Jonathan Doucette Ph.D.

Jonathan Doucette (he/him/his or they/them/theirs) received his Ph.D. in Cultural Studies at the University of California, Davis in 2022. His interdisciplinary research explores representations of dissociation in film, television, art, and war. By bridging the divide between psychoanalysis and the humanities, Jonathan aims to show how culture shapes psychological theories and assumptions, and vice-versa. Through his research, Jonathan found that dissociation is not only a product of interpersonal terrorism, like the kind found in domestic violence and child abuse situations, but is a tactic used by dominant cultures to disenfranchise marginalized communities. Examples of this include “non-lethal” forms of crowd control by the U.S. military and police stations, such as sonic weapons that disrupt protesters’ senses, sensations, and sense of connection with community.

He uses film and television to show what dissociation feels like on a phenomenological level. Film techniques can go a long way in depicting out-of-body experiences, derealization and depersonalization, and flashbacks to great effect. This is a benefit for practitioners and patients working with or experiencing dissociation as dissociation often strips a sufferer’s capacity to speak. Audiovisual images capture something about dissociation when language fails us. Many who dissociate also find great comfort in watching film and television to regulate their emotions.

In addition to his research, Jonathan has worked as a counselor in outreach and prevention services, first at the Sexual Information Center at Oberlin College, then as a Global Health Corps fellow in Washington, DC, for a sex worker and drug user outreach organization.

Jonathan works as a creative writing coach in Northern California. He’s accepting clients interested in creative non-fiction projects, such as memoir. When he’s not binging TV shows, he can be found writing and singing songs, cooking meals with noodles, or snuggling with his dog Bandit.