Team

Dr. Ruby Charak received her Ph.D. in Clinical and Developmental Psychology from the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 2015 under the supervision of Dr. Hans M. Koot. She was a postdoctoral scholar and data manager/analyst in the Department of Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2014-2016 under the mentorship of Dr. David DiLillo. In 2016, Dr. Charak joined the UTRGV faculty. Before embarking on her doctoral research journey, she was an Assistant Professor (tenured) at the Department of Psychology, University of Jammu, India. She is currently an Associate Professor (tenured) and the director of the UTRGV Adversities in Childhood and Trauma Studies (ACT) Lab.

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Lab Director
Department of Psychological Science
Email: ruby.charak@utrgv.edu
ELAB 361

Inés is a Ph.D. candidate in Clinical Psychology at UTRGV, with a background in in Criminal Profiling and Forensic Psychology. Her research pursuits revolve around the intricacies of traumatic stress, with a particular focus on topics like PTSD, intimate partner violence, childhood maltreatment, justice involved youth and the unique stressors faced by minority populations. In her scholarly journey, she constantly seeks to bridge gaps in the existing literature by incorporating innovative research techniques and advance statistics. A prime example of this is her dissertation, which entailed a mixed-method study aimed at unraveling the complex interplay of problematic technology use and transdiagnostic approaches in the realm of cyber intimate partner violence (IPV). She has 10 publications in peer-review journals and over 30 conference presentations on these topics.

In her clinical endeavors, Inés is driven by a passion for delivering evidence-based therapies to vulnerable populations who have endured trauma and adverse experiences. She aspires to break down barriers to mental health access and ensure the provision of high-quality services to those in need. Her clinical experiences span diverse age groups, encompassing the treatment of the lasting effects of childhood trauma and the support of at-risk youth who have grappled with prolonged stressors. In addition, she is keen on expanding her expertise in evidence-based treatments for adults exposed to trauma with variety of mental health outcomes.

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Publications in peer review journals (Total: 10)

Cano-Gonzalez, I., Charak, R., Cantu, J., & Ronzon-Tirado, R. (2023). The role of complex PTSD in the associations between minority stressors and suicide behavior among LGBTQ+ adults. Traumatology. Accepted Charak, R., Cano-Gonzalez, I., & Ronzon-Tirado, R., Schmitz, R., M. Tabler, J., Karsberg, S., & Ford, J. (2023). LGBTQ+ identity related abuse childhood and associations with depression and suicide behavior in adulthood: role of heterosexism and emotional suppression. Child abuse and Neglect, 145, 106433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106433 Ronzón-Tirado, R., Cano-González, I., & Charak, R. (2023). Daily heterosexist experiences in LGBTQ+ adults from Spain: Validation, prevalence, and clinical implications. Psychosocial Intervention, 32(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.5093/pi2022a15 Charak, R., Cano-Gonzalez, I., Ronzón-Tirado, R., Ford, J. D., Byllesby, B. M., Shevlin, M., Karatzias, T., Hyland, P., & Cloitre, M. (2023). Factor structure of the international trauma questionnaire in trauma exposed LGBTQ+ adults: Role of cumulative traumatic events and minority stress heterosexist experiences. Psychological trauma: Theory, research, practice and policy, 15(4), 628–636. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001440 Cano-Gonzalez, I., Charak, R., Chen, P. & Cantos, A. (2022). Patterns, risk factors, and mental health correlates of cyber intimate partner violence in Hispanic emerging adults. Journal of Family Violence, 38, 941–952. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-022-00434-1 Ronzón-Tirado, R., Charak, R., Cano-Gonzalez, I., Karsberg, S., & Schnarrs, P. W. (2021). Latent Classes of Bidirectional Face-to-Face and Cyber Intimate Partner Violence Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Emerging Adults: The Role of Minority Stressors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 8862605211055158. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211055158 Charak, R., Cano-Gonzalez, I., Shevlin, M., Ben-Ezra, M., Karatzias, T., & Hyland, P. (2021). Dimensional latent structure of ICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder, complex PTSD, and adjustment disorder: Evidence from Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria. Traumatology.  Cano-Gonzalez, I., Charak, R., Gilbar, O., Racionero-Viñas, R., & Strait, M. K. (2020). Witnessing parental violence and intimate partner cyber IPV perpetration in Hispanic emerging adults: The mediating role of attitudes towards IPV. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Advance online publication. Doi:10.1177/0886260520975834  Hsieh, C., Charak, R., Cano-Gonzalez, I., Gonzalez, L. Roley-Roberts, M., & Hovey, J. D. (2020). Perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness influence the childhood polyvictimization and suicide ideation association among Hispanic undergraduates. Death Studies.   https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2020.1846227 Cano-González, I., Racionero, R. V., Verde, M. Á. S., & Scalora, M. J. (2018). Obssesive relational intrusion y percepcion del acoso en estudiantes universitarios españoles. In Psicología jurídica: ciencia y profesión (pp. 69-84). Sociedad Española de Psicología Jurídica y Forense.

