Cory J. Cascalheira

Cory J. Cascalheira

Psychologist

New Mexico State University

Syracuse University

Biography

Cory J. Cascalheira, PhD (he / they) is psychologist based in Seattle, Washington. He is a former NIH MBRS R25 RISE Fellow trained in counseling psychology at at New Mexico State University. His research program has three foci: (1) the examination of stress- and stigma-based multilevel determinants and mechanisms conferring risk for LGBTQ+ health disparities (e.g., substance misuse); (2) the use of artificial intelligence and big data to understand and improve LGBTQ+ health; and (3) the development of innovative digital health interventions.

Clinically, he has experience delivering cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based, and relational-cultural interventions through individual and group modalities with people living with homelessness, addiction, recidivism, academic distress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, loss, and concerns about body image and identity development. Cory has worked in college counseling centers, community behavioral health settings, integrated primary care, and VA medical centers.

Education
  • PhD, Counseling Psychology, 2024

    New Mexico State University

  • BA, Psychology, 2012

    University of Massachusetts, Lowell

Skills

R

An avid R user since 2018, Cory uses R to conduct reproducible multilevel, latent variable, and artificial intelligence analyses and visualizations.

Python

A Python user since 2021, Cory uses Python to perform machine learning, deep neural networks, natural language processing, scrape the web, and download big data.

Author

Cory primarily writes for scientific audiences, but his research has been featured in popular outlets, such as podcasts, local and international newspapers, online magazines, and other outlets.

Therapist

Cory uses CBT, COPE, PE, CPT, MI, ACT, RCT, and other evidence-based practices to prevent client problems, stop client suffering, and contribute to client development. He has neuropsychological and psychodiagnostic assessment experience.

Educator

Cory uses an active learning, participatory approach to student education, and has developed GED classes for male inmates in the Muscogee County Jail and taught undergraduate classes in research and gender at New Mexico State University.

Advocate

Cory has served on the board of directors for LGBTQ+ non-profits and currently serves on a national science committee for Division 44 of the American Psychological Association.

Academic Experience

 
 
 
 
 
MIRECC Postdoctoral Fellow
VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle
Jul 2024 – Present VA Medical Center - Washington
Specializes in PTSD and SUD among minoritized Veterans.
 
 
 
 
 
Research Extern
Jul 2022 – Jul 2024 University of California, Los Angeles
Assisted in the design of a technology-delivered health promotion intervention to reduce HIV risk among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men; disseminates findings.
 
 
 
 
 
RISE Fellow
Aug 2021 – Jul 2024 New Mexico State University
Obtained grants; applied artificial intelligence and big data to the study of psychosocial stressors among LGBTQ+ adults; managed a large team of undergraduate students, doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, and assistant professors in the creation of a large, qualitatively annotated database of social media posts; disseminated results.
 
 
 
 
 
Lab Manager
Jan 2021 – May 2023 Syracuse University
Managed a large team of undergraduate students, postbaccalaureate research assistants, and graduate students; implemented multiple funded projects to understand how psychosocial stressors impact the development and course of PTSD symptoms and hazardous drinking among sexual minority women; assisted in funding acquisition; disseminated findings.
 
 
 
 
 
Research Extern
Jan 2023 – May 2023 Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University
Gained grant experience; presented science to various stakeholder workshops; contributed to NIH-funded research; disseminated findings.
 
 
 
 
 
NICE Chair
May 2021 – May 2022 Psi Chi
Directed a large, cross-cultural investigation of social support across 20 countries and 50 laboratories with 5,000+ participants and 141 participating researchers.
 
 
 
 
 
Research Intern
Jan 2020 – Dec 2020 Center for Positive Sexuality
Contributed to several projects related to (a) BDSM and (b) sexuality during COVID-19; disseminated findings.
 
 
 
 
 
Graduate Research Assistant
Aug 2019 – Aug 2021 New Mexico State University
Obtained grants; worked with assistant professors on projects related to LGBTQ+ health; trained and supervised undergraduate research assistants; disseminated results.
 
 
 
 
 
Volunteer Research Assistant
Jun 2018 – Jun 2019 Columbus State University
Worked on projects related to social psychology; completed training in univariate and multivariate statistics; attended local data science meetings.

