J. Maria Bermudez

Education

Research

Dr. Bermudez's research program focuses strength-based approaches to research and outreach for marginalized populations, specifically, Latinx families and communities. Her aim is to conduct research that empowers and strengthens her local community.

As a scholar, she aims to attend to developmental, intersectional and contextual issues as they relate to immigration status, race, class, culture, gender and sexuality. She aims to conduct feminist informed, decoloninzing and culturally responsive research. Her primary research methods include community-based participatory research, and qualitative research methods such as phenomenology and heuristic inquiry.

Other research interests include clinical training, in Spanish and English, as well as innovative and creative approaches to narrative family therapy.

Teaching

To date, Dr. Bermudez has taught over 13 undergraduate and 8 graduate courses focused on human development and family science, marriage and family therapy, and intersectional, contextual and global perspectives of diversity.

She has served as major professor for doctoral students and served on numerous thesis and doctoral committees, within her department, other departments at UGA, as well as other universities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

She especial enjoys mentoring CURO (Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities) students at UGA and to date has mentored 20 students, mostly from Latinx backgrounds.

Prior Professional Positions

Editorial Appointments

Outreach

Marriage, couple and family therapy; helping couples and families work through difficult transitions, parent-child relationships, relational and personal issues specific for GLBT individuals and couples, and outreach for Latino families and marginalized populations

Areas of Expertise

Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Supervision in MFT, Latino Family Dynamics, Culturally Responsive Therapy and Research, and Feminist Family Therapy

Dr. Maria Bermudez is an associate professor at the University of Georgia in the Department of Human Development and Family Science and the Ph. D. program in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is an affiliate faculty member with the Institute for Women’s Studies, Qualitative Certificate Program and the Institute for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Georgia and a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor for the American Associate for Marriage and Family Therapy. Her work focuses on feminist informed and strength-based approaches to research and service for Latinx immigrant families, paying special attention to developmental and contextual issues as they relate to race, class, culture, gender and sexuality. She is one of the co-founders of Lazos Hispanos, which was an interdisciplinary community-based project that worked with community health workers/"promotoras" to bridge health disparities among Latinx families. She is also the co-founder of the Aspire Clinic at UGA, which is in an interdisciplinary clinic serving UGA and the Athens-Clarke County community.

She is currently on the editorial board of 7 peer-reviewed journals, has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and presented over 100 professional presentations in the fields of marriage and family therapy and human development and family science.

Dr. Bermudez has recently published two books titled, Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy: Guidelines for Equitable Theory and Practice, with Drs. Teresa McDowell and Carmen and Knudson-Martin (2018) and Intersectionality and Context across the Lifespan: Readings for human development (2021). She has a passion for working with children and families in therapy and collaborating with colleagues from diverse disciplines and perspectives on socially just scholarship, outreach and clinical practice.

Books

Bermudez, J. M. (2021). Intersectionality and Context across the Lifespan: Readings for Human Development. San Diego: Cognella Publishing.

Intersectionality and Context across the Lifespan: Readings for Human Development (2021)

Bermudez, J. M. (2020, 2 preliminary editions). Intersectionality and Context across the Lifespan: Readings for Human Development. San Diego: Cognella Publishing.

McDowell, T., Knudson-Martin, C., Bermudez, J. M. (under contract). Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy: Guidelines for Equitable Theory and Practice, 2^nd Ed.. New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis.

McDowell, T., Knudson-Martin, C., Bermudez, J. M. (2018). Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy: Guidelines for Equitable Theory and Practice. New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis.

Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy: Guidelines for Equitable Theory and Practice (2018)

Gómez-Lamont, M. F. & Bermudez, J. M. (under contract). La Terapia Familiar Sistémica y el Pensamiento de Tercer Orden: Teoría crítica con perspectivas de género, multiculturalidad e interseccionalidad (Systemic Family Therapy and Third Order Thinking: Critical Theories from Gender and Multicultural Perspectives). Mexico City: Autonomous University of Mexico Press.

