Applied Anthropologist Profile: Dr. Rebecca Lester, Professor (Anthropology & Psychology) and Practicing Psychotherapist (LCSW)

Dr. Rebecca Lester (Source: Washington University)

 

As Dr. Rebecca Lester points out the disciplines of anthropology and psychology are distinctly different.  They share key aspects that enable them to be used complementarily in various types of study and work.  These connections are what drive Dr. Lester’s research and psychotherapy practices.  Both of these will be addressed further in this post.

 

Dr. Rebecca Lester attended the University of Florida, wherein she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with a Psychology minor in 1991.  She planned continuing her studies, but she was also in love with both anthropology and psychology, leading her to be unsure of how best to proceed.  One of her professors suggested she combine her two interests and study psychological anthropology, which upon further investigation she ultimately decided to do.  Her doctoral research was completed in psychological anthropological research at the University of California-San Diego, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in the same subject area at the University of Chicago.

 

In the early 2000s she landed a post as an Assistant Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, where she is currently a Full Professor and Department Chair.  It was here that she continues her psychological anthropological research, which has largely focused on mental health, intersubjectivity (how relationships with others affect our perceptions of ourselves and others), and embodiment.  She has completed research in various subject areas, including eating disorders, dissociative identity disorders, gender, religion, and most recently on polyamory/consensual non-monogamy.  The common thread across all of her research projects is the role of culture on individuals (e.g., how cultural values and norms tied to health and beauty affect individuals who suffer from/live with eating disorders, a topic close to Dr. Lester’s heart since she suffered from anorexia as an adolescent).

 

In 2009 she completed her master’s in social work through the George Warren Brown School of Social Work through Washington University.  She opened her psychotherapy practice at that time, and she sees clients on various matters.  She advertises herself as being friendly to those who identify themselves as members of the LGBTQI+, polyamorous, and kink communities.  Her practice is a registered non-profit, and she sees and charges clients based on their financial means.

 

Regarding the intersections between anthropology and psychology Dr. Lester points out that while there are differences there are several similarities that make for a complementary relationship between the two disciplines.  Both disciplines seek to understand the differences in human experiences and how that can either foster or treat mental health problems.  Both also teach practitioners to maintain levels of empathy and understanding of the informant’s/client’s situation, although practitioners of both disciplines employ different methods in learning more about their subjects.  She notes that psychotherapists tend to focus more on the individual, whereas anthropologists tend to focus more on society and culture.  Both must be acknowledged and understood to fully understand what is going on with any individual person.  When it comes to psychotherapy this understanding can and does provide a more holistic understanding to treating the patient fully.

 

Works Cited

Lester, R. (2024). About. Retrieved from Rebecca J. Lester: Anthropologist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://rebeccalester.com/

Lester, R. J. (2020, May 15). Anthropology on the Couch: How this sister discipline can breathe new life into your practice. Psychology Today.

Lester, R. (n.d.). Rebecca Lester: Chair and Professor of Sociocultural Anthropology. Retrieved from Washington University in St. Louis Department of Anthropology: https://anthropology.wustl.edu/people/rebecca-lester