Anu Asnaani, Ph.D. - Department of Psychology - The University of Utah
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Anu Asnaani, PH.D.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR,
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Curriculum Vitae
Treatment Mechanisms, Community Empowerment, & Technology Innovations Lab
CONTACT INFORMATION
Office: 802 BEHS
Email:
anu.asnaani@psych.utah.edu
Research Interests
Dr. Asnaani's research interests fall under several broad categories:
Understanding mechanisms
that maintain and underlie meaningful change in fear-based disorders (anxiety disorders,
OCD and PTSD) (Mechanisms of interest include: emotion regulation, anxiety sensitivity/distress
tolerance, resilience, cultural values/systems, psychophysiology)
Improving outcomes that matter
to diverse communities and working with individuals who represent a wider range of
cultural groups both locally and globally (Outcomes of interest include: quality of
life, functional impairment, employment, school attendance, interpersonal conflict,
anger management)
Leveraging the use of technology
and other modern advancements as a way to be innovative in our approaches to assessment
and targeting of underlying mechanisms of evidence-based treatments (Technology innovations
include use of: smart technology, mobile and wearable devices, ambulatory measurement
tools, iterative and agile study approaches)
Opportunities for Students
As the Director of the TCT Lab, I’m excited to prioritize training opportunities for
students across various levels of training (undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and
doctoral candidates) to provide a range of research and clinical experiences for those
who are interested in joining my lab. I highly value the role of mentorship, support
and collaboration with students to help them reach and exceed their potential by providing
a space to explore their own unique career paths and pursuits.
Students can expect to be involved in all aspects of the projects the TCT lab is currently
engaged in, including building high proficiency in basic experimental skills, learning
robust study design, forming and applying critical thinking for different study approaches
in the lab and community, garnering exposure to large-scale studies and regulatory
processes that surround them, becoming familiar with how to apply for intramural and
extramural funding for research ideas, and being well-versed in identifying, assessing
and providing effective interventions for a range of anxiety-based disorders. In particular,
given the multipronged projects of this lab, individuals interested in doing either
primarily community-based research or those wanting to learn more lab-based skills
and methodologies will have a space here.
*Please note:
do
plan on accepting doctoral applications for those applying in the 2025-2026 application
cycle
(i.e., I currently plan to take on new doctoral students looking to start in the
Fall of 2026). Please note I am currently on sabbatical and therefore I won't be able
to respond to your individual requests for meetings or information until shortlist
applicant decisions go out in the end of December 2025/early January 2026. Please
check out my
lab website
for more info on my lab and what we do.
**In addition, I will not be accepting any paid or volunteer research assistants for
the 2025-2026 academic year while I am on sabbatical. All inquiries regarding undergraduate
research assistantships for the following academic year (2026-2027) should be directed
to our lab email (
empowerlabu@gmail.com
) with your CV and statement of interest into our lab so that we can place you on
our waitlist. We will not be able to respond to your individual requests.
Education
B.Sc., Brown University, 2007
Ph.D., Boston University, 2013
Selected Publications
* Indicates Corresponding/Senior Author on publication
** Indicates Co-First Authorship on publication
Asnaani
, A.,
Brown, L., Ghafoori, B., Gutierrez Chavez, M., & Zoellner, L. (in press). Taking
our efficacious treatments for PTSD beyond the bedside: Exploration of successes and
challenges in training community and lay providers across the globe.
Journal of Traumatic Stress.
Saraiya, T., Prakash, K.,
Asnaani, A.,
Minty, S., & Contractor, A. (in press). Traumatic stress in the South Asian Diaspora:
State of the science & future directions.
Journal of Traumatic Stress.
Kaur, K., Lohani, M., Williams, P. &
Asnaani, A.*
(in press). A Person-Specific Emotion Regulation Flexibility framework: Taking an
integrative approach.
Emotion Review.
Asnaani, A
. & Norasakkunkit, V. (in press). Cultural shaping of social anxiety. Invited Chapter
in P. DiBartolo & S.G. Hofmann (Eds.),
Social Anxiety: Clinical, Developmental, and Social Perspectives
(4th ed.)
Elsevier.