Current Classes

Ph.D. Courses-

Clinical Practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy 

Clinical Supervision in Marriage and Family Therapy

Ecological Perspectives in Diversity in Family Science and Family Therapy

Undergraduate Courses-

Human Development across the Lifespan (in person and online)

Child Development (in person an online)

Women in Families and Society (split level- MS and BS)

Feminism is For Everbody (first year odyssey)  

Job Description

CURRENT ACADEMIC POSITION

The University of Georgia; Athens, Georgia (tenured, Fall 2013)

  -     Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science and Marriage and Family Therapy

  -     Affiliate Faculty of the Institute for Women's Studies

  -     Affiliate Faculty of the Institute for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACSI)

  -     Affiliate Faculty and Research Fellow of the Center for Latino Achievement and Success in

         Education (CLASE)

  -     Faculty member for the Interdisciplinary Qualitative Studies Certificate Program

Publications

Curtis, M. G., Oshri, A., Bryant, C. M., Bermudez, J. M., & Kogan, S. M. (2020) Contextual adversity and rural Black men’s masculinity ideology during emerging adulthood. Psychology of Men and Masculinities.

Curtis, M. G., Ellis, E., Ann, S., Dai, Y., & Bermudez, J. M.  (2020). A Decade in Review: Intersectionality within family studies and family therapy journals from 2010-2020. Journal of  Family Theory & Review.

Alvarez-Hernandez, L. R., Bermudez, J. M. Matthew, R., Orpinas, P., Calva, A., & Darbisi, C. (accepted, 2020).  “No queremos quedar mal”: Boundary setting training with Latina community health workers. Journal of Latinx Psychology.

Terrazas, J., Muruthi, B.A., Thompson, R., Jackson, & Bermudez, J. M.  (accepted, 2020). Liminal legality among mixed-status Latinx families: Considerations for critically engaged clinical practice. Contemporary Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-020-09545-7

Seponski, D. M., Lewis, D., Bermudez, J. M., & Sotelo, J. M. (May 2020, online). Cambodian therapists’ perspectives of Western-based psychotherapy models: Addressing the challenges for service providers. Journal of Family Psychotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1080/08975353.2020.1759018

Orpinas, P. Matthew, R. A., Alvarez-Hernandez, L. R., Calva, A., & Bermudez, J. M. (May 2020, online) Promotoras voice their challenges in fulfilling their role as community health workers. Health Promotion Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839920921189

Matthew, R., Orpinas, P., Calva, A., Bermudez, J.M., Darbisi, C. (2020). Lazos Hispanos: Promising strategies and lessons learned in the development of a multisystem, community-based promotoras program. Journal of Primary Prevention, 41(3), 229-243. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10935-020-00587-z 

Muruthi, B.A., Bermudez, J. M, Chou J. Shivers, C., Gale, J., Lewis, D. (February, 2020, published online) Mother-adult daughter questionnaire: Psychometric evaluation across first and second-generation Black immigrant women. The Family Journal. 28(2), 168-175. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480720906123

Ellis, E. & Bermudez, J. M. (February, 2020, published online,). Funhouse mirror reflections:  Resisting internalized sexism in family therapy and building a women-affirming practice.  Journal of Feminist Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952833.2020.1717903

Orpinas, P., Matthew, R. A., Bermúdez, J. M., Alvarez-Hernandez, L. R., & Calva, A. (2020). A multistakeholder evaluation of Lazos Hispanos: An application of a community-based participatory research conceptual model. Journal of Community Psychology, 48(2), 464-481.  https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22274 

Walsdorf, A. A., Machado, Y., & Bermudez, J. M. (Nov. 2019, published online). Undocumented and mixed-status Latinx families: Sociopolitical considerations for systemic practice. Journal of  Family Psychotherapy, 30(4), 245-271, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08975353.2019.1679607

Bower, K. L, Lewis, D., Bermudez, J. M., & Singh, A. A. (2019, published online). Narratives of generativity and resilience among LGBT older adults: Leaving positive legacies despite social   stigma and collective trauma. Journal of Homosexuality.  https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2019.1648082

Bower, K. L, Lewis, D., Bermudez, J. M., & Singh, A. A. (2019). Adding grey to the rainbow: A narrative analysis of generational identity through stories and counter-stories of older gay men. Aging & Society, 1-23. http://dx.doi/10.1017/S0144686X19001429

