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Trauma, Substance, Justice, and Recovery Lab (TSJR)

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What is the TSJR Lab?

The Trauma, Substance, Justice, and Recovery Lab in the College of Education & Human Development at the University of North Dakota focuses on understanding and addressing the mental, physical, and behavioral healthcare needs of people who experience multiple forms of adversity, including trauma/PTSD, substance use/SUD, and legal system involvement. Members of the lab are interested in prevention, health promotion, treatment, and recovery support services for these and other populations, including adolescents, emerging adults, and people across the lifespan who experience poorer psychosocial and health outcomes due to discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV status, income, ability status, justice system involvement, and racial and/or ethnic identity. 

Aligned with UND’s Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program training model, training on this team is grounded in a scientist-practitioner training model with a multicultural and social justice emphasis. Among other things, this means that students learn how to evaluate and apply research evidence to clinical practice and that clinical practice experiences inspire and motivate the pursuit of new knowledge. Our multicultural and social justice emphases also means we attend to issues of ethics and equity in knowledge production, recognize and celebrate advocacy and reasoned critique as a form of scholarship, and explicitly consider multiple aspects of human diversity throughout the research process. The lab’s overarching goal is to train and graduate outstanding scientist-practitioners with the requisite skills to conduct and disseminate the findings of empirical research and other scholarship to enhance human health.

We strive to conduct research that aligns with the values of the American Psychological Association’s Society of Counseling Psychology, including critical consciousness, prevention, strength-based, advocacy, flexibility and adaptability, collectivism, accountability and repairing harm, liberation, and healing. Our striving toward these values is reflected in the topics we study, the populations we work with, and the ways in which we interact with one another. As a research lab housed at a public university and supported in various ways through public funds, we also volunteer our time in support of local, regional, and national partners. Members of the lab also engage in service to the profession of psychology in a variety of ways (e.g., serving on APA committees, completing peer reviews for APA and other journals).

Our lab consists of students with a variety of career goals and previous research experiences. Students who are enthusiastic about routinely committing time each week (during the academic year) to learn new skills and be integrally involved in all aspects of the research and dissemination process may be a good fit for this lab. Please feel free to contact Dr. Ryan Flinn (ryan.flinn@und.edu) for additional information.

Our lab meets once per week during the regular academic year and every 2-3 weeks during summer.

Students are encouraged to come prepared to work, ask questions, share their work, receive feedback, and find solutions to issues they are encountering in their second-year projects, dissertations, conference submissions, manuscripts, and applications for funding.

In a typical lab meeting, students will have an opportunity to share updates and seek feedback and support on the main project they are working on – which could be their second-year project or dissertation, typically developed during individual advising with Dr. Flinn – as well as contribute to work on shared projects currently being pursued by multiple members of the lab (e.g., new data collection, multi-authored manuscripts). Occasionally, Dr. Flinn, another team member, or a guest will facilitate discussion or a presentation about a specific topic of interest to enhance learning and team effectiveness.

Consistently engaged team members can expect to complete doctoral study with at least three peer-reviewed publications resulting from their efforts on this team. A higher number of publications is possible depending on time students make available for work in the lab, students’ willingness to seek supplemental funding (with support from Dr. Flinn), and other factors.

Prospective applicants are welcome to contact Dr. Flinn with questions about the lab after reviewing the materials available at the following links. Please note that it is not necessary to contact Dr. Flinn prior to applying for admission, and that pre-application correspondence with Dr. Flinn has no impact on whether your application to the program will result in an offer to interview for the program. Dr. Flinn will be reviewing applications to the program in the upcoming application cycle.

UND Programs

Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program at the University of North Dakota

Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program Requirements

APPLY TO GRADUATE PROGRAMS AT UND

Names in bold identify TSJR Lab Members

  • Cheng, J., Flinn, R.E., Carr, E., Chao, D. (2024, November). How to get involved with APA leadership. Invited presentation for the Committee on Early Career Psychologists, American Psychological Association, online.
  • Tompkins, J., Hibbard, P.F., Flinn, R.E. (2024, September). Pathways to a career in research as a person with lived experience. 4th Annual Rise Up Conference, online.
  • Anderson, S. & Flinn, R.E. (2024, August). Rural and sexual gender minority youth: A research agenda. Poster presented at the 2024 American Psychological Association Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, Division 44.
  • Waagen, T., Flinn, R.E., Hacker, M. (2024, March). Substance use disorder 101: Screening and intervention with physical therapy patients. Invited presentation delivered to Dr. Steven Halcrow’s Prevention, Wellness, and Health Promotion course, Physical Therapy Program. University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota.
  • Flinn, R.E., Taylor, T.O., Cascalheira, C.J. (2024, January). Making way for justice-impacted trainees and colleagues: Dismantling barriers, highlighting progress. Difficult dialogue facilitated at the 2024 National Multicultural Conference and Summit, Santa Fe, NM.

