Christa Schmidt

(she/her/hers)

Professor, Counseling Psychology

Name

Contact Info

Phone:
Office:
LA 2149

Education

Ph.D. & M.A. in Counseling Psychology, University of
Missouri-Kansas City

Pre-doctoral Internship,
University of Maryland
Counseling Center

Areas of Expertise

Counseling psychology

Positive health psychology

Multicultural competence

Counselor training

Marginalized populations (e.g., ethnic/racial minorities, LGBT individuals)

Biography

Dr. Christa Schmidt is a counseling psychologist licensed in Maryland since 2004. Her scholarship reflects the intersection of positive psychology, multicultural psychology, and counselor training, all with an emphasis on the important role of relationships in enhancing well-being.  Recently, Dr. Schmidt has focused her research agenda on evaluating Intergroup Dialogue (IGD) as a teaching method for engaging people across identity differences on historically divisive topics.  Additionally, she is currently working on a NIH-funded project to train counselors and therapists how to conduct gender-affirming psychotherapy for trans and nonbinary clients.

Clinical Interests

Dr. Schmidt's clinical interests are in health and wellness.

Research Interests

Dr. Schmidt's research interests include Positive Psychology, Health, Social Justice, and Multiculturalism. 

Selected Publications

Schmidt, C. K., Earnest, D. E., & Miles, J. E. (2019). Expanding the reach of Intergroup Dialogue: A quasi-experimental study of two teaching methods for undergraduate multicultural courses. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000124

 Schmidt, C. K., Raque-Bogdan, T. L., & Hollern, E. A. (2019). Self-compassion, affect, and body image in college women. Journal of College Counseling. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocc.12127

 Milam, S. R. B. & Schmidt, C. K. (2018). A mixed methods investigation of posttraumatic growth in young adults following parental divorce. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families. doi: 10.11177/1066-480718781518 

 Holt, L. J., Mattanah, J. F., Schmidt, C. K., Daks, J. S., Brophy, E. N., Minnaar, P. Y., Rorer, K. Effects of relationship education on emerging adults' relationship beliefs and behaviors (2016). Personal Relationships, 23, 723-741.

 Schmidt, C. K., Piontkowski, S., Raque-Bogdan, T. L. & Ziemer, K. S. (2014). Relational health, ethnic identity, and well-being of college students of color: A strengths-based perspective. The Counseling Psychologist, 42, 473-496.

Courses Taught

  • PSYC 470: Positive Psychology
  • PSYC 605: Counseling Techniques
  • PSYC 607: Counseling Theories
  • PSYC 790: Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues in Psychology