Professional Presentations

Oral presentations (12)

Charak, R. Cano-Gonzalez, I., & Ronzon-Tirado, R. (November, 2023). Intimate partner violence and traumatic stress reactions in LGBTQ+ adults from Spain: A mixed method approach. Symposium to be presented at the 39th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Los Angeles, CA. Razo, G., Cano-Gonzalez, I., Ronzon-Tirado, R., & Charak, R. (2022, November). Childhood LGBTQ+ identity related- and sexual abuse, and depression and suicidal behavior in LGBTQ+ adults from Spain: role of heterosexism and expressive suppression. In P. Schnarrs (Chair), Exposure to adversity and heterosexism in early life: impact on sexual and gender minority adult mental health.  Symposium presented at the 38th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Atlanta, GA. Cano-Gonzalez, I., Charak, R. & Ronzon-Tirado, R. (2022, March). Associations Between Traumatic Experiences, Minority Stressors, and Suicidal Behavior in LGBTQ+ Adults from Spain: The Role of Complex PTSD. Clinically Relevant Cognitive and Affective Factors to Consider in the Development and Maintenance of PTSD and Depression Symptom Severity in Trauma-exposed Individuals. Symposium presented at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) Conference, Denver, Colorado. Cano-Gonzalez, I., Ronzon-Tirado, R., Karsberg, S.& Charak, R. (2021, November). Latent Classes of Bidirectional Face-to-Face and Cyber Intimate Partner Violence among Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) Emerging Adults: The Role of LGB-related Minority Stressors. Using a Minority Stress Framework to Understand the Psychological and Physical Impact of Responses to Trauma and Discrimination among LGBTQ Populations. Symposium presented at the 37h Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), online due to Covid-19 restrictions. Razo, G., Trujillo, O., Cano-Gonzalez, I., Hsieh, C., & Charak, R. (2021, April). The mediating effect of sibling aggression on the association between childhood maltreatment and adulthood intimate partner perpetration. Oral talk presented at the Annual Convention of the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), online due to covid-19 restrictions. Cano-Gonzalez, I., Flores, A., & Charak, R., (2020, November). The mediating role of attitude towards violence in the association between witnessing parental violence and cyber intimate partner perpetration in Hispanic emerging adults. R. Charak (Chair), Exploring Cyber IPV as a Potential Source of Trauma Exposure and Related Posttraumatic Reactions Symposium presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), online due to Covid-19 restrictions. Cano-González, I., Cantu, J., Hsieh, C., Trujillo, O., Viñas-Racionero, R. & Charak, R., (2019, July). Exposure to IPV during childhood and the association with perpetration: Differences across gender. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Viñas-Racionero, R., Seemann, J., Cano-González, I., Scalora, M, &Soria-Verde, MA. (2019, March). One size does not fit all: Experiences of stalking among Spanish and American college students. Paper presented at the American Psychology-Law Society Annual Conference 2019, Portland, Oregon. Cano-González, I; Cantu, J.; Viñas-Racionero, R.; Charak, R. (2018, November). Intimate Partner Aggression on college population: prevalence and factors related. Paper presented at the XI Congreso (Inter) Nacional de Psicología Jurídica y Forense [XI (Inter) National Congress of Judicial and Forensic Psychology], Granada, Spain Cano-González, I.; Viñas-Racionero, R.; Soria-Verde, M.A. &Scalora, M.  (2018, November). Acoso y Obsessive Relational Intrusion en población universitaria española[Stalking and Obsessive Relational Intrusion in college population.]. Paper presented at the XI Congress (Inter) Nacional de Psicología Jurídica y Forense [XI (Inter) National Congress of Judicial and Forensic Psychology], Granada, Spain. Cano-González, I., Viñas-Racionero, R., Soria-Verde, M.A., Scalora, M., & Figues, N. (2017). Acoso y Obsessive Relational Intrusion en población universitaria Española [Stalking and obsessive relational intrusion in Spanish college populations]. Paper presented at the X Congreso (Inter) Nacional de Psicología Jurídica y Forense [X (Inter) National Congress of Judicial and Forensic Psychology], Seville, Spain Cano-González, I., Viñas-Racionero, R. &Soria,  M. (2017) Relación entre   y acoso en estudiantes de la Universitat de Barcelona [Relationship between physical aggression and stalking on college students of the University of Barcelona]. In Soria (chair), Experiencias de victimización de los estudiantes de la UB en situaciones de acoso, hostigamiento y coerción sexual [Victimization´s experience of college student from the University of Barcelona on stalking, harassment and sexual coercion situations].  Symposium conducted at the University of Barcelona, Equality Commission, Barcelona.

