Em Matsuno
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Mail code: 0811Campus: Tempe
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Em Matsuno is an assistant professor in counseling and counseling psychology. Their research interests focus on trans and nonbinary minority stress and resilience using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Their main goal is to develop and test interventions to decease negative mental health outcomes and increase wellbeing among trans and nonbinary people. Dr. Matsuno will be accepting a PhD student this application cycle.
PhD University of California, Santa Barbara
As a researcher, I develop, test, and implement psychological interventions that support the well-being of trans and nonbinary (TNB) people. My work is informed by minority stress theory (Brooks, 1981; Meyers, 2003), which emphasizes the impact of societal stigma on mental health as well as the protective function of resilience factors. From this framework, my research goals are to 1) Identify the minority stressors and resilience factors that TNB people experience, 2) Create and validate psychological measures of minority stressors and resilience for TNB people 3) Examine the pathways between minority stressors, resilience factors, and mental health outcomes for TNB people and 4) Develop and test interventions to reduce minority stressors and/or increase resilience factors for TNB populations.
EMpowerment Lab - https://empowermentlab.wordpress.com/
Selected publications:
- Matsuno, E., Bricker, N. L., Savarese, E., Mohr, R., Jr. Balsam, K. F. (in press). “The default is just going to be getting misgendered”: An investigation of minority stress among nonbinary adults. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity.
- Matsuno, E., McConnell, E., Dolan, C. V., & Israel, T. (2022). “I am fortunate to have a transgender child”: An investigation into the barriers and facilitators to support among parents of trans and nonbinary youth. LGBTQ+ Family: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 18(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/1550428X.2021.1991541
- Bettergarcia, J., Matsuno, E., & Conover, K. J. (2021). A systemic review of LGBQ+ cultural competence trainings for mental health professionals. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity.
- Matsuno, E., & Israel, T. (2021). The Parent Support Program: Development and Acceptability of an Online Intervention Aimed at Increasing Supportive Behaviors Among Parents of Trans Youth. Journal of GLBT Family Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/1550428X.2020.1868369
- Matsuno, E., Goodman, J.A., Israel, T., Choi, A., Lin, Y., & Karry, K. (2020). L or G or B or T: Matching Sexual and Gender Minorities with Sub-population Specific Interventions. Journal of Homosexuality, 1. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2020.1819714
- Israel, T., Matsuno, E., Choi, A.Y., Goodman, J. A., Lin, Y., Kary, K., Merrill, C. (2020). Development and Efficacy of an Online Intervention to Reduce Internalized Transnegativity. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000447
- Matsuno, E., Dominguez, S., Waagen, T., Roberts, N., Hashtpari, H. (2020) The importance of empowering nonbinary psychology trainees and guidelines on how to do so. The Behavior Therapist, 137-143.
- Matsuno, E. (2019). Non-binary affirming psychological interventions. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. 26(4), 617-628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2018.09.003
- Matsuno, E., & Israel, T. (2018). Psychological Interventions Promoting Resilience Among Transgender Individuals: Transgender Resilience Intervention Model (TRIM). The Counseling Psychologist,46 (5) 632 – 655. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000018787261
- Matsuno, E., Budge, S. (2017). Non-binary gender identities: a critical review of the literature. Current Sexual Health Reports, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-017-0111-8
Ongoing research studies.
Modeling Resilience as a Multidimensional Protective Factor for Transgender Health Disparities: Measure Development and Longitudinal Evaluation of Resilience
Role - Principal Investigator
Funding: This project is funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) for a total of 2.2 million dollars from 9/25/22 – 6/30/26.
Description: The specific aims of the project are: Aim 1: Develop a novel measure of Trans and Gender Diverse (TGD)-resilience that reflects intrapersonal, as well as sociocultural (i.e., interpersonal, community, and societal) manifestations of resilience with attention to intersectional experiences of resilience. Aim 2: Demonstrate reliability and validity of the TGD-resilience measure and evaluate reliability over time. Aim 3: Elucidate the longitudinal effects of TGD-specific resilience on health outcomes.
The Enby Project: Understanding stress and resilience among nonbinary people.
