Research

Pitt Counseling Research

Our faculty are engaged in research ranging from community-engaged scholarship and investigating multicultural issues in counseling to laboratory studies aimed at uncovering insights about the development and maintenance of mental health challenges. We focus on prevention interventions and improving treatments for those exposed to psychological trauma, particularly those in high-risk occupations such as military personnel and emergency responders. We seek to identify ways to support student wellness more effectively and to understand the experiences of caregivers. Outcomes in our research projects go beyond symptom reduction to include social and occupational functioning, quality of life, community participation, and other indicators of our participants living lives of meaning and purpose.

Our research populations range across the lifespan and include those living with posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, suicidality, autism spectrum disorder, alcohol use disorder, grief, chronic pain, and neurological challenges including traumatic brain injury and stroke. Projects include adapting and testing intervention approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, and the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders, as well as educating peers and paraprofessionals in evidence-based interventions.