Gutierrez Chavez, M., Baucom, K.J.W., Sanchez-Birkhead, A., Villalta, J.,  Carbajal-Salisbury,
S., Zavala Gonzalez, N., Tatarevic, L., &
Asnaani, A.*
(2025). Questioning the status quo: Latino community members as researchers in the
study of health equity.
Psychotherapy, 62
(3), 326-336
Kaur
, K.,
Asnaani, A.,
Levy, H.C., Miller, M.L., Tolin, D.F., & Mclean, C.P. (2024). Moving beyond symptom
reduction: A meta-analysis on the effect of exposure therapy for PTSD on quality of
life.
Journal of Clinical Psychology, 80,
2134–2146.
Tanguy, W., Kaur, K., &
Asnaani, A.*
(2024). Using a transdiagnostic approach to
examine the association among internalizing symptoms, emotion regulation and distress
tolerance.
Journal of Experimental Psychopathology
15
(2), 1-17.
Asnaani, A.
(2023). What role can (and should) clinical science play in promotingmental health
care equity?
American Psychologist, 78
(9), 1041-1054.
Asnaani, A
. (2023).
A Cultural Humility and Social Justice Approach to Psychotherapy: Seven Applied Guidelines
for Evidence-Based Practice.
Oxford University Press: New York, NY.
Asnaani, A.,
Gutierrez Chavez, M., Samuel, R., Pham, A., & Charlery White, S.R. (2023).
The impact of a brief training on implementation of evidence-based strategies for
trauma by mental health providers and stakeholders in the Caribbean within the context
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, 13
(1), 40-48.
Contractor, A. A., Raifuddin, H., Kaur, K., &
Asnaani, A.
(2023). Asian Indians in the United States and posttraumatic stress disorder interventions:
A narrative review.
Trauma, Violence, &
Abuse, 24
(4), 2395–2411.
Asnaani, A.,
Gutierrez Chavez, M., & Kaur, K. (2022).
Ensuring interdisciplinary partnerships and commitment to Contextual Behavioral Science
(CBS) principles among diverse scholars who serve diverse communities
. Journal of  Contextual Behavioral Science
24
, 96–101.
Asnaani, A.,
Sanchez-Birkhead, A., Kaur, K., Mukundente, V., Napia, E., Tavake-Pasi, F., Villalta,
J., Lee, D., Stark, L., Brown, H., & Crowell, S. (2022). Utilizing community partnerships
to devise a framework for cultural adaptations to evidence-based mental health practice
in diverse communities.
Cognitive and Behavioral
Practice, 29
(4), 831–845.
Kaur, K., Gutierrez Chavez, M., Tacana, T., Sanchez-Birkhead, A., Mukundente, V.,
Napia, E.E., Tavake-Pasi, F., Villalta, J., Lee, D., Sunada, G., Stark, L., Crowell,
S., &
Asnaani, A.*
(2022
). Applying best practices for health disparities work to create a treatment adaptation
framework for culturally diverse communities: A mixed-methods approach.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 90
(10), 734–746.
Gutierrez
Chavez
, M., Kaur, K., Baucom, K. J. W., Sanchez-Birkhead, A., Sunada, G., Mukundente, V.,
Tavake-Pasi, F., Napia, E., Villalta, J., &
Asnaani, A.*
(2022). Developing an equitable intervention approach for communities of color: Mental
health and co-occurring physical health concerns in the context of the COVID-19
pandemic.
Translational Behavioral Medici
ne, 12
(9), 919–926.
Asnaani, A.
, Majeed, I.M., Kaur, K., & Gutierrez Chavez, M.
(2022
). Diversity and Cultural Perspectives in Psychology.
Invited Chapter in
Comprehensive Clinical Psychology
(Editor: Gordon Asmundson), 2nd Ed
: Elsevier.
Kaczkurkin, A.N., Brown, L., Simon, S., &
Asnaani, A.*
2022
). The relationship between cultural self-construal and social anxiety symptom severity
in a clinical sample of treatment-seeking patients.
Transcultural Psychiatry
59
(6), 878-888.
Tyler, J., Mu, W., McCann, J., Belli, G., &
Asnaani, A.
(2021). The unique contribution
of perfectionistic cognitions in predicting anxiety disorder symptoms in a treatment-seeking
sample.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 50
(2), 121-137.
