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

Dissertation Committee:

  • Denzel Jones, PhD, Chairperson

  • Elfreda Blue, PhD, Committee Member

  • Kevin Lyness, PhD, Committee Member

 Photographic portrait of Dr. Amelia Flynn

Dr. Amelia Flynn

Keywords

black adolescents, sexual self-concept, fatherhood, parent-child communication, sexual self

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

Black women in the U.S. continue to experience disproportionately high rates of unintended pregnancies, with a 64% rate reported in 2011 (Finer & Zolna, 2016). Positive sexual self-concept (SSC) is linked to healthier sexual behaviors, yet research on SSC development has largely overlooked the role of fathers and systemic influences, particularly within Black families. Grounded in an ecological framework, this study examines the impact of father-daughter engagement on SSC among Black female adolescents, considering paternal residential status and socioeconomic class as key contextual factors. The study revealed that when middle class father-daughter engagement is high, daughters’ sexual self-esteem is lower. These results underscore the importance of understanding class-based differences in fatherhood as well as the import of integrating fathers into culturally responsive sexual health interventions that address the methods and content of parent-child sexual communication. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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ORCID iD: 0009-0008-1700-555X

Bio:

Amelia Flynn is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) whose work centers on fostering meaningful, culturally attuned connections within individuals, couples, and families. She earned her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hofstra University and her Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy from Antioch University New England, where her research focused on the father–daughter relationship in Black families. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Flynn has served as an Adjunct Professor at Antioch University and has contributed to scholarly publications and professional presentations.

In 2021, Dr. Flynn founded her New York-based private practice, Amelia Flynn Marriage and Family Therapy. Her clinical approach is grounded in collaboration, with an emphasis on cultivating self-compassion, vulnerability, courage, and evolving self-awareness. She specializes in working with multiracial individuals, couples, and families, and is particularly focused on strengthening communication, confidence, and personal agency.

Beyond her practice, Dr. Flynn is a corporate emotional wellness instructor who designs and facilitates programming for leaders and executives. Her work in organizational settings supports the development of psychologically safe, empathetic, and curiosity-driven workplace cultures.

Guided by a culturally humble framework, Dr. Flynn approaches each client as a complex and dynamic integration of context, identity, and lived experience. She is committed to creating a therapeutic environment in which all aspects of a person’s culture and story are acknowledged, valued, and supported.

Publications:

Jones, D.; Alexander, P.; Flynn, A. (2019). The Impact of Socialization Agents’ Ethnic-Racial Identity on Communication and Socialization Processes. Fort Worth, TX.

Alexander, P. & Flynn, A. (2019). White Noise: Perceived experiences of being unheard in the women’s reproductive healthcare space and the impact on parenting practices among African-American women. Kennett Square, PA.

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