Names in bold identify TSJR Lab Members

  • Flinn, R.E., Estevez, R., Terepka, A., Boot-Haury, J., Abreu, R.L., Dewey, J.M., &  Skerven, K. (Accepted). Trans-Affirmative Psychological Practice is Ethical Practice: Leveraging APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct in Practice and Advocacy. Journal of Counseling Psychology.
  • Flinn, R.E., Taylor, T.O., Custer, B.D., Tietjen, G., Beasley, C.R., Cascalheira, C.J., Hitter, T.L., Abraham, K.M., Hibbard, P.F., Elnakib, M.M., Mendoza, E.B., Jaure, V.B., De La Rue, L., Jackman, K.P., Fuentes, K., Mahaffey, C.C., Redd, B., Holloway, I.W., Beltran, R.M., Bonar, E.E., Wilcox, M.M., & Stepleman, L.M. (2025). Dismantling barriers in professional psychology: Supporting formerly justice-involved students and trainees.Training and Education in Professional Psychology
  • Cioffi, C.C., Flinn, R.E., Pasman, E., Gannon, K., Gold, D., McCabe, S.E., Kepner, W., Tilson, M., Colditz, J.B., Smith, D.C., Bohler, R.M., O’Donnell, J., Hildebran, C., Montgomery, B. W., Clingan, S., & Lofaro, R.J. (2024). Beyond the 5-Year Recovery Mark: Perspectives of Researchers with Lived and Living Expertise on Public Engagement and Discourse. International Journal of Drug Policy, 133, 104599
  • Horn, K., Flinn, R.E., Hagaman, A., Zajac, K., Hoffman, L., Poulsen, M., Cioffi, C., Jean-Berluche, D., Spana, E., Hibbard, P., Drazdowski, T., & Hogue, A. (2025). Systematizing peer recovery support services for substance use disorder: A taxonomy for measuring impact on recovery milestones. Frontiers in Public Health (Section on Substance Use Disorders and Behavioral Addictions).
  • Draheim, A.A., Kridel, M.M., Flinn, R.E., Ravoori, N., Brands, S., Mosley, C., Drescher, C.F., Stepleman, L.M. (2023). Risk factors of homelessness among sexual and gender minorities in the Southeastern U.S. Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness. 
  • Hong, C., Flinn, R. E., Ochoa, A. M., John, S. A., Garth, G., & Holloway, I. W. (2023). Internalized homophobia and social well-being among Black sexual minority men living with HIV: The mediating role of LGBT community connectedness and racial, gender, and sexual identity integration. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. Advance online publication. 
  • Cascalheira, C.J., Nelson, J., Flinn, R.E., Zhao, Y., Helminen, E.C., Scheer, J.R., Stone, A.L. (2023). High-risk polysubstance use among LGBTQ+ people who use drugs in the United States: An application of syndemic theory. International Journal of Drug Policy, 118. 

Funding

Dr. Ryan E. Flinn is supported as a Scholar/Trainee by the following training programs, each of which are funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA):

  • Lifespan/Brown Criminal Justice Research Training Program on Substance Use, HIV, and Comorbidities (R25DA037190)
  • JEAP Initiative (R24DA051950)

TSJR Lab Investigative Team

Dr. Ryan Flinn

Ryan Flinn, PhD 

Principal Investigator & Team Director, TSJR Lab
  • Trauma, Substance Use, Justice System, Recovery Support Services, Sexual and Gender Minorities
  • ryan.flinn@UND.edu

Shaylah Anderson
Shaylah Anderson, MA 
Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student at the University of North Dakota
  • LGBTQ/Queer Mental Health, Rural Mental Health, LGBTQ/Queer Youth, Gender-Affirming Therapy, Multicultural Informed Practice, Social Justice, Social Advocacy, Liberation and Community Psychology, Weight Stigma and Sizeism
    • shaylah.olson@UND.edu

Tiffany Chiu
Tiffany Chiu, BA 
Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student at the University of North Dakota
  • Multicultural Research, Trauma, BIPOC, Rural Populations
  • tiffany.chiu@ndus.edu
Molly Hacker
Molly Hacker, BA 
Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student at the University of North Dakota
  • Mental Illness Stigma, Integrated Behavioral Health, Trauma, Weight Stigma, Rural Mental Health
  • molly.hacker@UND.edu
Ethan Spana
Ethan Spana, BS
Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student at the University of North Dakota
  • Trauma, LGBTQ/Queer Mental Health, Community Psychology, Substance Abuse, Multicultural Psychology 
  • ethan.spana@und.edu

Kate McKinney

Kate McKinney, BS 

Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student at the University of North Dakota
  • Help-Seeking, Substance Use Recovery, LGBTQ+ Youth, College Student Mental Health
  • kate.mckinney@und.edu
Zhihao Tang
Zhihao Tang, MA 
Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student at the University of North Dakota
  • LGBTQ+ Mental Health, International Students' Mental Health, Positive Psychology Interventions, Trauma Recovery and Growth, Posttraumatic Growth, Gratitude
  • zhihao.tang@UND.edu

Kaitlyn Mossett Headshot

Kaitlyn Mossett

Undergraduate Psychology Student at the University of North Dakota
  • Substance Use Recovery, Generational Trauma, Indigenous Mental Health, and Mental Illness Stigma  
  • kaitlyn.mossett@und.edu

Alumni

Chandler Tobeck
Chandler Tobeck, MPH 
Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student at the University of North Dakota
  • Childhood Trauma, Suicide Prevention, Integrated Behavioral Health, Chronic Pain, Health Promotion
  • chandler.tobeck@UND.edu
College of Education & Human Development
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231 Centennial Dr Stop 7189
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College of Education & Human Development

Education Building Room 200
231 Centennial Dr Stop 7189
Grand Forks, ND 58202-7189

und.ehd@UND.edu

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