Chris Dabbs, Ph.D.
@dabbspsych.bsky.social
Psychologist | professor | author | researching identity, religion, and autism | #actuallyautistic | he/him | Hoosier transplant 🇺🇸 → 🇨🇦 | opinions my own
Pinned
Understanding and Affirming Autistic Clients
This book is an accessible primer focused on the provision of neuro-affirming clinical care for autistic clients, written from the perspective of autistic clini…
www.bloomsbury.com
'Understanding and affirming autistic clients: a primer for mental health professionals' is open for preorder!
Our entire book--from the cover art to the text--was created by autistic and neurodivergent people to help serve autistic clients.
www.bloomsbury.com/us/understan...
#actuallyautistic
Our entire book--from the cover art to the text--was created by autistic and neurodivergent people to help serve autistic clients.
www.bloomsbury.com/us/understan...
#actuallyautistic
Would you take a mental health diagnosis class about superheroes, supervillains, and comic book characters?
🦸♂️ ⚔️ 🦹♂️
Well, I made one and write about it in my new open-access commentary 🙂
digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/jti/vol1/iss...
#academicsky #edusky
🦸♂️ ⚔️ 🦹♂️
Well, I made one and write about it in my new open-access commentary 🙂
digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/jti/vol1/iss...
#academicsky #edusky
Pow, Bam, Snikt: Using Superheroes to Teach Mental Health
Undergraduate psychopathology (abnormal psychology) courses traditionally emphasize case vignettes of individuals with psychiatric disorders to illustrate etiology, nosology, and treatment. While peda...
digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu
November 14, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Would you take a mental health diagnosis class about superheroes, supervillains, and comic book characters?
🦸♂️ ⚔️ 🦹♂️
Well, I made one and write about it in my new open-access commentary 🙂
digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/jti/vol1/iss...
#academicsky #edusky
🦸♂️ ⚔️ 🦹♂️
Well, I made one and write about it in my new open-access commentary 🙂
digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/jti/vol1/iss...
#academicsky #edusky
LORs are one of my favorite parts of my job. You mean I get to write a letter full of great things about an awesome person who trusted me to write said things? For all of the thankless service tasks in our profession, LORs are not one of them.
From my discussions with other faculty, the use of generative AI I hear about the most is writing reference letters.
What's the point of having reference letters anymore if everyone is just having them written by machine?
What's the point of having reference letters anymore if everyone is just having them written by machine?
November 14, 2025 at 8:25 PM
LORs are one of my favorite parts of my job. You mean I get to write a letter full of great things about an awesome person who trusted me to write said things? For all of the thankless service tasks in our profession, LORs are not one of them.
Academics are leaving the U.S. for jobs in other countries. I was one of them! In this short opinion piece, I write about my transition from 🇺🇸 to 🇨🇦, and I offer tangible advice for those trying to do the same.
universityaffairs.ca/opinion/trad...
universityaffairs.ca/opinion/trad...
Trading tenure for Timbits - University Affairs
Everything you didn’t know about relocating to Canada.
universityaffairs.ca
November 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Academics are leaving the U.S. for jobs in other countries. I was one of them! In this short opinion piece, I write about my transition from 🇺🇸 to 🇨🇦, and I offer tangible advice for those trying to do the same.
universityaffairs.ca/opinion/trad...
universityaffairs.ca/opinion/trad...
Psychologists stop using AI to write clinical reports challenge (impossible)
November 7, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Psychologists stop using AI to write clinical reports challenge (impossible)
These critics have never been on food stamps. They talk like SNAP is giving $6k a month or something.
When I was single on SNAP in 2019-2020, I got $130/month. When my family was on SNAP in the late 2000s/early 2010s, we got like $600/month — there were EIGHT of us.
When I was single on SNAP in 2019-2020, I got $130/month. When my family was on SNAP in the late 2000s/early 2010s, we got like $600/month — there were EIGHT of us.
This whole thread.
“Oh no, someone might eat food!”
Good. That’s good.
“They might buy something they like.”
Cool.
“They might get a treat!”
Also cool.
“Oh no, someone might eat food!”
Good. That’s good.
“They might buy something they like.”
Cool.
“They might get a treat!”
Also cool.
There's something deeply disturbing about EBT/SNAP hate to me. Like just truly bone blanching shit.
October 31, 2025 at 9:11 PM
These critics have never been on food stamps. They talk like SNAP is giving $6k a month or something.
When I was single on SNAP in 2019-2020, I got $130/month. When my family was on SNAP in the late 2000s/early 2010s, we got like $600/month — there were EIGHT of us.
When I was single on SNAP in 2019-2020, I got $130/month. When my family was on SNAP in the late 2000s/early 2010s, we got like $600/month — there were EIGHT of us.
Uh oh. The lawyers are pissed 😬
“The government has invoked the notwithstanding clause before the Court has had an opportunity to examine the law and determine whether it constitutes a reasonable limit.”
CBA Alberta Statement on the Use of the Notwithstanding Clause
cba-alberta.org/news/cba-alb...
CBA Alberta Statement on the Use of the Notwithstanding Clause
cba-alberta.org/news/cba-alb...
