Brian Rasmussen
Associate Professor
Educational Background
Ph.D. Smith College
MSW Wilfrid Laurier University
BA University of Western Ontario
General Background
Dr. Rasmussen has over 25 years of clinical experience with individuals, families and groups, primarily in out-patient psychiatric settings. His primary academic interest is clinical social work theory, and in particular, the application of psychodynamic theories to practice. In collaboration with Dr. Daniel Salhani, a theoretical project is underway to integrate social and psychodynamic theories for clinical practice.
He is also an adjunct associate professor at Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, Massachusetts where he teaches clinical social work theory. Dr. Rasmussen is a consulting editor for the journals Psychoanalytic Social Work, Smith College Studies in Social Work, and Journal of Social Work Practice.
Dr. Rasmussen maintains a private practice in Kelowna that focuses on psychotherapy and clinical consultation.
Teaching interests
Direct practice with individuals, families and groups
Research Interests
- Social work clinical theory
- The teaching-learning relationship
- Mental health
- Vicarious trauma
- Clinical process
Publications
Rasmussen, B. (2012). Impact of trauma on the clinician: Secondary trauma, vicarious trauma, and countertransference. In Ringel, S. & Brandell, J. (Eds). Trauma: Contemporary Directions in Theory, Practice, and Research. (pp. 223-246) Sage
Kealy, D. & Rasmussen, B. (Accepted) Veiled and vulnerable: The other side of pathological narcissism. Clinical Social Work Journal.
Emond, S. & Rasmussen, B. (In press). The status of psychiatric inpatient group therapy: Past, present and future. Social Work with Groups, 25.
Rasmussen, B. & Salhani, S. (2010). A contemporary Kleinian contribution to understanding racism. Social Service Review, 84(3), 333-350.
Rasmussen, B. & Salhani (2010). Some social implications of psychoanalytic theory: A social work perspective. Journal of Social Work Practice, 24(2), 209-225.
Rasmussen, B. & Salhani, D. (2008). Resurrecting Erich Fromm. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 78,201-225.
Rasmussen, B. & Mishna, M. (2008). A fine balance: Instructor self-disclosure in the classroom. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 28(1/2, 191-207
Rasmussen, B., & Salhani, D. (in press). Resurrecting Erich Fromm. Smith College Studies in Social Work.
Rasmussen, B., & Mishna, F. (in press). A fine balance: Instructor self-disclosure in the classroom. Journal of Teaching in Social Work.
Rasmussen, B. (2007). No refuge: An exploratory survey of nightmares, dreams, and sleep patterns in women dealing with relationship violence. Violence Against Women, 13, 314-322.
Rasmussen, B. (2006). Psychodynamic Social Work. (Book Review) Jerrold Brandell. Smith College Studies in Social Work. (in press).
Rasmussen, B. (2005). Social work treatment. The Canadian Encyclopedia of Social Work, F. Turner (Ed.).
Rasmussen, B. (2005). Person-in-environment. The Canadian Encyclopedia of Social Work, F. Turner (Ed.).
Rasmussen, B. (2005). Relational Psychotherapy: A Primer. (Book Review) Patricia De Young. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 75, 1 (in press).
Rasmussen, B. (2005) No refuge: An exploratory survey of nightmares, dreams, and sleep patterns in women dealing with relationship violence. Violence Against Women.
Rasmussen, B. (2005). An intersubjective perspective on vicarious trauma and its impact on the clinical process. Journal of Social Work Practice, 19, 19-30.
Rasmussen, B. (2005). Have we learned from our mistakes? Psychoanalytic Social Work,12,73-79.
Rasmussen, B., & Mishna, F. (2003). The relevance of contemporary psychoanalytic theories to teaching social work. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 74, 1, 31-47.
Rasmussen, B. (2002). Linking metaphor and dreams in clinical practice. Psychoanalytic Social Work. 9 (2), 71-87.
Mishna, F. & Rasmussen, B. (2001). The learning relationship: Working through disjunctions in the classroom. Clinical Social Work Journal, 29(4), 387-399.
Rasmussen, B. (2000). Poetic truths and clinical reality: Client experience of the use of metaphor by therapists. Smith College Studies in Social Work, Special Issue, Clinical Practice Evaluation: Conceptual Issues, Empirical Studies, and Practice Implications, 70(2), 355-373.
