Meet The Author: The Mind Behind Panda Psych

Hello!

My name is Rachel Clousing, and I am the creator of Panda Psych. I am a graduate student at National University in the Master of Arts in Psychology program. I identify as nonbinary and use she/they pronouns. My goal is to become a researcher, science communicator, and professor. The inspiration behind the name is my love for pandas and psychology.

Below, I will highlight my journey and interests, explain why I created this blog, and what is to be tentatively expected from being part of this work.

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed mental health professional or psychologist. Any information is intended for educational purposes, and it is strongly encouraged to seek professional help if needed. If you require emergency assistance, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to reach a crisis counselor for support.

My Journey in Psychology

My educational journey in psychology hasn’t been a linear one. In high school, I contemplated being a therapist, specifically an art therapist. Unsure of where and what I wanted to major in, I pursued my basics at McLennan Community College (MCC) in Waco, TX, where I received my Associate of Arts in General Academics in May 2016. I was pregnant with my son, who was due in August, so I paused my education for the time.

When January 2017 came, I really felt the need to go back to school because I thought it would help with my postpartum depression. I returned to MCC with no specific degree plan but joined the Medical Billing and Coding program in the fall of 2017. During the next 2 years, I completed courses, but towards the end, I started to rethink my plans.

What was motivating me? Will I be happy pursuing a career with only concerns about future income? What was my purpose? These were the questions I was asking myself towards the end of spring 2019. I was working at Papa John's as a delivery driver and knew I wanted to get more out of my life than pursuing only for economic means. I wanted to help people in some way. After moving to Tulsa, OK, in the summer of 2019, I transferred to Tulsa Community College, where I finished my Associate of Arts in Psychology at the end of 2020.

I enrolled at Northeastern State University (NSU) in the Bachelor of Science in Psychology program in January 2021, thinking I would eventually pursue a path to being a licensed therapist. However, when I took my first statistics class, I became interested in conducting research. This was further supported when I was in my experimental psychology course. I began to think more about being part of the academic side of psychology.

While I was a student, I became a member of my campus Psychology club, where I was the Public Relations Officer for my final semester at NSU. I enjoyed collaborating with other officers and members who were interested in being involved with like-minded people. It was fun exploring and building my skills in communications and social media.

When I graduated, I knew I wanted to pursue further education but was unsure where and what, so I took about a year break. While working for a local software development school, Atlas School, I discovered National University and began looking into its programs. I was interested in online programs precisely because I needed the flexibility in location to better support my son's education at the state's deaf school. March 2024 was the time I decided to enroll in the General Psychology program at National University with the expectation that I would learn how to engage in academic literature more efficiently and effectively, further develop my research and writing skills, and find community among like-minded scholars.

My general topics of interest are, but not limited to:

• Conspiracy Theories

• Cognitive Biases

• Conflict Resolution

• Religion & Spirituality

• Group Dynamics

• Violence & Abuse

• Mental Health & Well-being

• Humanistic Psychology

• Humanism/Secularism

• Information Literacy

I have always had an inclination for psychology and helping others. Growing up, I was the friend that friends would go to discuss their problems. I would listen and offer advice as best as I could. I’ve always wondered why people behave the way they do.

Why This Blog Exists

I started this blog to share information with others, hone my writing skills, develop an online presence, and explore my interests. I hope to share what will be helpful to students, professionals, content creators, and everyday people.

I initially thought about starting this blog in my undergraduate history of psychology course in the fall of 2022, where I learned about psychologist Edwin G. Boring’s video course at Boston’s educational TV channel WGBH (Goodwin, 2011). He became a pioneer in providing video courses on psychology and various phenomena. This was a light bulb moment for me, and ever since, I have thought about starting this blog and creating video content. In 2024, I decided to start taking the idea seriously.

My history of psychology course inspired me to start a monthly series where I share a list of different psychology, mental health, or awareness-centered holidays that people can use to learn something new, generate ideas for content creation, and spread awareness. And in all honesty, I am a sucker for list-making.

The idea came when I saw that October 22 is Fechner Day to honor Gustave Theodor Fechner, a German philosopher, physicist, and experimental psychologist. He is known for being the founder of psychophysics, which allows for measuring the mind. Learning of this day made me wonder what other days were related to psychology.

The topics of interest I listed above are important because I have personal experiences and know others who have dealt with some of the issues of interest. I plan to follow my curiosities to help others better understand problems and support positive growth.

I intend to write to those generally interested in psychology, psychology students, and professionals who work within these areas. Still, I hope to provide helpful information to the everyday person.

What to Expect

Content you can expect from me are blog posts on different topics, YouTube videos, lists of resources, and other social media posts. I intend to adapt and grow as this platform does, so I am not limiting myself to blogging. I want to reach audiences in different ways as I grow in my profession and establish myself as an expert in my areas of interest.

You should expect to find themes or topics centered around humanism, humanistic psychology, social psychology, religion and spirituality, and mental health/well-being. These are broad themes, but as I write this in 2024, I foresee my content narrowing as I grow as a researcher and psychologist.

Besides my monthly holiday series that I post on the first of every month, I aim to post at least one additional blog per month until I find my groove. I will remain realistic in my planning and communication with my audience.

Regarding my YouTube channel, I plan to begin making content soon. Initially, I would post a video at least once monthly until I have found my groove in that arena.

Let’s Connect

Thank you so much for reading an introduction to myself. I hope to connect with you in the comments and on YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, and BlueSky. Please consider following on Instagram and subscribing on YouTube so you don’t miss out on updates and when I launch my first video.

Another great way to stay current is to subscribe to my newsletter. I promise not to bombard your email. You can also contact me directly through the contact page with any questions, feedback, concerns, or comments. I will get back to you as soon as I can.

References

Goodwin, C. J. (2011). A history of modern Psychology. Wiley.