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Rosemary Farmer

Rosemary Farmer

Associate Professor
Phone: (804) 828-0402
E-mail: rfarmer@vcu.edu

Helping the severely oppressed

“My specialty is studying and working with persons who have severe and chronic mental illnesses. I like working long-term with clients and helping them manage their illness. Persons with schizophrenia and other such illnesses have much in common with the rest of us, and this makes them appealing to me, but there is still much we do not know about these illnesses. This has led to my interest in the neurosciences; bringing some of the latest brain research into social work theorizing and practice, and encouraging social workers to contribute to the neurosciences.

“Seeing how much persons with major mental illnesses struggle, in order to cope and function, is very humbling. Hopefully some of the new research will help us provide more effective assistance to these very unique persons with a terrible illness.”

Education

  • Ph.D. – Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.
  • M.S.W. – Hunter College School of Social Work, City University of New York, New York, N.Y.
  • B.A. – Harpur College of the State University of New York, Binghamton, N.Y.

Research interests

  • Incorporating research from the neurosciences into human behavior and clinical social work practice courses

Courses taught

  • Mental Health Policy
  • Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
  • Clinical Social Work Practice I
  • Clinical Social Work Practice II
  • Social Work Practice and Psychopharmacology

Selected publications

  • Farmer, R.L. (2009). Neuroscience and Social Work Practice: The Missing Link. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

  • Farmer, R.L., Bentley, K.J. & Walsh, J. (2006). Advancing social work curriculum in psychopharmacology and medication management. Journal of Social Work Education, 42(2), 211-229.

  • Bentley, K.J., Walsh, J. & Farmer, R.L. (2005). Social work roles and activities regarding psychiatric medication: results of a national survey. Social Work, 50(4), 295-303.

  • Bentley, K.J., Walsh, J. & Farmer, R.L. (2005). Referring clients for psychiatric medication: best practices for social workers. Best Practices in Mental Health, 1(1), 59-71.

  • Farmer, R.L. (2003). Gender and psychotropics: Toward a Third Wave Framework. British Journal of Social Work, 33(5), 611-623.

  • Walsh, J., Farmer, R.L., Taylor, M.F. & Bentley, K.J. (2003). Ethical dilemmas of practicing social workers around psychiatric medication: Results of a national study. Social Work in Mental Health, 1(4), 91-105.

Professional affiliations

  • Member of the Council on Social Work Education
  • Member of the National Association of Social Workers
  • Member of the Virginia Society for Clinical Social Work
  • Reviewer, British Journal of Social Work
  • Scientific reviewer, Medical Science Monitor