Research & Scholarship
Research should do more than answer academic questions; it should help us better understand the people sitting across from us.
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Much of my work has centered on relationships because they are one of the most influential contexts in which people experience connection, conflict, growth, resilience, and change. Through my research, I have explored the factors that shape relationship functioning, communication, and well-being, with the goal of identifying evidence-based strategies that can meaningfully improve people's lives.
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As both a clinician and researcher, I value translating psychological science into practical insights that extend beyond journals and conference presentations. Whether I am conducting research, providing therapy, or teaching students, I am guided by the same question:
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How can we better understand people so that we can better support them?
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That question has guided much of my work as a researcher. While the projects below explore different topics, they're united by a common goal: understanding the patterns, relationships, and contexts that shape people's lives.
Areas of inquiry
Why do some relationships thrive while others struggle?
The conversations couples have are often less important than the patterns they repeat.
How do couples become caught in recurring patterns of conflict? What communication behaviors strengthen relationships, and which ones predict distress? My work has examined the ways communication, criticism, and relationship dynamics influence satisfaction and long-term functioning.
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Featured work:
What actually helps couples change?
I'm less interested in whether therapy works than why it works for some people and not others.
My current work has focused on evaluating the effectiveness of scalable interventions designed to improve relationship health across diverse populations.
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Featured work:
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A Mixed-Methods Instrumental Collective Case Study of the OurRelationship Program.
How do culture and identity shape connection?
No relationship exists outside the context of culture, identity, and lived experience.
Relationships are shaped by culture, identity, and the broader social contexts in which they exist. My work has explored how experiences such as weight stigma and cultural identity influence both relationship functioning and individual well-being.
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Featured work:
Couples Losing Kinship: A Systematic Review of Weight Stigma in Romantic Relationships