Poster presentations (20)

Cano-Gonzalez, I.,  Bhattacharya, S., Ronzon-Tirado, R., Charak, R.,and  Byllesby, B. (2023, November). Pathways between PTSD/CPTSD and depression in LGBTQ adults: Understanding Comorbidity with Network Analysis. Poster to be presented at the 39th International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Los Angeles, CA. Cantu, J. I., Cano-Gonzalez, I., & Charak, R. (2023, November). Posttraumatic stress symptoms relation with problematic smartphone use: Mediating roles of emotion dysregulation and fear of missing out. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) 39th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA. Galdamez, M. B., Cano-Gonzalez, I., and Charak, R. (2023, November). Patterns of resilience in LGBTQIA+ adults with interpersonal trauma: A latent class analysis. Poster to be presented at the 39th International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Los Angeles, CA. Galdamez, M. B., Cano-Gonzalez, I., and Charak, R. (2023, November). Examining behavioral health outcomes in LGBTQIA+ adults: The role of resiliency factors across social-ecological levels. Poster to be presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), Seattle, Washington. Galdamez, M., Cano-Gonzalez, I., Tirado, R., & Charak, R. (2022, November). The role of PTSD and minority stress in suicidal behavior among LGBTQ+ adults. Poster presented at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), New York City, NY. Duran, D., Cano-Gonzalez, I., Charak, R. & Ronzon-Tirado, R. (2022, November) The Impact of LGBTQ+ Identity-Related Abuse during Childhood on Mental Health Outcomes: The Indirect Effect of Heterosexism and Expressive Suppression.  Poster presented at the Association Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), New York, NY.   Cano-Gonzalez, I., Ronzon-Tirado, R.  & Charak, R. (2022, November).  Daily Heterosexist Experiences and Mental Health in LGBTQ+ Adults from Spain. Poster presented at the Association Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), New York, NY. Cano-Gonzalez, I., Ronzon-Tirado, R., Byllesby, B. & Charak. (2021, November). Latent Class Analysis of Bidirectional Cyber Intimate Partner Perpetration and Victimization and its Impact on Alcohol Use in Hispanic Emerging Adults. Poster presented at the 37h Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), online due to Covid-19 restrictions. Flores, A., Cano-Gonzalez, I., & Charak, R. (2021, November). The mediating role of proactive and reactive sibling aggression in the associations between witnessing parental violence and perpetration of partner violence. Poster presenteded to the 55th Annual Meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), online due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions Copeiro De Lestarpe, M., +Cano-Gonzalez, I., & Charak, R. (2021, April). Violence acceptancy as a mediator between childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Southwestern Psychological Association, online due to covid-19 restrictions. Cano-Gonzalez, I., & Charak, R. (2021, November). Latent class Analysis of Cyber Intimate Partner Perpetration and Victimization in Hispanic Emerging Adults: The Role of Traumatic Experiences During Childhood and Mental Health Outcomes. Poster presented at the Association Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) online due to Covid-19 restrictions. Cano-Gonzalez, I., Charak, R., Shevlin, M., Ben-Ezra, M., Karatzias, T., & Hyland, P. (2020, November). Dimensional structure of adjustment disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and complex posttraumatic stress disorder in Africa. Poster presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), online due to Covid-19 restrictions. Flores, A., Charak, R., Cano-Gonzalez, I., & Chen J. (2020, November). Use of machine learning in estimating the predictability of proximal and distal risk and protective factors of cyber sexual perpetration in intimate partner relationships. Poster presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), online due to Covid-19 restrictions. Flores, A., Cano-Gonzalez, I., & Charak, R. (2020, November). The mediating role of anger and depression in the association between intimate partner cyber sexual victimization and alcohol use. Poster presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), online due to Covid-19 restrictions. Tubraiz, M., Trujillo, O., Razo, G., Cano-Gonzalez, I., Hsieh, C., & Charak, R. (2020, November). Anxiety sensitivity as a mediator between PTSD and suicidal behavior in Hispanic young adults. Poster presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), online due to Covid-19 restrictions. Cano-González, I., Cantu, J., Hsieh, C., Trujillo, O., Viñas-Racionero, R. & Charak, R. (2019, November). Mediating effect of attitudes towards abuse on the association between childhood sexual abuse and adulthood sexual violence in intimate partner: Differences across gender. Poster presented at the 35th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Boston, United States. Garcia, H., Cano-González, I., Strait, M., Charak, R. Mediation effect of emotional dysregulation in the association between witnessing parental violence and cyber-perpetration in adulthood. Poster presented at the 35th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Boston, United States. Cano-González, I., Viñas-Racionero, R., Charak, R., Soria-Verde, M.A., Scalora, M., & Del Campo-Bernal, C. (2019, July). Adaptation and Validation of the Obsessive Relational Intrusion – Victimization Short Form in Spanish college population. Poster presented at the Annual Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. del Campo-Bernal, C., Viñas-Racionero, R., Cano-González, I., Soria-Verde, MA., & Scalora, M. (2019, July). Gender based differences in stalking perpetration behaviors in a Spanish college sample. Poster presented at the Annual Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law 2019, Santiago de Compostela, Spain   Cano-González, I., Cantu, J., Charak, R., & Viñas-Racionero, R. (2019, June). Mediation effect of attitudes toward intimate partner abuse in the relation between childhood maltreatment and intimate partner cybervictimization among emerging adults. Poster presented at the 16th European Society of Traumatic Stress Studies Annual Conference (ESTSS), Rotterdam, Netherlands.

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Ph.D. Candidate
Department of Psychological Science
Email: ines.canogonzlez01@utrgv.edu
ELAB 325

Ayleen is joining the lab as a PhD student in the 2nd year cohort of the Clinical Psychology Program. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in the Spring of 2020 from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her research interests include childhood maltreatment, sibling aggression, sibling relationships within a domestic violence context, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and cyberperpetration of violence. Her goal is to develop her bilingual skills and become licensed as a Clinical Psychologist that could serve both English and Spanish speaking populations.

