Dr. Karin Maria Hodges is a psychologist, educator, and advocate whose innovative work—such as the Surf'sUp Method®—empowers individuals, families, and communities. With a foundation in developmental psychology from UCLA and clinical training at Dartmouth Medical Center and Franciscan Hospital for Children, Dr. Hodges combines academic expertise with real-world impact. She lectures at MIT, where she co-teaches the widely regarded course Technologies for Mental Health and Wellness, which she co-developed with Dr. Richard Ribon Fletcher under the support of the MIT J-WEL Grant.

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While she has 22 years of combined pre and post licensure clinical experience across clinic, hospital, university, private practice, and school settings; Dr. Hodges is currently focused on school communities! She brings a great deal of applied experience in schools: Dr. Hodges has trained & worked for over a decade in schools in Ashfield, Roxbury, & Dorchester, MA; Manchester, NH; and now Concord, MA. She conducted her dissertation on prevention groups in schools & served on an APA Coalition alongside other Psychologists and Deans of Departments of Education.  

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Dr. Hodges’ Surf'sUp Method® blends dynamic learning strategies with developmental insights, fostering inclusive, effective practices in schools and organizations. Firmly grounded in research-based models of human development, Surf'sUp Method® has been implemented in school systems 

​As a co-producer of Mental Health Mirage: A Raising Moxie Podcast, alongside Dr. Francis Lee Stevens, Dr. Hodges challenges mental health misconceptions and fosters open dialogue. She bridges personal and professional experience, redefining how communities and organizations approach inclusion, mental health, and empowerment.

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Dr. Hodges has been a guest on the following podcasts:

Right Mind Media ( part 1)

Live from 495 (part 1)

Literacy Now, Together!