Sumithra Raghavan
Professor • Department of

Since joining WPU, I have built a Culture and Trauma lab where my students and I have examined a variety of topics under that umbrella. Recently we examined the ways in which people bounce back from trauma, termed resilience, in a multinational sample of trauma survivors. We have also examined class as a dimension of culture and looked at the challenges experienced by first generation college students. I'm interested in learning how culture and context shape our understandings of mental health and our world more broadly.
Tamil
Degrees
Specialization
trauma, multicultural issues
Licenses and Certifications
Licensed Clinical Psychologist,
Representative Publications
Cross-Cultural Factors in Trauma-Related Disorders;
In L. Benuto, F. Gonzalez, & J. Singer, (Eds.). Handbook of Cultural Factors in Behavioral Health. ; Springer Publishing;
2020
Cultural Considerations in the Assessment of Survivors of Torture: A Review;
2018
The Relationship between Cultural Variables and Resilience to Psychological Trauma.;
, Traumatology;
Volume
ASHA: Using Participatory Methods to Develop an Asset-building Mental Health Intervention for Bangladeshi Immigrant Women;
Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action;
2015
http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/cpr.2015.0069
Correlates of symptom reduction in treatment-seeking survivors of torture.;
, Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy;
2012
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0028118
Representative Presentations
Mental Health, Social Capital and Academic Success in a First-Generation College Student Population: Findings from a Mixed Methods Study.
Exploring Resilience in a Multinational Sample of Trauma Survivors
Using participatory methods to develop an asset-building depression intervention for immigrant women.
Notable Courses Taught
MA Program in Clinical and Counseling Psychology: Theories of Psychotherapy, Psychopathology, Practicum I
Undergraduate: Abnormal Psychology, Community Psychology
I also supervise MA thesis projects and work with students on independent research.