Summary
Lorraine T. Benuto is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of clinical psychology. She received her doctoral degree in psychology from the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Las Vegas in 2009 and completed an internship at the Veteran's Administration in San Juan, Puerto Rico. While Dr. Benuto's research is broadly focused on ethnic minority behavioral health, much of the work that she does is focused on interpersonal violence, trauma, and Post-Traumatic Stress disorder. She is currently director of the DICE Center and runs three clinical service programs: La Cliníca VIVA, THRIVE, and SIERRA Families. The programs are focused on providing behavioral health services to Spanish-speaking Latinx community members, victims of interpersonal violence, and children who are at risk of abuse (respectively). Dr. Benuto is accepting applications for matriculation in 2023.
Research interests
In alignment with UNR's second core theme, the DICE Center acts as a platform to create new knowledge through basic and applied research. The DICE Center aims to answer research questions regarding the behavioral health of ethnic minorities. This includes identifying barriers to services, examining the efficacy of behavioral health interventions with ethnic minority clients, and researching the best means to train clinicians to be culturally competent practitioners. Much of the work that Dr. Benuto does is focused on trauma. Thus, the DICE Center also examines risk factors in the development of behavioral health issues in the aftermath of trauma from interpersonal violence. We also examined treatment outcomes for interventions targeted at Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The DICE Center also conducts research on race based traumatic stress including research on the associated risk and protective factors and on interventions that may be effective at treating race based traumatic stress.
Courses taught
- PSY 451 - Basic Principles of Psychotherapy
- PSY 743 - Cultural Diversity
- PSY 756 - Introduction to Clinical Assessment
Education
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Las Vegas, 2009
- M.A., Clinical Psychology, University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Las Vegas, 2007
- B.A., Psychology, Dominican University of California, 2003
Selected publications
- Denning, D.M., Newlands, R., Gonzales, A., & Benuto, L.T. (2022). Borderline personality disorder symptoms in a community sample of sexually and gender diverse adults. Journal of Personality Disorders.
- Benuto, L.T., & Reinosa Segovia, F. (2022). Acceptability of Behavioral Activation for Depression Among Latinas: A Mixed Methods Study. Behavior Therapy.
- Benuto, L. T., Casas, J., Chavez Najera, R., & Reinosa Segovia, F. (2022). Acceptability of Exposure Based Treatments for PTSD Among Latinxs: A Mixed Methods Study. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.
- Olavarrieta, G. & Benuto, L. (2022). Narrative Exposure Therapy: A Case for Use with Refugees via Telehealth with the use of an Interpreter. Clinical Case Studies.
- Newlands, R., Denning, D., Massey, K., & Benuto, L. (2022). Safe Dating in the Digital Era: Protective Behavioral Strategies in Dating Behaviors Facilitated by Dating Applications. Violence and Victims.
- Gonzalez, F., & Benuto, L.T. (2021). . Community Mental Health Journal.
- Benuto, L.T., Zimmerman, M., Casas, J., Gonzalez, F., & Newlands, R. (2021). . Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.
- Benuto, L., Newlands, R., Singer, J., Casas, J. & Cummings, C. (2020). Culturally Sensitive Clinical Practices—A Mixed Methods Study. Psychological Services.
- Benuto, L. T., Bennett, N. M., & Casas, J. B. (2020). . Journal of Traumatic Stress.
Professional certifications
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist, State of ÁùºÏ±¦µä Board of Psychological Examiners, PY0617