Date of Award
Summer 8-22-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Psychology
Organizational Unit
College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Psychology
First Advisor
Ruth Chao
Second Advisor
Julia Roncoroni
Third Advisor
Shimelis Assefa
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans (APIDAs) are the fastest growing racial group in the United States, yet they remain significantly underrepresented in the field of psychology and notably absent from research examining the professional experiences of racial and ethnic minority clinicians. Existing scholarship has documented the prevalence of racialized organizational structures, microaggressions, and the enduring “model minority” stereotype that both obscures and exacerbates APIDA challenges in professional environments. However, no known published studies have investigated the non–client-facing experiences of APIDA psychologists working in predominantly White counseling settings. The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to explore how APIDA psychologists make sense of these environments, the challenges they encounter, the coping and resilience strategies they employ, and the meaning they derive from persisting in these settings.
Five licensed APIDA psychologists participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews exploring their lived experiences across personal, interpersonal, organizational, and sociocultural domains. Interview transcripts were analyzed using IPA to identify patterns of meaning across participants while honoring individual nuance. Four major themes emerged: (1) Navigating Cultural Stigma and Familial Expectations: internalized pressures, career-related tensions, and culturally shaped norms around emotional expression; (2) Challenges in Predominantly White Settings: isolation, invisibility, microaggressions, and the burden of assimilation and overperformance; (3) Coping, Resilience, and Meaning Making: culturally grounded coping strategies, community support, professional advocacy, and the intertwining of identity with purpose; and (4) Hope for Systemic and Institutional Change: reflecting participants’ visions for equitable environments, meaningful DEI efforts, and redefinitions of success in psychology.
Findings illuminate a central dialectic: APIDA psychologists experience both harm and resilience as inseparable, co-occurring forces. Their persistence does not signal the absence of systemic barriers but instead underscores the substantial emotional and cultural labor required to navigate them. This study extends existing literature by documenting the underexamined experiences of APIDA psychologists and by identifying culturally informed strategies and structural reforms necessary to support their wellbeing and professional flourishing. Implications for APIDA psychologists, predominantly White organizations, and training and education are discussed, along with limitations and recommendations for future research.
Copyright Date
8-2026
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Shaun A. Fossett
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
140 pgs
File Size
529 KB
Recommended Citation
Fossett, Shaun A., "Pushing Forward: The Dialectical Experiences of APIDA Psychologists in Predominantly White Counseling Settings" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2767.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2767