Teaching & Training Philosophy

Let’s be honest: 

Dr. Nguyen isn’t living all of this, all the time. But these philosophies are here to serve as his compass as a mentor, teacher, colleague, and human being. It’s about intention, not perfection. 

He’s also well aware that talking about himself in the third person is a bit absurd, a little grandiose, and possibly unwell. And yet, it is strangely enjoyable. So here we are.

These are the guiding philosophies that shape Dr. Nguyen’s approach to mentorship and scholarship. A little practical, a lot aspirational, and always, ALWAYS, a work in progress:

1. Collaborative Over Competitive

In a culture that glorifies individual achievement, Dr. Nguyen believes in choosing collective growth over individual glory. He believes collaboration creates deeper, more lasting impact than competition ever could, and he’s definitely not interested in climbing if it means stepping on others to get there.

Academia can be isolating. For those from underrepresented communities, it can feel like a constant fight for scraps. Nevertheless, Dr. Nguyen rejects the myth of scarcity in his approach to living, teaching, and relating. He believe in the power of lifting others up, even if it means stepping back so someone else can shine first. In his lab, connection isn’t a bonus: it’s the (damn) point. People rise not in spite of each other, but because of each other.

2. Thinker over Doer. Philosopher over Technician.

Dr. Nguyen is not interested to train researchers who can run stats but can’t tell you why it matters or therapists who can recite a treatment manual but can’t sit with a client’s pain or tolerate the messiness of 'being human'. Dr. Nguyen’s goal is to develop not just skilled technician, but deep thinkers: scientists & practitioners who ask bold questions, embrace complexity, and refuse to settle for easy answers. He believes that conceptual thinking is just as essential as practical skills. Statistics, manuals, and technical knowledge matter, but impactful work must start with impactful thinking.

In an era where AI can handle technical execution faster than any human, what sets a psychologist apart is imagination, nuance, and conceptual clarity. For Dr. Nguyen, the real flex is thinking critically, creatively, ethically, and expansively: the kind of thinking that is irreplaceable by AI and will actually move science and practice forward.

3. Initiative is a Love Language

Dr. Nguyen doesn’t see his students as the extensions of his work or little minions of his academic empire. He sees them as scholars in their own right. That’s why, in his teaching and mentorship, initiative isn’t just encouraged; it’s expected and required. It’s one of the clearest indicators of student growth and success.

Students are urged to launch their own projects, write first-author papers, apply for funding, and lead with their own voice. Dr. Nguyen will absolutely be there to guide, support, troubleshoot, and hype his students up like a proud papa advisor should. But he’s definitely not big in dragging anyone across the finish line. 

It’s students' initiative, discipline, and drive that move the work forward. His mentorship is a space for students to explore boldly, take risks unapologetically, and build something that is unmistakably their own.

4. Take the Work Seriously, But Not the Self

Dr. Nguyen values excellence without ego and authenticity without arrogance. He believes that real growth, both personal and intellectual, requires humility and the ability to regard the self with far less importance. The willingness to be wrong, to sit with discomfort, to own one's ignorance, to receive feedback without crumbling, and to stay curious are what make a good scholar and therapist. And those are exactly the muscles Dr. Nguyen works to strengthen in himself and in his students.

Thus, Dr. Nguyen doesn’t expect himself or his students to have it all figured out, or to always show up as flawless, robotic human beings. Rather, he strives to cultivate a learning environment where everyone feels encouraged to show up as complex and messy human beings; yet ready to learn, unafraid to be wrong, and open to being surprised. 

Because in his lab, the work is taken very seriously and ethically. But the self? That part stays light, flexible, and always evolving. Laughter, play, silliness, and joy aren’t unintentional distractions; they’re pedagogy!

5. The Community of Care

At the heart of Dr. Nguyen’s teaching philosophy is a deep commitment to holding space for complexity, for imperfection, and for the full humanity of his students and himself. He recognizes that the work of learning and researching, especially when it engages with issues of identity, oppression, and pain, carries such an emotional weight that cannot (and should not) be ignored. For him, teaching is not simply about transmitting knowledge, but about cultivating a relational space where care, reflection, and growth can take root.

He  acknowledges that exhaustion, missteps, and moments of uncertainty are inevitable in any learning process. Rather than demanding perfection, he fosters a learning space grounded in gentleness, forgiveness, and mutual empathy. He believes in calling in rather than calling out, inviting curiosity over judgment, and challenging ideas not people.

He does not view boundaries or self-care as luxuries, but as vital forms of respect and sustainability. Still, he avoids rigid approaches. Instead, he values ongoing communication, negotiation, transperancy, and shared responsibility. For Dr. Nguyen, care is not performative, it’s an ongoing and flexible practice. His lab is not just a place for achievement; it’s a space where people show up for one another, so that vulnerability is met with support, and where no one is expected to grow alone.

6. Scholarship in the Service of Justice

Dr. Nguyen’s scholarship is unapologetically rooted in equity, liberation, and systemic change. He rejects the notion of neutrality in the face of injustice. And just as firmly, he rejects the hollow repetition of buzzwords without deep understanding, critical reflection, or meaningful action.

In his research and mentorship, Dr. Nguyen challenges students and collaborators not to simply echo what’s trendy in the field, but to contribute thoughtfully and courageously to the ongoing conversations around multiculturalism, health equity, and social justice. He invites his community to lean into nuance and complexity, because human suffering isn’t simple, and neither are the f*cked-up systems that cause it. Justice work isn’t neat. It’s messy, layered, and often inconvenient. And that’s exactly why he resists the pressure to sanitize, oversimplify, conform, or perform. Human suffering and injustice are never black-and-white, and neither are the solutions.

Dr. Nguyen encourages hard questions: Who benefits from this knowledge? Who is left out of the narrative? What truths are we just now able to name, feel, or see? And how can our work extend beyond academic journals and into the spaces where real lives are shaped into policy, practice, and lived experience?

At its core, Dr. Nguyen’s scholarship is guided by intention: to inform, to disrupt, and to heal. Because to him, research is never just about publishing, it’s about pushing for change.