from the Integrates Model proposed by Narramore and Carter, which values both natural and special revelation for epistemology, emphasizing the role of science in discovery. Freeman's perspective has also been influenced by the work of: Paul Tillich, Peter Kreeft, John Coe, Randall Sorensen, Soren Kierkegaard, Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, and the Carmelite and Desert monastics.
Clinical Training
Freeman completed a post-doctoral fellowship in medical psychology, with a focus in neuropsychological assessment, at the Oregon Health Sciences University. Her predoctoral internship was completed at the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center at Doernbecher Children's Hospital, where she focused on assessment and treatment of children with developmental disabilities. Freeman has post-graduate clinical experience gained from working as a unit psychologist at the Oregon State Hospital, serving as a consultant in several Denver convalescent homes, and she also served as a school psychologist in Jefferson County Public Schools. Freeman also has extensive pre-doctoral clinical experience, gained through several internships and work-related settings oriented towards child and geriatric assessment, college counseling, and day treatment of mentally ill adults. Freeman serves on the Board of Directors for Right On Mobile Education.
Publications
- Freeman, N. (2019). American cultural symbolism of rage and resistance in collective trauma: Racially-influenced political myths, counter-myths, projective identification, and the evocation of transcendent humanity. In D.M. Goodman, E. Severson and H. Macdonald (Eds.) Race, Rage, and Resistance: Philosophy, Psychology, and the Perils of Individualism. Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group: London/New York.
- Freeman, N. and Baldwin, I. (2020). Attitudes towards mental illness in American Evangelical communities, supernaturalism, and stigmatization. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, Taylor and Francis.
Manuscript submitted for publication
- Freeman, N.(2020). Artifacts of power and the quest for a sacred space for art, humane sexuality and scholarship: A consideration of de Beauvoir and Woolf (Manuscript submitted for publication). Department of Psychology, Colorado Christian University.
Manuscripts in preparation
- Freeman, N. (2019). Benevolence or authoritarianism? Fear-based arousal and selective auditory recall for religious content following exposure to mortality salience priming. (Manuscript in preparation). Department of Psychology, Colorado Christian University.
- Freeman, N. (2019). Polarization, belief perseverance and attitude shift: Sociopolitical and religious moderation in a sample of American Evangelicals (Manuscript in preparation). Department of Psychology, Colorado Christian University.
- Freeman, N. (2020). Contemporary neuro-social cognition and tacit dimensions of person perception in the workplace environment (Manuscript in preparation). Department of Psychology, Colorado Christian University.
- Freeman, N. and Braunchler, K. (2020). Self-discrepancy theory: Does religion play a role in shame when perceived differences between the actual and ideal selves are made salient? (Manuscript in preparation). Department of Psychology, Colorado Christian University.
- Freeman, N., and Namour, B. (2019). Attachments with companion animals: Relationships with self-esteem, psychiatric diagnosis, and unique animal features in response to priming (Manuscript in preparation). Department of Psychology, Colorado Christian University.
- Freeman, N. and Stowell, L. (2020). Creativity, sociodramatic play, spiritual encounters and imaginary friends: A young adult retrospective study of the role of childhood imagination absorption in perspective-taking and mystical experiences (Manuscript in preparation). Department of Psychology, Colorado Christian University.
- Freeman, N., Turner-Melcalf, G., and Hall, T. (2020). Sport competition anxiety, team cohesiveness, and perceived belonging: Sport-social variables connected to resilience and subjective well-being (Manuscript in preparation). Department of Psychology, Colorado Christian University.