Jessica L Chou

I am a family therapist whose work centers on community-based research with marginalized populations. My research aims to advance understanding of prevention, treatment, and recovery support processes among women and families impacted by substance use disorders (SUDs), as well as the training experiences of couple and family therapists. My emphasis on family-centered approaches to substance use treatment is grounded in my professional experience within a gender-specific community organization, where I contributed to research, program development, and program evaluation. This work underscored the critical role of family systems and community-informed interventions in supporting recovery outcomes. My current research agenda includes examining barriers and facilitators to engaging family members in treatment for women with opioid use disorders, exploring experiences of racial trauma on recovery among mothers with SUDs, and identifying family-centered considerations for women with SUDs reentering the community. My teaching interests include family therapy models, trauma-informed care and practices, and the supervision of couple and family therapists.