Rasmussen, B. (1999). Joining group psychotherapy: Developmental considerations. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 49(4), 512-528.
Rasmussen, B. & Angus, L. (1997). Modes of interaction in psychodynamic psychotherapy with borderline and non-borderline clients: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Analytic Social Work, 4(4), 53-73.
Rasmussen, B. & Angus L. (1996). Metaphor in psychodynamic psychotherapy with borderline and non-borderline clients: A qualitative analysis. Psychotherapy, 33(4), 521 - 530.
Rasmussen, B. (1995). The differential use of metaphor in psychotherapy. Clinical Social Work Journal, 23(2), 139-149.
Presentations
Rasmussen, B. (2011). The effects of working with traumatized and vulnerable people on the practitioner. 2nd Annual Mental Health Seminar - Interior Health Authority. Kelowna, BC.
Rasmussen, B. “Vicarious trauma and interpersonal violence”. Vernon Women’s Transition House Society. (March, 05).
Rasmussen, B. “The instructor’s self-disclosure: Its impact on the instructor-student relationship and the learning process”. The Learning Conference: From the Inside Out. UBC Okanagan (February, 05)
Rasmussen, B. & Mishna, F. ‘A Fine balance: Instructor self –disclosure in the classroom. Council on Social Work Education, Paper presentation, New York,NY (March, 05).
Rasmussen, B. ‘Sex, lies and brief therapies, or: Preserving social work therapeutic values in a time of change”. Workshop for British Columbia Association of Social Workers, Okanagan Chapter, (February, 2004).
Rasmussen, B. & Lewis, C. ‘Ethical considerations in planning research: Doing the right thing’. Fourth Annual OUC BSW Conference. Kelowna, BC. (March, 2003).
Rasmussen, B. & Mishna, F. “Teaching clinical social work: Borrowing from practice theories”. Council on Social Work Education. Paper presentation. Atlanta, Georgia, (March, 2003)
Rasmussen, B. “Vicarious trauma and clinical social work practice”. Workshop for British Columbia Association of Social Workers, Okanagan Chapter, (February, 2003).
Rasmussen, B. “Vicarious traumatization: Healing the healer”. Presented at The OUC BSW Third Annual Conference: The Integration of Social Work Research, Theory and Practice, Kelowna, B.C. (February, 2002).
Rasmussen, B. & MacDonald, L. “Vicarious trauma, countertransference, and therapist self care”. Workshop presented at Fostering Your Passions for Family Practice Conference, Kelowna, B.C. (April, 2001).
Rasmussen, B. “Working through disjunctions in the helping relationship: An intersubjective perspective”. Presented at Scaling the Peaks of Social Work Research, Theory, and Practice: Second Annual OUC BSW Conference, Kelowna, B.C. (March, 2001).
Mishna, F. & Rasmussen, B. "The learning relationship: Toward a conceptual framework for teaching clinical practice”. Council on Social Work Education. Paper presentation, Dallas, Texas (March, 2001).
Rasmussen, B., Gladman, M. & Baker, N. "Group work with men in relationship crisis: Preventing violence against women". Presented at the 22nd Annual International Symposium on Social Work with Groups, Toronto, Ontario (October, 2000), and at Bridging The Gap Across Canada Conference, B.C. Association of Counsellors of Abusive Men, Victoria, B.C. (October, 2000).
Rasmussen, B. "Linking dreams and metaphors in clinical practice". Paper presentation at the Western Canada Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Association, Vancouver, B.C. (June, 2000).
Rasmussen, B. & The Kelowna Family Centre Research Team, "An evaluation of a men's support group in developing healthy, respectful and safe relationships". Presented at the First Annual Research in Social Work Day, Kelowna, B.C. (March, 2000).
Current Research
Rasmussen, B. & Mishna, F. (University of Toronto) The teaching-learning relationship in social work education.
Rasmussen, B. & Salhani, D. The contributions of Erich Fromm to social work practice. Manuscript Book under development.
Robinson, C. & Rasmussen, B. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer in a Context of Pre-existing Mental Illness.
Professional Memberships
- BCASW
- Board of Registration of Social Workers
Last reviewed 
10/20/2011 10:07:30 AM