Boe, J. L., Bermudez, J. M., Baldwin, D. R., & Sharstrom, K. A. (2019). Easing the transition:  A critical narrative therapy approach to working with couples navigating gender transition.  Journal of Systemic Therapies, 38(1), 1-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1521/jsyt.2019.38.1.1

Smith E. P, Witherspoon, D., Bhargave, S, & Bermudez, J. M. (2019). Cultural values and behavior among African American and European American children.  Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28(5), 1236-1249.  http://dx.doi/10.1007/s10826-019-01367-y

Knudson-Martin, C., McDowell, T., & Bermudez, J. M. (2019). From knowing to doing: Guidelines for socioculturally attuned family therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 45(1), 47- 60.  https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12299

McDowell, T., Knudson-Martin, C, & Bermudez, J. M. (2019). Third order thinking in family therapy:  Addressing social justice across family therapy practice. Family Process, 58(1), 9-22.  http://doi/10.1111/famp.12383

Bermudez, J. M, Muruthi, B., Zak-Hunter, L., Stinson, M. A., Seponski, D., Taniguchi, N., & Boe, J. (2019). “Thank you for including us!”- Introducing a community-based collaborative approach to translating clinic materials. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 45(2), 309-322.  https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12317

Boe, J. L., Maxey, V. A., & Bermudez, J. M.  (2018). Is the closet a closet? Decolonizing the coming out process with Latin@ adolescents and families. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 30(2),  90-108.  https://doi:10.1080/08952833.2018.1427931

Stinson, M. A., Bermudez, J. M., Gale, J., Lewis, D, M., Meyer, A. S., & Templeton, G. B. (2017). Re-examining marital satisfaction and conflict resolution among Latino couples: Using the actor-partner interdependence model. Family Journal, 25(3), 215-223.  https://doi:10.1177/1066480717710645

Carlson, M., Oed, M., & Bermudez, J. M. (2017). Satir’s communication stances and pursue– withdraw cycles: An enhanced emotionally focused therapy framework of couple interaction.  Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 16(3), 253-270.  https://doi:10.1080/15332691.2016.1253517

Jordan, L. S., Grogan, C., Muruthi, B. & Bermúdez, J. M. (2017).  Polyamory: Experiences of power   from without, from within, and in between, Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 16(1), 1-19. https://doi:10.1080/15332691.2016.1141135

Bermudez, J. M., Muruthi, B., & Jordan, L. (equal authorship) (2016).  Decolonizing Research Methods for Family Science: Creating space at the center.  Journal of Family Theory & Review, 8, 192–206. http://doi:10.1111/jftr.12139

Abrams, B. A., Bermúdez, J. M., Bush, K., McCoy, M., & Stinson, M. A. (2016).  Afro-Caribbean mothers in the US:  An exploratory study from a transnational feminist perspective.  Women & Therapy, 39(3-4), 413-431. http://doi:10.1080/02703149.2016.1116872

Willis, A. B., Haslam, D. R., & Bermudez, J. M. (2016).  Harnessing the power of play in emotionally focused family therapy with preschool children.  Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 42(4),   673-687. http://doi:10.1111/jmft12160

Bermúdez, J. M., Sharp, E. A., & Taniguchi, N. (2015). Tapping into the complexity: Ambivalent sexism, dating, and familial beliefs among Hispanic young adults. Journal of Family Issues, 36(10), 1274-129. http://doi:10.1177/0192513X13506706

Bitar, G. W., Kimball, T., Bermúdez, J. M., & Drew, C.  (2014). Therapist self-disclosure and culturally competent care with Mexican-American court mandated clients: A phenomenological study.  Contemporary Family Therapy, 36, 417-425. http://doi:10.1007/s10591-014-9308-4

Stinson, M. A., George, D. V., Hjelmstad, L. R., McCoy, M. A., Mennenga, K. D., & Bermudez, J. M.  (2014). Finding Your Cadence: Introducing the Dynamic Developmental Framework of   Supervision.  Journal of Systemic Therapies, 32(4), 19-32. http://doi:10.1521/jsyt.2013.32.4.19

