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Karen Andal Neri, Ph.D., is a 2026 graduate of the Ph.D. Program in Couple and Family Therapy at Antioch University, New England

Dissertation Committee:

  • Kevin Lyness, PhD, Chairperson
  • Lana Kim, PhD, Committee Member
  • Unique Page, PhD, Committee Member

Professional Headshot of Karen Andal Neri

Dr. Karen A. Neri

Keywords

cross-ethnoracial supervision, BIPOC supervisors, cultural humility, ethnocultural empathy, supervisory working alliance, ethnoracial identity development, pooled regression APIM

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

There is an ongoing need for more relational, process-oriented multicultural supervision training models and research to address multicultural issues through a sociocultural perspective in cross-ethnoracial supervision. BIPOC therapists have often reported inadequate multicultural education and training as well as responsiveness from their White supervisors. As supervisors themselves, BIPOC therapists are often overlooked and understudied in the couple/marriage, family therapy (C/MFT) field, which remains predominantly Eurocentric. As a process-oriented model, multicultural orientation (MCO), especially its primary organizing pillar, cultural humility, appears highly relevant to BIPOC supervisors working across ethnoracial and cultural lines with their supervisees. However, neither the MCO nor broader C/MFT literature has fully explored BIPOC supervisors’ experiences in supervision across ethnoracial and/or cultural lines. This study preliminarily explores the interdependence between cultural humility, ethnocultural empathy as understood through the lens of relational cultural theory, and the supervisory alliance among BIPOC supervisors and their cross-ethnoracial supervisees using dyadic data. This study also explores the influence of BIPOC supervisors’ ethnoracial identity development on cultural humility and ethnocultural empathy within this context. Based on the application of the actor-partner interdependence model through pooled regression, preliminary findings reveal an interdependent relationship among these constructs; specifically, an actor-only like pattern for cultural humility and a contrast-like pattern for ethnocultural empathy. Additionally, findings reflect a possible connection between BIPOC supervisors’ level of ethnoracial identity development on the experience of cultural humility and ethnocultural empathy in the supervisory relationship. Further studies are warranted to confirm these exploratory findings. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://www.ohiolink.edu/etd).

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ORCID iD: 0009-0006-7447-1261

Bio:

Dr. Karen A. Neri is a relational, integrative, systems-oriented therapist in private practice in Portland, Oregon. She identifies as a cishet, immigrant, Southeast Asian Filipina American woman, and works primarily with BIPOC clients on issues related to attachment wounds, relational disconnection, and trauma. Her work includes providing supervision through an intersectional, cultural and relational lens, as well as facilitating psychoeducational workshops.

Dr. Neri is committed to fostering healing and bridging relational gaps across differences. Her research interests include the intersection of identity politics, privilege, power, oppression, multi-ethnoracial relationship systems, and trauma. Prior to becoming a therapist, she practiced family law in California. She remains involved within the legal community through educational workshops, presentations, and group facilitation on mental health, relational well-being, and equity. In her spare time, she loves being outdoors with her spouse and favorite sentient fur-beings, Rex and Riley.

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