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Sara Michelle Cauley, Psy.D., is a 2024 graduate of the Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, New England

Professional headshot of Dr. Sara Michelle Cauley

Dr. Cauley

Dissertation Committee:

  • Theodore Ellenhorn, PhD, Chairperson
  • Barbara Belcher-Timme, PhD, Committee Member
  • Gina DiPasquale, PsyD, Committee Member

Keywords

SGM, Marginalized sexual and gender identities, LGBTQ+, queer identities, social justice, relational-cultural therapy, RCT, university counseling centers, UCCS, queer affirming therapy, LGBTQ-affirmative therapy, queer young adults, policy position paper

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

Young adults in college experience significant rates of mental health difficulties. The mental wellness of young adults has shown to have a substantial link to future success, health, and well-being. Individuals with marginalized sexual and gender identities (SGM) often hold additional mental health difficulties due to having identities that typically defy societyʼs assumptions and expectations, and these assumptions/expectations are presented to youth from a young age. The distress experienced by SGM individuals can often be relational in nature due to living in and relating to a heteronormative, cisgender society that stigmatizes and oppresses SGM individuals. University Counseling Centers (UCC) typically have limited treatment approaches with stricter time-limitations as compared to other clinical settings. This provides rationale to conduct research on approaches to psychotherapy in UCCs for SGM individuals. Cultural and social contexts are crucial in understanding SGM identities, and therefore, relational cultural therapy (RCT), and its integration of interventions for multiple theories is suggested due to combining relational and cultural factors. However, this dissertation also provides a critical discussion of the use of psychotherapy approaches, regardless of theoretical orientation, in working with SGM individuals who present with distress in UCCs. The intertwining areas of social justice, diversity, intersectionality, and ethics are addressed. This is a policy position paper with reviewing, analyzing, and reporting findings from the existing research on SGM clients engaged in UCCs to provide recommendations to better inform services and American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Comments

ORCID: 0009-0001-8148-9033

Bio:

Education: (In Progress, May 2025) PsyD (Doctorate in Psychology) in Clinical Psychology, Antioch University New England, Keene, NH; 2022 MS in Clinical Psychology, Antioch University New England, Keene, NH; 2016 Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Women and Gender Studies

Areas of Expertise: LGBTQIA+ identities, sex-positivity, intimacy concerns, relationship challenges, influences of self-worth, and body image.

Clinical & Research Interests: I am particularly passionate about engaging in psychotherapy with LGBTQIA+ young adults and helping to navigate challenges that can arise while living in a heteronormative, cisgender society. I have focused my research and clinical work on therapy that aims to increase sense of self, self-worth, and identity(s) through a relational-cultural lens that values the client’s unique experiences within their unique world. I constantly work to educate myself on issues of racial inequality and systemic forms of racism through listening to (and reading) BIPOC voices, and engaging in conversations with BIPOC and white individuals regarding topics of race, ethnicity, implicit bias, microaggressions, and discrimination.

Publications and Presentations:

Burwell, R.A., Cauley, S.M. & Camilleri, J.A. (2017, March) Psychometric Properties of the Self-Worth Contingency Questionnaire in a University Sample. Poster presented at the Eastern Psychological Association Conference, Boston, MA

Cauley, S.M., Camilleri, J.A. & Burwell, R.A (2016, April). Contingent Self-Worth and Partner Psychopathy. Poster presented at the 22nd Annual Massachusetts Statewide Undergraduate Research Conference, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Cauley, S.M. (2015, April). Contingent Self-Worth and Partner Psychopathy. Invited oral presentation for The First Place Phi Kappa Phi Scholarly Essay Award, Westfield State University, Westfield, MA.

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