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Ph.D. Student
Department of Psychological Science
Email: ayleen.flores01@utrgv.edu

Jorge is a third year Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology. His research interests are in trauma- and stress-related disorders and comorbid disorders, and network modeling to inform clinical practice and theory construction. Specific topics include theory, nosology, comorbidity frameworks, traumatic experience (including interpersonal violence), and risk and protective factors as they relate to preventive measures and therapeutic components. His research also concerns cyberpsychology, specifically investigating the validity of internet use disorder and potentially problematic online activity as risk of psychopathology.  

Publication in Peer Review Journals

1. Cano-Gonzalez, I., Charak, R., Ronzon-Tirado, R., & Cantu, J. I. (2023). The role of complex PTSD in the associations between minority stressors and self-reported suicide likelihood in LGBTQ+ adults. Traumatology. (impact factor: 3.2).
2. Schmitz, R. M., Tabler, J., Charak, R., Cantu, J. I., González, C., & Schmitz, J. (2023). Minority stress, technology, and LGBTQ+ people’s experiences and outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services (5-year impact factor 1.7).
3. Cantu, J. I., Charak, R., Popan, J., & Cantos, A. (2023). Cognitive reappraisal as a protective factor in the associations between cyber intimate partner victimization and depression in Hispanic emerging adults. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 32(1-2), 71-87.org/10.1080/10926771.2022.2112331 (5-year impact factor 2.3)
4. Gilbar, O., Charak, R., Trujillo, O., Cantu, J. I., Cavazos, V., & Lavi, I. (2023). A meta-analysis of cyber intimate partner violence: its associations to face-to-face intimate partner violence and how it reflects gendered intimate partner violence. Trauma, Violence, and Abuse, 24(30), 1948-1965. doi.org/10.1177/15248380221082087 (5-year impact factor: 7.4).
5. Trujillo, O., Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2020). Unique and additive effects of intimate partner cybervictimization types on alcohol use in lesbian, gay, and bisexual emerging adults. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 23(11), 743-751.org/10.1089/cyber.2019.0773 (impact factor[2022] 6.6)
6. Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2020). Unique, additive, and interactive effects of types of intimate partner cybervictimization on depression in Hispanic emerging adults. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(1-2), 375-399. doi.org/10.1177/0886260520915552. (5-year impact factor: 2.7)

