Instructor
John Dunham
Bio
John Dunham brings a warm, compassionate, and deeply human-centered approach to teaching, grounded in more than two decades of professional experience across healthcare, counseling, and clinical supervision. He currently serves as the Contingency Management Program Supervisor at UCSF’s Opiate Treatment Outpatient Program (OTOP), where he leads harm reduction and motivational interviewing interventions for individuals with substance use andco-occurring mental health disorders.
A certified substance use disorder counselor (CADC III, SUDCC), registered yoga teacher (RYT200), and associate therapist (AMFT, APCC), John’s academic path reflects his dedication to healing and service. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, building on his Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and his A.S. in Addiction & Recovery Counseling from City College of San Francisco.
At UC San Diego, John teaches with a deep respect for the complexity of addiction and recovery. His courses integrate evidence-based approaches with practical experience from the field, emphasizing cultural humility, trauma-informed care, and patient empowerment. He is especially passionate about mentoring future counselors and psychologists to work ethically and effectively with low-income, multicultural, and gender-diverse populations.
John’s research and conference presentations focus on the implementation of contingency management within opioid treatment programs and the expansion of harm reduction strategies. Whether in the classroom or the clinic, he is committed to fostering connection, resilience, and growth in all his students and patients.