Courtney Cabell, PsyD, is a Core Faculty member in the MA program. Dr. Cabell is an alum of both 海角乱伦’s MA and PsyD programs. Dr. Cabell currently serves as the Conference Chair for the APA Division 32, the Society for Humanistic Psychology, and is the founder and president of Open Heart Communities, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between social justice and mental health. Dr. Cabell is committed to mentoring future clinicians in the development of cultural humility and ethical, justice-oriented practice.
How did you get involved聽in doing research?
I first became heavily involved in research during my first semester in the doctoral program at 海角乱伦. I joined an already established team that was researching the term that we coined,聽Cultural Responsibility, in mental health providers. Through that process, I found a love for conducting psychological research and began engulfing myself in any and every project that aligned with my interests.
What are your current research聽interests? And how did you narrow your research聽focus?
My research interests include culture, identity, and trauma, with a particular emphasis on culturally grounded, community-centered approaches, racial trauma, and movement-based interventions. I narrowed my focus through a continuous process of self-reflection and rediscovery. The 鈥渨hy鈥� in everything that I do is bridging the gap between social justice and mental health. My work is deeply rooted in Humanistic, Black Feminist, Liberation, and Embodiment frameworks, with aims to foster the empowerment and liberation of individuals and communities experiencing marginalization and oppression.
What type of research do you do?
Currently, my four research teams are studying: 1) the efficacy and effectiveness of movement-based therapies, 2) the psychological pain of loss or lack in relationships, human respect, and social privilege, 3) the intergenerational transmission of vicarious racial trauma, and 4) disparities in Black maternal health.
Are you accepting students for your research聽team? If so, what qualities do you look for in a research team member?
Although I am not currently accepting new team members, in the future, I may be looking to add students who are driven, reliable, and passionate about culturally- and trauma-informed care.