Research Presentation

1. Cantu, J. I., Cano-Gonzalez, I., & Charak, R. (2023, November). Posttraumatic stress symptoms relation with problematic smartphone use: mediating roles of emotion dysregulation and fear of missing out. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) 39^th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA.
2. Cantu, J. I., Charak, R., Glikman, O., Hyland, P., & Cloitre, M. (2022, November). The relative importance of PTSD versus DSO symptoms in ICD-11 CPTSD across racial/ethnic minorities in a United states nationally representative sample. In M. Cloitre (Chair), A multidimensional examination of the role of disturbance in self-organization in ICD-11 complex PTSD. Symposium presented at the 38^th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Atlanta, GA.
3. Cantu, J. I & Charak, R. (2021, November). The protective effect of cognitive reappraisal on depression associated with single and multiple cyber intimate partner violence victimization in Hispanic emerging adults. Poster presented to the 37^th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), online due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
4. Cano-Gonzalez, I., Cantu, J. I., Hsieh, C., Trujillo, O., Racionero-Viñas, R., & Charak, R. (2019, November). Mediating effect of attitude towards abuse on the association between childhood sexual abuse and adulthood sexual violence in intimate partners: Differences across gender. Poster presented at the 35^th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Boston, MA.
5. Trujillo, O., Villarreal, L., Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2019, November). The mediating role of anger in the association between childhood maltreatment and intimate partner cyberperpetration in Hispanic young adults. Poster presented at the 35^th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Boston, MA.
6. Trujillo, O., Villarreal, L., Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2019, November). The mediating role of anger in the association between childhood maltreatment and intimate partner cyberperpetration in Hispanic young adults. Poster presented at the 35^th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Boston, MA.
7. Cano-Gonzalez, Charak, R., Cantu, J. I., & Racionero-Viñas, R. (2019, June). Mediation effect of attitude towards intimate partner abuse in the relation between childhood maltreatment and intimate partner cybervictimization among emerging adults. Poster presented at the 16^th European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS), Rotterdam, Netherlands.
8. Trujillo, O., Villarreal, L., Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2019, April). The association between online sexual victimization and alcohol use among lesbian, gay and bisexual emerging adults. Poster presented at the 2019 UTRGV Engaged Scholar Symposium, Edinburg, TX.
9. Maciel, J., Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2019, March). Childhood maltreatment and microaggression faced by lesbian, gay, and bisexual people of color compared to their white non-hispanic counterparts. Poster presented at the 2019 Conference on Interpersonal Violence and Trauma, Edinburg, TX.
10. Trujillo, O., Villarreal, L., Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2019, April). Cybersexual victimization and its association with alcohol use among lesbian, gay and bisexual emerging adults. Poster presented at the 2019 Conference on Interpersonal Violence and Trauma, Edinburg, TX.
11. Villarreal, L., Hsieh, C., Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2018, November). Sexual orientation outness and its association with anxiety among gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals: Serial mediation of daily heterosexism and emotion dysregulation. Poster session presented at the 52^nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), Washington DC.
12. Cantu, J. I., Charak, R., Hsieh, C., Arellano, S., Dominguez, G., & Seligman, L. (2018, November). Additive and interactive effects of cybervictimization types on depression among Hispanic emerging adults. Poster session presented at the 52^nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), Washington DC.
13. Trujillo, O., Villarreal, L., Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2018, November). Technology-mediated sexual victimization and its association with alcohol use among lesbian, gay and bisexual emerging adults. Poster session presented at the 52^nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), Washington DC.
14. Charak, R., Villarreal, L., Cantu, J. I., & Erwin, M. C. (2018, November). Three-step latent classes of childhood maltreatment, and intimate partner aggression: Differences in emotion dysgregulation, anxiety, and depression. In A. McConnell (Chair), Sexual and gender minorities elevated vulnerability for interpersonal trauma: Patterns, risk factors, and outcomes. Symposium presented at the 34^th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Washington DC.
15. Villarreal, L., Hsieh, C., Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2018, November). Association between polyvictimization and alcohol use in gay, lesbian, and bisexual people: The mediating role of domains of emotion dysregulation. Poster session presented at the 34^th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Washington DC.
16. Cano-Gonzalez, I., Cantu, J. I., Viñas, R., & Charak, R. (2018, November). Intimate partner aggression in college population: prevalence and related factors. Poster session presented at the 11^th International Congress of Legal and Forensic Psychology, Granada, Spain.
17. De La Fuente, A., Cantu, J. I., Arellano, S., & Charak, R. (2018, September). Relation between sexual perpetration by an intimate partner, and related guilt and shame proneness in Hispanic emerging adults. Poster session presented at the Rio Grande Valley Mental Health Coalition Conference, Edinburg, Texas.
18. Cantu, J. I., Gonzalez, L., Villarreal, L., Hsieh, C., Ortiz, R., & Charak, R. (2017, November). Recent exposure to cybervictimization types perpetrated by an intimate partner, and their accumulating effect on depression among young adults. Poster session presented at the 33^rd Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Chicago, Illinois.

Invited Talk

1. Charak, R., Cantu, J. I., & Villarreal, L. (2019, April). Writing an academic journal article: a mentor-mentee perspective. Invited talk at the UTRGV Center for Teaching Excellence, Edinburg, Texas.

