Psychology professor emeritus honoured for excellence in clinical training

Former students congratulate Jim Porter on his award at the Ontario Psychological Association’s annual convention, February 4 in Toronto. From left: Michael Oosterhoff, Brenda Davie, Jonathan Douglas, Dr. Porter, Jeremy Frank, Jillian Leggatt and Michelle Carroll.

Preparing his psychology students for clinical practice required them to learn about themselves, says professor emeritus Jim Porter.

“One of the things that was important to me was to focus on training in relationship skills, helping my students learn to connect with the full humanity of each psychotherapy client,” he said. “It required a lot of personal growth on the part of the students.”

That approach won him recognition from his colleagues this past weekend, as he received the Harvey Brooker Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching from the Ontario Psychological Association. Dr. Porter said the fact that his former students submitted the nomination made the honour all the greater.

“It was a lovely recognition, an indication of their appreciation of my training,” he said. “I am very flattered.”

Porter – a University of Windsor alumnus himself (PhD 1980) – retired from teaching in 2009 after 29 years in the psychology department; he taught psychotherapy at the department’s Psychological Services Centre.

The association issues the award each year to a psychologist who exemplifies the highest standards of excellence in the clinical training of psychology students. Porter is the second UWindsor professor to receive it; Barry Taub was honoured in 2009.