Laura Captari
Part-Time Instructor
Dr. Laura E. Captari is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Counseling Psychology & Applied Human Development at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. She is also an academic researcher and staff psychologist at the Albert & Jessie Danielsen Institute at Boston University, where she conducts psychotherapy research, supervises clinical fellows, and works with patients.
Dr. Captari brings specialized training in integrating relational, psychoanalytic, trauma-focused, and group therapeutic approaches through a culturally responsive lens. Her research and clinical interests include the developmental and relational impacts of complex trauma, disaster, and loss across the lifespan, with attention to intersectionality, spirituality, the mind-body connection, and culturally embedded strengths that can serve as pathways to resilience and flourishing. She is particularly interested in change processes and holistic outcomes in psychotherapy. Her research also explores formation-focused approaches to professional well-being and burnout prevention among therapists and helping professionals.
Dr. Captari speaks and publishes regularly as part of her passion for engaging community settings. She is on the editorial boards of Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, and Practice and Spirituality in Clinical Practice, and is coauthor of the forthcoming book, Trauma and the Family: A Systemic Approach to Assessment and Intervention.
Pronouns: she/her
Education
PhD, Counseling Psychology: Child and Family Emphasis, University of North Texas
MA, Psychology, University of North Texas
MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Liberty University
BA, English, Liberty University
BA, Psychology, Liberty University
Courses
CE 746 Clinical Practice
Selected Publications
Tesfai, A., Captari, L. E., Meyer-Weitz, A., & Cowden, R. G. (2024). Coping resources among forced migrants in South Africa: Exploring the role of character strengths in adjustment and flourishing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(1), 50-66. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010050
Captari, L. E. & Eubanks, C. (2023). Alliance ruptures and repairs. In A. Compare, G. A. Tasca, B. Poletti, & L. Pievani. Manuale per la Formazione in Psicoterapia Integrata: una Guida Pratica Evidence Based. FrancoAngeli Edizioni.
Captari, L. E., Sandage, S.J., Vandiver, R.A., & Hook, J.N. (2023). Integrating positive psychology, religion/spirituality, and a virtue focus within culturally responsive mental healthcare. In E.B. Davis, E.L. Worthington, Jr., & S.A. Schnitker (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology, religion, and spirituality. Springer Press.
Choe, E. J., Jankowski, P. J., Sandage, S. J., Crabtree, S. A., & Captari, L. E. (2023). A practice‐based study of cultural humility and well‐being among psychotherapy clients. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 23(1), 152-163. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12599
Counted, V., Ramkissoon, H., Captari, L. E., & Cowden, R. (Eds.). (2023). Place, spirituality, and well-being: A global and multidisciplinary approach. Springer.
Captari, L. E., Cowden, R. G., Sandage, S. J., Davis, E. B., Bechara, A. O., Joynt, S., & Counted, V. (2022). Religious/spiritual struggles and depression during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in the Global South: Evidence of moderation by positive religious coping and hope. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 14(3), 325-337. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000474
Captari, L. E., Hydinger, K. R., Sandage, S. J., Choe, E. J., Bronstein, M., Stavros, G., Shim, P., Kintanar, A. R., Cadge, W., & Rambo, S. (2022). Supporting chaplains on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed method practice-based pilot intervention study. Psychological Services, 20(1), 6-18. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000692
Marmarosh, C. L., Sandage, S. J., Wade, N., Captari, L. E., & Crabtree, S. A. (2022). New horizons in group psychotherapy research and practice from Third Wave Positive Psychology: A practice-friendly review. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 25, 258-270.
Captari, L. E., Sandage, S. J., & Vandiver, R. A. (2021). Spiritually integrated psychotherapies in real-world clinical practice: Synthesizing the literature to identify best practices and future research directions. Psychotherapy, 9(3), 307-320. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000407
Cowden, R.G., Captari, L. E., Chen, Z.J., De Kock, J.H., & Houghtaling, A. (2021). Effectiveness of an intensive experiential group therapy program in promoting mental health and well-being among mass shooting survivors: A practice-based pilot study. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 53(2), 181-191. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000443
Crabtree, S.A., Captari, L. E., Hall, E.L., Sandage, S.J., & Jankowski, P.J. (2021). Mental health symptoms, well-being and experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods practice-based study. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 23(1), 134-151. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12503
Selected Presentations
Captari, L. E. (2023, October). Integrating spirituality and existential concerns in psychotherapy: The what and how of personalizing treatment to each patient’s cultural context [plenary address]. Psychotherapy Congress: To Bear and to Bond, Zeist, Netherlands.
Captari, L. E. (2023, October). Trauma survivors’ embodied experience of the sacred: Working with religious trauma and spiritual struggles in psychotherapy [workshop]. Psychotherapy Congress: To Bear and to Bond, Zeist, Netherlands.
Captari, L. E. (2023, September). Holistic pathways to healing for children who have experienced complex trauma [workshop]. Annual conference of the National Chaplains Association for Youth at Risk, Windsor, NY.
Captari, L. E. (2023, September). Metabolizing exposure to suffering and trauma as chaplains: Moving beyond self-care to formation [workshop]. Annual conference of the National Chaplains Association for Youth at Risk, Windsor, NY.
Captari, L. E. (Chair). (2023, August). Beyond therapist self-care: Systemic, culturally responsive strategies to address trauma and burnout [symposium]. Annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.
Captari, L. E., Choe, E. J. Y., Crabtree, S., & Sandage, S. (2023, August). Spiritual and moral struggles among trauma survivors in psychotherapy: A practice-based clinical study. In S. Sandage (Chair), Spiritual struggles and mental health: Research to inform clinical practice [symposium]. Annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.
Captari, L.E. (Chair). (2022, August). Healing from the collective traumas and losses of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial injustice [symposium]. Annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Minneapolis, MN.
Captari, L.E., Devor, N., & Olsen, D. (2022, August). Sources of meaning and hope among mental health clients: A practice-based qualitative study. In E.J. Choe (Chair), Positive psychology in a multicultural world: Holistic approaches to promote human flourishing [symposium]. Annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Minneapolis, MN.