 

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Ph.D. Student
Department of Psychological Science
Email: jorge.i.cantu01@utrgv.edu
ELABN 325

Maricela is a third-year student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in the Spring of 2018 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research interests include intimate partner violence, minority stress, adverse lifetime experiences, and resilience in LGBTQIA+ individuals. Currently, Maricela is leading three research studies in the lab. One of the studies is an Ecological Momentary Assessment exploring associations between minority stress, intimate partner violence, mental health, and relationship satisfaction in Latinx female-partnering women’s relationships. In the second study, Maricela is assessing predictors of resilience and mental health outcomes of LGBTQIA+ individuals who have experienced trauma using a social-ecological framework of resilience. The third study seeks to examine perceptions of violence severity, help-seeking behavior, and resources made available to victims in homosexual and heterosexual intimate partner violence scenarios. Her goal is to continue conducting research in her areas of interest and become a licensed Clinical Psychologist.

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Ph.D. Student
Department of Psychological Science
Email: maricela.galdamez01@utrgv.edu
ELABN 325

Claire graduated from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Spring 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, minoring in Gender/Women’s Studies and Asian Studies. A member of the ACT Lab since 2017, she has been a part of many projects involving childhood victimization and negative mental health outcomes in racial/ethnic minorities and sexual/gender diverse populations. She is currently involved in projects examining the relationship of childhood polyvictimization on suicide ideation in Hispanic emerging adults, the effect of various lifetime adversities on negative psychological outcomes in lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults, and resiliency in the LGBTQ+ individuals. With a special interest in highlighting historically underserved and underrepresented populations, she hopes to further contribute to literature and help create more inclusive spaces for marginalized communities.

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

• Villarreal, L., Charak, R., Schmitz, R., Hsieh, C., and Ford, J.D., (2020). "The relationship between sexual orientation outness, heterosexism, emotional dysregulation, and alcohol use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health. Advance online publication. doi.10.1080/19359705.2020.1809588

