Ph.D., Michigan State
Shalonda Kelly edited Diversity in Couple and Family Therapy,
designed to increase readers' cultural competence in working with diverse
couples and families. The book also presents her model for how cultural
competence bridges differences within couples and families and between family
members and therapists. Her research has received NIH and Rutgers University
funding to understand and measure how African Americans and other people
of color are affected by experiences of racism and oppression, and how racial
and cultural perspectives are associated with individual and couple
adjustment. She teaches couple therapy and diversity courses. Dr. Kelly also is
a licensed psychologist who conducts and supervises evidence-based couple,
family, and individual therapy from cognitive-behavioral or emotionally-focused
orientations. She also adheres to systems and multicultural orientations, which
led her to develop a principle-based approach to integrating multiple
theoretical orientations. Dr. Kelly's urban-studies background enriches
her consultations and workshops with professionals and organizations
toward better understanding the needs of ethnic minority clients.
She received diversity awards from
APA's Division 43 and from the National Council of Schools and Programs of
Professional Psychology, and was named a Leader in Diversity at Rutgers.
