Catherine Koverola
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Dean, School of Applied Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy
Summary of Education and Relevant Experience
B.S., University of British Columbia; M.A., University of Ontario; M.A. Fuller Theological Seminary School of Theology; Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary School of Psychology.
Catherine Koverola is a clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience in the field of trauma as a clinician, researcher and educator. Prior to becoming Dean of the School of Applied Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy at Antioch University Seattle, Koverola served as Chair of Psychology and Director of the Doctoral Program in Psychology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She was also the founding Director of the Alaska Rural Behavioral Health Training Academy.
Koverola is an accomplished researcher with expertise in the areas of interpersonal victimization and cross cultural issues. She has had extensive experience with the development of innovative multi-disciplinary, comprehensive clinical services both with inner city victimized families as well as in rural settings with indigenous communities. She worked for a number of years among Canadian Aboriginal peoples in Manitoba and Ontario and she served as the first Director of the Village Based Counseling Program at Norton Sound Health Corporation in Nome, Alaska. In addition to her administrative roles, Koverola has front line experience as a clinician and clinical supervisor particularly in delivering services to victimized children and adults.
Affiliations
Selected Publications
Koverola has coauthored over 30 research publications, with most recent work given below.
Koverola, C., Murtaugh, C.*, Reeves, G., Connors, K., & Pappas, M. (in press). "Children exposed to family violence: Predictors of attrition and retention in treatment." Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma.
Koverola, C. (2007). "Perpetuating mother-blaming rhetoric: A commentary." Journal of Child Sexual Abuse 16(1), 137-143.
Pawelko, L.* & Koverola, C., &., (2006). "Children in the crossfire: Impact of exposure to intimate partner violence." in K. Kendall-Tackett & Sarah Giacomoni (Eds.), Intimate Partner Violence, Civic Research Institute.
Panchanadeswaran, S.*, & Koverola, C. (2005). "The voices of battered women in India." Violence Against Women, 11 (6), 736-758.
Koverola, C. Papas, M.A., Pitts, S., Black, M.M., Murtaugh, C.* & Dubowitz, H, (2005), "Longitudinal investigation of the relationship between maternal victimization, depressive symptoms, social support and children's behavior and development." Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 20 (12). 1-24.
*Indicates student co-author.
Professional Presentations and Conference Sessions
Koverola has coauthored over 100 presentations at scientific conferences, with most recent conference presentations given below.
Koverola, C. "Adaptations of Evidence Based Practice in Indigenous Communities." Presented at the National Rural Health Conference, Anchorage, Alaska, May, 2007.
Koverola, C. & Rasmus, S.R. "An Indigenous Approach to Mental Health Service Delivery in Alaska." Presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Toronto, Ontario, November, 2005.
Koverola, C., Deters, P., & Rasmus, S.M.* "Community Based Participatory Research in Alaska Native Villages." Presented at the International Network of Indigenous Providers Conference, Vancouver, B.C., October 2005.
Koverola, C. "Navigating the Challenges of Traumatized Children in Rural Settings." Workshop presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Professional Association on the Abuse of Children, New Orleans, LA, June, 2005.
Koverola, C., Pappas, M.A., Murtaugh, C*., Connors, K., & Reeves, G. "Impact of Child Abuse Reporting on Treatment Engagement and Retention." Presented at the Annual American Psychological Association Convention, Honolulu, Hawaii, August 2004.
Koverola, C. "Vicarious trauma: When you just can't leave it at work." Presented at 3rd Annual Vancouver Trauma Conference. Vancouver, B.C., June 2004.
*Indicates student co-presenter.
Awards and Recognition
Alaska Psychological Association, Achievement of a Lifetime Award, 2006
Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Community Psychology, Cited by the Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce as an innovative and exceptional workforce program, 2006
UAF Dean's Award for Distinguished Service, 2005
Professional Service
Grants and Contracts
Received over 4 million dollars in grants & contracts, with most recent given below.
State of Alaska, Division of Health and Human Services. Cross Cultural Competency Training: Pilot Program. Principal Investigator (2007). $30,000.
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, Alaska Rural Behavioural Health Training Academy: Module Development, Principal Investigator (2006), $50,000.
Behavioural Health Partnership. Alaska Rural Behavioural Health Training Academy, Principal Investigator, (2005-2007) $700,000.
National Institute of Mental Health., Wellness Teams and Children’s Mental Health in Alaska, 1R34MH074601-01, Principal Investigator, (2005-2007) $664,000
National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, People Awakening Resilience Program (PARP), R-21 1R21AA015541 Role Co-Investigator with Principal Investigator G.V. Mohatt, (2005-2007) $413,600.
Professional Interests
Koverola's areas of expertise include: vicarious trauma, assessment and treatment of trauma, child abuse and intrafamilial homicide, domestic violence, sexual assault, intergenerational violence, suicide, forensic psychology, ethics of rural practice and cross cultural practice. Her current area of research is children's mental health and indigenous approaches to wellness in Alaska Native communities using a community based participatory research model.
On Interest Area
"As a clinical psychologist I have had incredible opportunities to be engaged in service and advocacy on behalf of those whose lives have been broken by violence and oppression. I've worked in the trenches as a clinician, behind the scenes as a researcher to find better ways to deliver our services and in the classroom as an educator
training clinicians and researchers to do this same work. Now as a university administrator I have the privilege of providing leadership to educators who are training clinicians to bring hope to individuals, families and communities."
On Being at Antioch
"Nowhere in my career have I had the opportunity to work with such a passionate group of professionals truly committed to social justice and making a difference in the lives of people in need. The community at Antioch inspires me everyday."
Contact Information
School of Applied Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy
206-268-4810
E-mail