POSTERS

1. Hsieh, C., Gonzalez, L., Ramos, K., Elhai D, Jon., & Charak, R. (2018, November). Association between childhood interpersonal victimization and suicidal behavior in a predominantly latinx college-student sample: mediating role of domains of emotion dysregulation. ISTSS Student Poster Award Finalist. Poster session presented at the 34th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Washington DC.
2. Hsieh, C., Gonzalez, L., Roley-Roberts E, M., Elhai D, Jon., & Charak, R. (2018, November). The role of the interpersonal theory of suicide in the association between childhood polyvictimization and suicide ideation. Poster session presented at the 34th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Washington DC.
3. Hsieh, C., Maciel, J., Erwin, M. C., Cano-Gonzalez, I., & Charak, R. (2019, November). The Mediating Role of Dimensions of Rumination in the association between PTSD and Suicidal Behavior in a Predominantly Hispanic Sample of Emerging Adults. Poster session presented at the 35th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Boston, Massachusetts.
4. Hsieh, C., Villarreal, L., Trujillo, O., & Charak, R. (2019, November) The Serial Mediating Role of Daily Heterosexism and Emotion Dysregulation on the Association between Sexual Orientation Outness and Alcohol Use Among Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Emerging Adults. Poster session presented at the 35th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Boston, Massachusetts.
5. Maciel, J., Hsieh, C., & Charak, R. (2019, November). The Association between Childhood Maltreatment and Alcohol-use in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual-People of Color: The Mediating Role of Emotional Dysregulation. Poster session presented at the 35th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Boston, Massachusetts.
6. Cano-Gonzalez, I., Cantu, J., Hsieh, C., Trujillo, O., Viñas-Racionero, R., & Charak, R. (2019, November) Mediating Effect of Attitudes towards Abuse on the Association between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Adulthood Sexual Violence in Intimate Partner: Differences across Gender. Poster session presented at the 35th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Boston, Massachusetts.
7. Hsieh, C., Trujillo, O., Cantu, J., & Charak, R. (2019, November). The Effect of Childhood Victimization and Anger on Suicidal Behavior among a Predominantly Hispanic Sample of Emerging Adults. Poster session presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies 53rd Annual Convention, Atlanta, Georgia.
8. Trujillo, O., Hsieh, C., Villarreal, L., Christ, N., & Charak, R. (2019, November). Mexican Identity and its Association with Suicidal Behavior among Mexican-descent Emerging Adults. Poster session presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies 53rd Annual Convention, Atlanta, Georgia.
9. *Hsieh, C., *Villarreal, L., & Charak, R. (2018, November). Effect of micro-aggression faced by gay, lesbian, and bisexual people of color on alcohol-use: The mediating role of emotion dysregulation. Poster session presented at the 52^nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), Washington DC.
10. *Villarreal, L., *Hsieh, C., ⁺Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2018, November). Sexual orientation outness and its association with anxiety among gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals: Serial mediation of daily heterosexism and emotion dysregulation. Poster session presented at the 52^nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), Washington DC.
11. ⁺Cantu, J. I., Charak, R., *Hsieh, C., ⁺Arellano, S., *Dominguez, G., & Seligman, L. (2018, November). Additive and interactive effects of cybervictimization types on depression among Hispanic emerging adults. Poster session presented at the 52^nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), Washington DC.
12. ⁺Gonzalez, L., *Hsieh, C., Roley-Roberts, M. E., Hovey, J. D., & Charak, R. (2018, November). Association between childhood victimization types on suicide ideation and attempts in a sample of predominantly latinx young adults: The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide. Poster session presented at the 52^nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), Washington DC.
13. *Villarreal, L., *Hsieh, C., ⁺Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2018, November). Association between polyvictimization and alcohol use in gay, lesbian, and bisexual people: The mediating role of domains of emotion dysregulation. Poster session presented at the 34^th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Washington DC.
14. *Villarreal, L., *Hsieh, C., & Charak, R. (2018, November). Serial mediation between sexual orientation outness, daily heterosexism, emotion dysregulation, and alcohol-use in gay, lesbian, and bisexual individual. Poster session presented at the 34^th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Washington DC.
15. *Villarreal, L., *Hsieh, C., & Charak, R. (2018, November). Serial mediation between sexual orientation outness, daily heterosexism, emotion dysregulation, and alcohol-use in gay, lesbian, and bisexual individual. Poster session presented at the 34^th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Washington DC.
16. ⁺Cantu, J. I., ⁺Gonzalez, L., *Villarreal, L., *Hsieh, C., *Ortiz, R., & Charak, R. (2017, November). Recent exposure to cybervictimization types perpetrated by an intimate partner, and their accumulating effect on depression among young adults. Poster session presented at the 33^rd Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Chicago, Illinois.

 

 

 

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Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Psychological Science
Email: claire.hsieh01@utrgv.edu
ELABN 325

Gisselle Razo is an undergraduate student who is double majoring in Psychology and Logistics and minoring in Criminal Justice at UTRGV. Her current research interests are in Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders in children and sexual assault survivors, and stigmas pertaining to mental health within the Latinx community. She aspires to use the knowledge gained to aide her in her practice to help and treat those with traumatic experiences. She aspires to receive an MA in Clinical Psychology and also a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. She hopes to open up her own practice one day. She also aspires to become an advocate and provider of services for sexual assault survivors.

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Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Psychological Science
Email: gisselle.razo01@utrgv.edu
ELAB 325

Zeina Hammami is an undergraduate student in the Mathematics and Science Academy majoring in Psychology and minoring in Rehabilitation. She plans to become a Clinical Psychologist in the future, with goals to create affordable, quality mental health care to underserved areas in America .In addition, she plans to destigmatize mental illness in both the Muslim and Arab community. Her interests include harm reduction techniques for those struggling with addition and the effect of childhood distress on suicidal behavior. 

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Undergraduate Research Assistant
Department of Psychological Science
Email: zeina.hammami01@utrgv.edu