Assistant Professor

320 Psychology Building
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-4929
soulliza@MiamiOH.edu

Body Image and Stigma among Queer Populations (BISQue) Lab

Education

• Postdoctoral Associate, Yale School of Public Health, 2020-2022
• Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Saint Louis University, 2020
• Predoctoral Internship, West Virginia University School of Medicine, 2019-2020
• M.A., Applied Psychological Research, Pennsylvania State University, 2015
• B.A., Psychology and Secondary Education, Susquehanna University, 2011

Research Interests

My research broadly focuses on stigma and health disparities affecting those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or any minoritized sexual and/or gender identity (LGBTQ+), with a specific focus on body image concerns, positive body image, and eating behaviors. A central aim of my research is to expand our understanding as to why rates of body image concerns and eating pathology are elevated among LGBTQ+ people. To that end, I employ quantitative and qualitative approaches, as well as rely upon well-established theories (e.g., minority stress) to inform my research. My current research is testing more recent theories (e.g., intraminority gay community stress theory) as frameworks to more fully understand the body image experiences of sexual minority men.

An additional line of my research is dedicated to testing and implementing evidence-based mental health treatments adapted for LGBTQ+ clients, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions. LGBTQ+ people have historically lacked access to evidence-based mental health therapy that addresses the unique needs and strengths of the LGBTQ+ community. As such, my research has examined both facilitators and barriers to training future clinicians in LGBTQ-affirmative care. I have also co-led a nationwide training study among mental health providers at LGBTQ+ community centers to assess the efficacy of an online LGBTQ-affirmative CBT training. My current research is utilizing theories from implementation science to examine ways to effectively implement evidence-based, LGBTQ-affirmative CBT in different mental health settings.

Teaching Interests

My primary goals in teaching psychology are to create an inclusive classroom environment that focuses on student-centered learning and fosters critical thinking. I believe that students engage more in the learning process when they can find personal relevance and meaning in psychological constructs and theories. At the undergraduate level, I am interested in teaching courses that introduce students to clinical research and practice, such as abnormal psychology. At the graduate level, I have previous experience teaching course practica, such as psychopathology and clinical interventions, as well as clinical supervision.

Professional Recognition

• Editorial Board, Body Image
• NIH Loan Repayment Award, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, “Advancing Knowledge of Structural, Interpersonal, and Individual Stigma on Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatment for Racially and Geographically Diverse Sexual and Gender Minorities”

Selected Publications

• Soulliard, Z. A., & Vander Wal, J. S. (2019). Validation of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 and relationships to eating behaviors and health among sexual minorities. Body Image, 31, 120-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.09.003
• Soulliard, Z. A., Zane, K. L., & Hughes, H. M. (2021). Affirmative stances in training programs toward sexual and gender minority clients: Views from clinical and counseling psychology graduate students. Journal of Homosexuality. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2021.1993663
• Soulliard, Z. A., Layland, E. K., Smith, J. C., Kipke, M. D., & Bray, B. C. (2022). Body image concerns, correlates, and community connection among Black and Latinx sexual minority men and trans/gender non-conforming young adults. LGBT Health, 9(2), 122-130. https://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2021.0237
• Soulliard, Z. A., & Vander Wal, J. S. (2022). Measurement invariance and psychometric properties of three positive body image measures among cisgender sexual minority and heterosexual women. Body Image, 40, 146-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.12.002
• Pachankis, J. E., Soulliard, Z. A., Morris, F., & Seager van Dyk, I. (2022). A model for adapting evidence-based interventions to be LGBQ-affirmative: Putting minority stress principles and case conceptualization into clinical research and practice. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2021.11.005
• Pachankis, J. E., Soulliard, Z. A., Seager van Dyk, I., Layland, E., Clark, K. A., Levine, D. S., & Jackson, S. D. (2022). Training in LGBTQ-affirmative cognitive-behavioral therapy: A randomized controlled trial across LGBTQ community centers. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 90(7), 582-599. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000745
• Rawlings, Z. W., Soulliard, Z. A., & Knafo, D. (in press). When it doesn’t get better: A qualitative study of eating disorders, sexual identity, and coming out in sexual minority men. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health.