Role - Principal Investigator
Description: The Enby Project is a research project with both qualitative and quantitative phases. The study aims to identify the unique types of minority stressors that nonbinary people experience and what helps them manage those stressors, with the ultimate goal of adapting the minority stress model and developing and validating the first nonbinary minority stress and resilience scale.
Efficacy of the Parent Support Program, an Online Intervention to Increase Supportive Behaviors Among Parents of Trans Youth.
Role - Principal Investigator
Description: This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of an online intervention aimed at changing parental knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to supporting their transgender child.
Breaking Barriers: Understanding challenges faced by trans and nonbinary students in counseling psychology programs
Role - Principal Investigator
Description: This qualitative study examines semi-structured interviews of 16 trans and nonbinary students in counseling psychology programs to understand the challenges they face and the ways counseling psychology programs can create more affirming and supportive environments.
Gender Kaleidoscope Study
Role - Investigator
Description: The longitudinal study focuses on relationships between gender identity and expression, sexual identity, relationships, well-being, stressors and resilience among diverse LGBTQ+ people. We collected data from 473 ethnically and racially diverse LGBTQ+ adults in October/November 2019 and followed up with these participants again in April/May 2020 and April 2021 to examine changes in well-being over time in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
LGBTQ Clinical Academy Project
Role - Investigator
Description: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a 4-month, 40-hour intensive training aimed at increasing LGBTQ+ cultural competence among mental health providers.
SLO ACCEPTance Project: Affirming Cultural Competence Education & Provider Training: Offering Innovative Solutions to Increased LGBTQ Mental Health Care Access.
Role - Investigator
Description: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a 9-month, 40-hour intensive training aimed at increasing LGBTQ+ cultural competence among mental health providers.
Simulated Conversation Training for Mental Healthcare Providers to Improve Care for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Individuals.
Role - Research Consultant
Description: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an online training protocol aimed at increasing trans affirming counseling skills.
Courses
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CPY 599 | Thesis |
| CED 599 | Thesis |
| CED 545 | Assessment and Diagnosis |
| CPY 799 | Dissertation |
| CPY 792 | Research |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CPY 799 | Dissertation |
| CED 599 | Thesis |
| CPY 599 | Thesis |
2024 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CED 599 | Thesis |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CPY 599 | Thesis |
| CED 599 | Thesis |
| CPY 799 | Dissertation |
| CPY 792 | Research |
| CPY 701 | Science/Practice Counsel Psych |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CED 595 | Continuing Registration |
| CPY 792 | Research |
| CED 523 | Psychological Tests |
| CPY 599 | Thesis |
2023 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CED 599 | Thesis |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CPY 599 | Thesis |
| CED 599 | Thesis |
| CED 545 | Assessment and Diagnosis |
| CPY 799 | Dissertation |
| CPY 792 | Research |
| CPY 635 | Professional Development |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CPY 635 | Professional Development |
| CPY 599 | Thesis |
2022 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CED 599 | Thesis |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CPY 701 | Science/Practice Counsel Psych |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CED 545 | Analysis of the Individual |
2022 - Early Career Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions, APA Division 17
2022 - National Multicultural Conference and Summit Rising Star Award
2021 - APA Division 44 Transgender Research Award
2019 - APA Division 44 Distinguished Student Contribution Award
2019 - American Psychological Foundation’s (APF) 2019 Roy Scrivner Research Grant
2018 - Award for Outstanding Graduate Student – APA Division 17 Section on LGBT Issues
Editorial Board Member, Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity
American Psychological Association (APA)
Division 1 (General Psychology)
Division 17 (Counseling Psychology)
Division 35 (Psychology of Women)
Division 44 (Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity)
Division 45 (Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, & Race)
World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH)
Mentor, Leadership Collaborative, APA Division 17
Task Force Member, Revising the Professional Practice Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People.
Chair Elect, Early Career Psychologists Committee, APA Division 17
Co-Chair, Transgender and Gender Diversity Committee, APA Division 44
Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, ASU Counseling and Counseling Psychology Program
Committee Member, Science Committee, APA Division 44