CBA Alberta Statement on the Use of the Notwithstanding Clause | CBA Alberta
The Alberta government has invoked the notwithstanding clause to order teachers back to work. The " Back to School Act " imposes a collective agreement on teachers and prohibits them from striking unt...
cba-alberta.org
October 30, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Uh oh. The lawyers are pissed 😬
Today I launched our new clinical text that focuses on affirming autistic clients. To introduce the book, I took time to share my own autistic support needs, how they intersected with writing a book, and I asked why we're still treating disabled people like shit:
www.chrisdabbs.com/post/underst...
www.chrisdabbs.com/post/underst...
Understanding and Affirming Autistic Clients: Book Launch
On October 29th, 2025, we held a launch event for Understanding and Affirming Autistic Clients at the University of Lethbridge. Below is a transcript of the speech I gave to introduce the book alongsi...
www.chrisdabbs.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Today I launched our new clinical text that focuses on affirming autistic clients. To introduce the book, I took time to share my own autistic support needs, how they intersected with writing a book, and I asked why we're still treating disabled people like shit:
www.chrisdabbs.com/post/underst...
www.chrisdabbs.com/post/underst...
October 29, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by Chris Dabbs, Ph.D.
I really enjoyed doing this webinar - sharing in case it's helpful for people interested in an introduction to HiTOP: novopsych.com/news/webinar...
Webinar: Shortcomings of the DSM-5 and an alternative approach to assessment and classification - HiTOP - NovoPsych
The DSM-5 has shaped how mental health practitioners think about diagnosis and treatment — but it is not always the most effective approach.
novopsych.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I really enjoyed doing this webinar - sharing in case it's helpful for people interested in an introduction to HiTOP: novopsych.com/news/webinar...
We were on food stamps (and WIC) growing up — both my parents worked. My mom as an office assistant and my dad as a carpenter.
I was on food stamps five years ago. I was finishing a PhD and working three part time jobs.
Working doesn’t guarantee survival in the U.S. That‘s a class myth.
I was on food stamps five years ago. I was finishing a PhD and working three part time jobs.
Working doesn’t guarantee survival in the U.S. That‘s a class myth.
SNAP isn't about "people who don't work." It's about people who don't get paid enough to live.
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
October 27, 2025 at 1:24 PM
We were on food stamps (and WIC) growing up — both my parents worked. My mom as an office assistant and my dad as a carpenter.
I was on food stamps five years ago. I was finishing a PhD and working three part time jobs.
Working doesn’t guarantee survival in the U.S. That‘s a class myth.
I was on food stamps five years ago. I was finishing a PhD and working three part time jobs.
Working doesn’t guarantee survival in the U.S. That‘s a class myth.
“I’m trained in brainspotting”
In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.
rm -rf ~/
rm -rf ~/
"The chancellor approved it"
October 12, 2025 at 1:54 PM
“I’m trained in brainspotting”
Since leaving the U.S., I‘ve learned that many White Americans who leave the U.S. call themselves “expats” instead of “immigrants” and that…doesn’t sit right with me.
October 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Since leaving the U.S., I‘ve learned that many White Americans who leave the U.S. call themselves “expats” instead of “immigrants” and that…doesn’t sit right with me.
Reposted by Chris Dabbs, Ph.D.
We just published "Decolonizing autism research: Integrating indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing" journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
October 9, 2025 at 5:59 PM
We just published "Decolonizing autism research: Integrating indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing" journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Chris Dabbs, Ph.D.
I dunno man, try listening to marginalized people *before* shit goes wrong, and maybe it won't keep being like that
October 6, 2025 at 6:07 AM
I dunno man, try listening to marginalized people *before* shit goes wrong, and maybe it won't keep being like that
Man about a month ago I was on here propping up AI tools — not a stan or anything but I thought some could be useful — and smart people gave me some stuff to read and now I’m a for real certified gold star AI-hater.
I present: stuff I read that made me realize AI is actually trash.
I present: stuff I read that made me realize AI is actually trash.
October 3, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Man about a month ago I was on here propping up AI tools — not a stan or anything but I thought some could be useful — and smart people gave me some stuff to read and now I’m a for real certified gold star AI-hater.
I present: stuff I read that made me realize AI is actually trash.
I present: stuff I read that made me realize AI is actually trash.
Reposted by Chris Dabbs, Ph.D.
psych departments post a faculty job that has nothing to do with AI challenge
September 10, 2025 at 11:02 AM
psych departments post a faculty job that has nothing to do with AI challenge
See also: autistics
Rule 101 in 'Dehumanizing Minority Populations you want to Eradicate: Never Let Them Speak in Their Own Defense.'
See for example: Trans People, Immigrants.
See for example: Trans People, Immigrants.
September 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
See also: autistics
When the Tylenol-Autism discourse is Discoursing
September 25, 2025 at 12:04 AM
When the Tylenol-Autism discourse is Discoursing
Reposted by Chris Dabbs, Ph.D.
Amid the [gestures at everything], I've been meaning to re-up this piece from April.