Clinical Experience

 
 
 
 
 
Predoctoral Clinical Psychology Intern
VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle
Jul 2023 – Jul 2024 VA Medical Center - Washington
Delivered CBT-D, COPE, PE, and ACT to individual patients; facilitated CBT-SUD, CPT-SUD, DBT Skills, social support, and interpersonal process groups in the Addiction Treatment Center, Spinal Cord Injury Unit, and PTSD Outpatient Clinic; co-facilitated a LGBTQ+ support group; lead interprofessional team meetings; conducted case management, treatment planning, and assessment; planned seminars; presented research findings; contributed to the LGBTQ+ State of the Art national research planning committee; contributed to grant-funded research on LGBTQ+ Veterans; consulted on natural language processing.
 
 
 
 
 
Health Services Student Trainee
El Paso VA Health Care System
Jul 2022 – Dec 2022 VA Medical Center - Texas
Worked with a home-based primary care (HBPC) team; provided behavioral consultation to an interdisciplinary team (IDT) at meetings; assessed cognitive decline in HBPC-enrolled veterans; attended workshops on CPT through the VA Talent Management System (TMS).
 
 
 
 
 
Behavioral Health Consultant
Memorial Medical Center, Family Medicine Center
Aug 2021 – Dec 2022 Primary Care Clinic - New Mexico
Provided behavioral health consultation on an integrated team of physicians, medical residents, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, and trainees; administered and interpreted ADHD and psychodiagnostic assessments; consulted with patients on harm reduction and lifestyle medicine; provided brief psychotherapy using ACT, CBT, RCT, and CPT; worked with a variety of presenting concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, alcohol misuse, drug misuse, adjustment disorder, identity concerns, complex trauma, and gender dysphoria.
 
 
 
 
 
Graduate Clinical Supervisor
NMSU Community Mental Health & Wellness Clinic
Aug 2021 – Dec 2021 Departmental Clinic - New Mexico
Provided one-on-one supervision to two masters-level trainees and group supervision to three masters-level trainees; taught basic helping skills; used roleplay, interpersonal recall, video review, and written feedback to promote the growth of supervisees; used the Integrated Developmental Model (IDM), Discrimination Model, and CBT approach to clinical supervision.
 
 
 
 
 
Practicum Counselor
Aggie Health & Wellness Center
Aug 2021 – Aug 2021 University Counseling Center - New Mexico
Provided individual counseling to college students experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, racialized exclusion, motivational concerns, gender dysphoria, family dysfunction, eating concerns, and identity-related issues; primarily used assimilative integration (i.e., relational-cultural theory and acceptance and commitment therapy) and common factors to promote therapeutic change; provided ADHD assessments and wrote two integrated reports; co-facilitated an LGBTQ+ support group.
 
 
 
 
 
Clinical Intern
Zia Recovery Center
Mar 2020 – Dec 2020 Community Intensive Outpatient Center - New Mexico
Facilitated counseling groups for withdrawal management with cisgender men and women from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds using mindfulness-based relapse prevention, DBT skills training, and the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP); facilitated a supportive, expressive group on healthy relationships; co-facilitated groups (i.e., twelve-step, life skills) with a diverse team of behavioral health professionals using an Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT) model.
 
 
 
 
 
Group Practicum Facilitator
NMSU Community Mental Health & Wellness Clinic
Jan 2020 – May 2020 Departmental Clinic - New Mexico
Facilitated one counseling group using interpersonal process techniques with five Mexican American cisgender women; co-facilitated two psychoeducational groups covering topics such as stress management, work–life balance, and college transition with a mixed-gender group of freshmen students; provided telehealth; adapted the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) curriculum to a condensed format; co-facilitated two MBSR groups for education specialists in training.
 
 
 
 
 
Practicum Counselor
NMSU Community Mental Health & Wellness Clinic
Aug 2019 – Dec 2020 Departmental Clinic - New Mexico
Conducted individual counseling with three clients per week using an integrated approach grounded in CBT, mindfulness-based theories, and interpersonal process; worked with presenting concerns ranging from poor boundaries, body image, stress management, academic distress, and relationship issues; administered the CCAPS to monitor symptoms across multiple domains.
 
 
 
 
 
Addictions Counselor-in-Training
SafeHouse Ministries
Jan 2018 – Jun 2019 Community Intensive Outpatient Center - Georgia
Facilitated CBT and 12-step groups; facilitated psychoeducation groups using the Matrix model, WRAP, and WHAM; wrote case notes in HMIS & weekly probation reports; administered drug screenings (urine analyses, breathalyzers); consulted with professionals to improve client services; performed screening, assessment, orientation, and intake of clients; created GED curriculum for social studies and language arts; tutored inmates at the Muscogee County Jail; performed a qualitative evaluation of the ministry, using ATLAS.ti 8 to analyze client narratives, delivering a final report to the executives and board members.

Contact Cory