Abbey Stemler

Abbey Stemler, BA'08

Major: Anthropology of Mental Health and Illness

“I had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful country of Australia while collecting data for my IMP capstone project,” says Abbey Stemler, who studied in Adelaide during the spring and summer of 2007.

Abbey’s IMP research focused on narrative therapy, a relatively new type of counseling and community work for the treatment of mental disorders.

“When I first arrived in Adelaide I attended a week-long conference at the Dulwich Centre, hosted by the founder of narrative therapy, Michael White,” says Abbey. “I spent the remainder of my time working with practicing therapists at the Centre and taking classes at the University of Adelaide.

“I had the opportunity to learn about the theoretical underpinnings of narrative, personally test narrative techniques, and participate in various discussions about the ethics of narrative and its role cross-culturally.”

The Individualized Major Program gives you the freedom to create a multidisciplinary major that addresses issues and explores topics of your own choosing. The ability to select major courses from Indiana University's many schools and departments puts you in charge of your education in ways that conventional majors don't allow. As a student in the IMP you'll have the opportunity, rare in an institution of IU's size, to develop a close working relationship with one or more faculty sponsors who will guide you throughout your academic career. And, when you graduate, you'll have the distinction of having pursued a personalized course of study. Learn more about the IMP.


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