“‘Nonspeaking’ does not mean ‘non-listening,’” a formerly nonspeaking woman told me. “I was aware of the terrible things people were saying about me, when they discussed me like I wasn’t even there.”
“‘Nonspeaking’ does not mean ‘non-listening,’” a formerly nonspeaking woman told me. “I was aware of the terrible things people were saying about me, when they discussed me like I wasn’t even there.”
Kennedy Claimed Autism ‘Destroys’ Lives. Autistic People Disagree.
www.nytimes.com
September 24, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Amid the [gestures at everything], I've been meaning to re-up this piece from April.
“‘Nonspeaking’ does not mean ‘non-listening,’” a formerly nonspeaking woman told me. “I was aware of the terrible things people were saying about me, when they discussed me like I wasn’t even there.”
“‘Nonspeaking’ does not mean ‘non-listening,’” a formerly nonspeaking woman told me. “I was aware of the terrible things people were saying about me, when they discussed me like I wasn’t even there.”
Reposted by Chris Dabbs, Ph.D.
Are you applying to a PhD in Clinical or Counseling Psychology? Here is a list of mentors who are taking students. Please circulate widely (and on X) so all applicants can benefit 😀. If you are mentoring please do add your name!
#clinicalpsychology @abctnow.bsky.social
#clinicalpsychology @abctnow.bsky.social
Accepting Clinical or Counselling Psychology Grad Student?
docs.google.com
September 23, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Are you applying to a PhD in Clinical or Counseling Psychology? Here is a list of mentors who are taking students. Please circulate widely (and on X) so all applicants can benefit 😀. If you are mentoring please do add your name!
#clinicalpsychology @abctnow.bsky.social
#clinicalpsychology @abctnow.bsky.social
Tylenol does not cause autism.
Paracetamol (Tylenol) does not cause autism, and it is a source of great dismay that autism researchers and Autistic advocates still have to spend so much time battling misinformation.
Research on causes of autism systematically fails to control for the existence and behaviour of Autistic parents.
Research on causes of autism systematically fails to control for the existence and behaviour of Autistic parents.
September 22, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Tylenol does not cause autism.
I just saw a call for book chapters about using AI as a “pedagogical partner” to teach psychology.
AI can’t be your partner in teaching, because it doesn’t *know* anything. Teaching is part science and part art — AI doesn’t do either of those parts well.
AI can’t be your partner in teaching, because it doesn’t *know* anything. Teaching is part science and part art — AI doesn’t do either of those parts well.
September 22, 2025 at 1:08 AM
I just saw a call for book chapters about using AI as a “pedagogical partner” to teach psychology.
AI can’t be your partner in teaching, because it doesn’t *know* anything. Teaching is part science and part art — AI doesn’t do either of those parts well.
AI can’t be your partner in teaching, because it doesn’t *know* anything. Teaching is part science and part art — AI doesn’t do either of those parts well.
I think the worst thing about living in Canada so far is that there's no Diet Mountain Dew here.
They have Mtn. Dew Zero, but that's a soulless beverage for feckless children.
They have Mtn. Dew Zero, but that's a soulless beverage for feckless children.
September 16, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I think the worst thing about living in Canada so far is that there's no Diet Mountain Dew here.
They have Mtn. Dew Zero, but that's a soulless beverage for feckless children.
They have Mtn. Dew Zero, but that's a soulless beverage for feckless children.
One of our anonymous reviewers said our autistic writing team was too early in our clinical careers to make a meaningful contribution to the field, even though we work almost exclusively with autistic people 🙃
We’re hoping to prove Reviewer 2 wrong. 6 days til release!
#autres #actuallyautistic
We’re hoping to prove Reviewer 2 wrong. 6 days til release!
#autres #actuallyautistic
'Understanding and affirming autistic clients: a primer for mental health professionals' is open for preorder!
Our entire book--from the cover art to the text--was created by autistic and neurodivergent people to help serve autistic clients.
www.bloomsbury.com/us/understan...
#actuallyautistic
Our entire book--from the cover art to the text--was created by autistic and neurodivergent people to help serve autistic clients.
www.bloomsbury.com/us/understan...
#actuallyautistic
Understanding and Affirming Autistic Clients
This book is an accessible primer focused on the provision of neuro-affirming clinical care for autistic clients, written from the perspective of autistic clini…
www.bloomsbury.com
September 12, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One of our anonymous reviewers said our autistic writing team was too early in our clinical careers to make a meaningful contribution to the field, even though we work almost exclusively with autistic people 🙃
We’re hoping to prove Reviewer 2 wrong. 6 days til release!
#autres #actuallyautistic
We’re hoping to prove Reviewer 2 wrong. 6 days til release!
#autres #actuallyautistic
Online discourse in mixed-neurotype environments is hell for autistics because of this. Folks wonder why we aren't "represented" -- it's because we stick to Tumblr and WrongPlanet. Anywhere else (including here) we're piled on and met with the most bad faith disingenuous interactions.
September 4, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Online discourse in mixed-neurotype environments is hell for autistics because of this. Folks wonder why we aren't "represented" -- it's because we stick to Tumblr and WrongPlanet. Anywhere else (including here) we're piled on and met with the most bad faith disingenuous interactions.