My applied research agenda focuses on the domains of Multicultural Orientation (MCO), Psychotherapy, and Romantic Relationships. An underlying assumption of our mission is that we contextualize our work through cross-cultural factors that are inherently interwoven with the lives of individuals, couples, and therapists.

Multicultural Processes

I have chosen to investigate the role of multicultural factors, process factors, and therapist effects in psychotherapy. My research has broken new ground for multicultural processes in psychotherapy. For instance, my research team was one of the first to connect clients’ ratings of their therapists’ multicultural competencies and client reported microaggressions with therapy outcomes. My work has also examined relational processes, such as the working alliance and the real relationship, which appears to be central in the association between therapists’ multicultural competencies and therapy outcomes. Collectively, these studies contributed to the development of a new model, Therapists’ Multicultural Orientation (MCO), which includes three culturally-based processes in psychotherapy:

1. Cultural Humility

2. Cultural Opportunities

3. Cultural Comfort

You can also check www.multiculturalorientation.com to learn more about our work including our large team of collaborators.

Psychotherapy Outcomes

My passion for process-focused research is fueled by questions of why and how does psychotherapy work. In-session activities are valuable sources of information as these may be indicative where the course of therapy is heading and the immediate effects of therapist actions. To this end, I have examined several process factors, such as session outcomes, systemic alliance, inter-session thoughts, and techniques ranging from psychodynamic or interpersonal to cognitive-behavioral. These studies can provide valuable information about empirically supported practices. Moreover, my studies examining therapist effects can provide important insights regarding therapists’ general competency, which has broader implications for competency-focused movement in the training of professional psychologists.

Romantic Relationships

My research examining romantic relationships has primarily focused on couple interventions (i.e., relationship education programs and couple therapy) and young adults’ relationship decision making. Prevention efforts for relationship distress can be a meaningful way for couples to learn the skills, knowledge, and awareness needed to maintain a healthy trajectory. To date, there is very little empirical data regarding the effectiveness of relationship education programs with underserved populations. As such, in collaboration with SGA Youth and Family Services in Chicago, we have been able to evaluate relationship education programs with over 1,000 lower income racial/ethnic minority couples. These studies are consistent with my interest in cultural factors in psychotherapy. In regards to couple therapy, I have focused on understanding the role of commitment in couples’ functioning and in the process of therapy. For example, I developed an intervention to assist couples in high-conflict custody dispute, assisted in a Norwegian couple therapy study that examined the role of alliance and commitment in therapy outcomes, and started my own psychotherapy trial focusing on couple commitment uncertainty at the University of Louisville.

Applied Technology

Though by no means am I a tech wiz (my lab members can attest to this), my research over the recent years has led me to collaborate and consult with companies that incorporate technology to support psychotherapy research that matters to me and hope matters to the field more broadly.

SonderMind Inc: My work with SonderMind focuses on identifying ways to support therapists within the system and what programs may be helpful to create to sustain this support long term. I am currently working with measurement care data sets to identify disparities between therapists, therapist factors such as caseload, client factors such as access to care, and the time span between sessions with their therapist.

Celesthealth Solutions, Inc: CelestHealth Soultions, LLC specializes in assessments of behavioral health and treatment outcomes in order to improve psychotherapeutic outcomes. Working as director of research, I focus on exploring ways to improve measurement instruments and methodology to more accurately assess behavioral health treatment outcomes.

LYSSN: I am currently working on an active grant with John Templeton Foundation that incorporates the LYSSN technology system, an AI-powered platform that records and evaluates clinical sessions. This grant is focused on harnessing this platform to explore characteristics associated with therapists' flourishing and burnout. By analyzing transcripts of the therapy sessions we are hoping to get a better sense of patterns that could lead to earlier intervention or future prevention.

OrgVitals: OrgVitals focus is to help employers adapt their work culture through an employee-centric model to better allow employees to thrive in their work and work environment. OrgVitals works to eliminate blindspots when groups and employees are disconnected, improve employee well-being through timely and specific support and build a thriving organization that will attract and retain talent. By 2023 OrgVitals will have assisted over 40 consulting practices globally. As a research consultant for OrgVitals, I work to assess and promote organizational climate as well as explore ways to decrease burnout and eliminate blindspots for employees more broadly.