Bermúdez, J.M., Zak-Hunter, L., Stinson, M. A., & Abrams, B. A. (2014).  “I am not losing my kids to        the streets”: Meanings and experiences of motherhood among Mexican origin women. Journal  of Family Issues, 35, 3-27.  http://doi:10.1177/0192513X12462680

McCoy, M., Stinson, M., & Bermúdez, J. M., & Gladney, L. (2013). Utilizing a narrative approach to increase intimacy after prostate cancer.  Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 8(1), 48-69. http://doi:10.1080/15401383.2013.763684

Seponski, D. M., Bermudez, J. M., & Lewis, D. C. (2013). Creating culturally responsive family therapy models and research: Introducing the use of responsive evaluation as a method. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 39(1), 28-42. http://doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00282.x

Bermúdez, J.M., Stinson, M, A.,&  Zak-Hunter, L. M. & Abrams, B. (2011).  Mejor sola que mal      acompañada:  Strengths and challenges of Mexican origin mothers parenting alone. Journal of  Divorce & Remarriage, 52(8), 622-641.  https://doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2011.619939

Bermúdez, J. M., & Stinson, M. A. (2011).  Redefining conflict resolution styles for Latino couples:  Examining the role of gender and culture. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy 23(2), 71-87.  https://doi.org/10.1080/08952833.2011.575349

Bermúdez, J.M., Zak-Hunter, L., Silva, L. (2011).  Experiences of parenting classes for Mexican American mothers parenting alone: Offering culturally responsive approaches. American Journal of Family Therapy, 39, 360-374.  https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2010.539477

Parker, M. L., Bermúdez, J. M., & Neustifter, R. (2007). Kite in Flight: Identity and empowerment of adolescent girls in dating relationships. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 19 (4), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1300/J086v19n04_01

Sharp, E. A., Bermúdez, J. M., & Watson, W., & Fitzpatrick, J. (2007). Reflections from the trenches:  Our development as feminist teachers. Journal of Family Issues, 28, 529-548.  https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0192513X06297473

Keeling, M. & Bermúdez, J. M. (2006). Externalizing problems through art and writing: Experiences of process and helpfulness. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 32(4), 405-419. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2006.tb01617.x

Bermúdez, J.M., Reyes, N. A., & Wampler, K., (2006). Conflict resolution styles among Latino couples. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 5(4), 1-21.

https://doi.org/10.1300/J398v05n04_01

Miller, M. M. & Bermúdez, J. M. (2004). Intersecting gender and social exchange theory in family therapy. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 16(2), 25-42.

https://doi.org/10.1300/J086v16n02_02

Bermúdez, J. M., & Bermúdez, S. (2002). Altar-Making with Latino families: A Narrative therapy perspective. Journal of Family Psychotherapy 13(3/4), 329-347.  https://doi.org/10.1300/J085v13n03_06

BOOK CHAPTERS

McDowell, T. Knudson-Martin, C., & Bermudez, J. M. (in press). Socioculturally Attuned Ethical Practice in Family Therapy.  In AAMFT Ethics.

McDowell, T. Knudson-Martin, C., & Bermudez, J. M. (in press). Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy.  In J. L. Lebow, A. L. Chambers, and D. C. Breunlin (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. New York: Springer.  https://doiorg/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_1093

Knudson-Martin, C., McDowell, T. & Bermudez, J. M. (in press). Sociocultural Attunement in Systemic Family Therapy.  In K. Wampler (Ed.) The Handbook of Systemic Family Therapy.

Bermudez, J. M., & Mancini, J. (2013). ‘Familias fuertes’: Resilience among Latino families.  In D.    Becvar (Ed.). Handbook of Family Resilience (pp. 215-227). New York: Springer.  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3917-2_13

Bermúdez, J. M., & Parker, M. L. (2010). Context and culture in intimate partner infidelity: Co-Constructing preferred couple narratives. Invited book chapter in J. Carlson and L. Sperry (Eds.) Recovering Intimacy in Love Relationships: A Clinician’s Guide (pp. 271-290). New York: Routledge.