Asnaani
, A.
, Tyler, J., McCann, J., Brown, L., Zang, Y. (2020). Anxiety sensitivity and emotion
regulation as mechanisms of successful CBT outcome for anxiety-related disorders in
a naturalistic treatment setting.
Journal of Affective Disorders, 267
, 86–95.
Asnaani, A.
, Charlery White, S.R., & Phillip, T.-M. (2020). Mobilizing mental health training
efforts to align with advocacy for disenfranchised groups in global contexts: Trauma-related
training in the Caribbean as an example.
The Behavior Therapist, 43(7)
, 254-260.
Asnaani, A.
, Narine, K., Suzuki, N., Zang, Y., Schwartz, B., Yeh, R., Mannarino, A., Cohen, J.,
& Foa, E.B. (2020).
Integration of technology to enhance screening of pediatric PTSD: Results from a study
in primary care community settings
Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma
Asnaani, A.
, Charlery White, S.R., Majeed, I., & Phillip, T.-M. (2020). Trauma education and
stigma reduction in global settings: An evaluation of the impact of a one-day trauma
psychoeducation workshop with community stakeholders in the Caribbean nation of Saint
Lucia.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17
, 2255.
Asnaani, A.
, Benhamou, K., Kaczkurkin, A.N., Turk-Karan, E., & Foa, E.B. (2020). Beyond the constraints
of an RCT: Naturalistic treatment outcomes for anxiety-related disorders.
Behavior Therapy, 51
, 434-446.
Asnaani, A.
, Kaczkurkin, A., Fitzgerald, H., Jerud, A., & Foa, E.B. (2020). The association between
cognitive coping strategies and treatment outcomes in smokers with PTSD.
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy
, 12, 92-100.
Kaczkurkin, A.N., Fitzgerald, H., Tyler, J., &
Asnaani, A.*
(2018). The contribution of anxiety sensitivity to obsessive-compulsive and anxiety
symptoms in a naturalistic treatment setting.
Cognitive Therapy and Research, 42
,  661-673.
Asnaani, A.,
Gallagher, T., & Foa, E.B. (2018). Evidence-based protocols: Merits, drawbacks, and
potential solutions.
Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 25,
1-13.
Foa, E.B.,
Asnaani, A.
**
Zang, Y., Capaldi, S., & Yeh, R. (2018). The Child PTSD Symptom Scale for DSM-5 (CPSS-5):
Psychometric Properties of Interview, Self-Report, and Screening Versions.
Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 47,
38-46.
Asnaani, A.,
Kaczkurkin, A., Alpert, E., McLean, C.P., Simpson, H.B., & Foa, E.B. (2017). The
effect of treatment on quality of life and functioning in OCD.
Comprehensive Psychiatry, 73,
7-14.
Asnaani, A.
, & Hall-Clark, B. (2017). Recent developments in understanding ethnocultural and
race differences in trauma exposure and PTSD.
Current Opinion in Psychology, 14
, 96-101. Asher, M.,
Asnaani, A.,
& Aderka, I. (2017). Gender differences in social anxiety disorder: A review.
Clinical Psychology Review, 56,
1-12.
Asnaani, A.,
Kaczkurkin, A., Tannahill, H., & Fitzgerald, H. (2016). Moderators of change in social
anxiety during CBT in a transdiagnostic, naturalistic treatment-seeking sample.
Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 7,
655-670.
Asnaani, A.
, McLean, C.P., & Foa, E.B. (2016). Updating Watson & Marks (1971): How has our understanding
of the mechanisms of extinction learning evolved and where is our field going next?
Behavior Therapy, 47,
654-668.
Kaczkurkin, A.N.,
Asnaani, A
., Hall-Clark, B., Peterson, A.L., Yarvis, J.S., Foa, E.B., & the STRONG STAR Consortium
(2016). Ethnic and racial differences in clinically relevant symptoms in active duty
military personnel with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 43,
90-98.
Kaczkurkin, A.N.,
Asnaani, A.,
Zhong, J., & Foa, E.B. (2016). The moderating effect of state anger on treatment
outcome in female adolescents with PTSD.
Journal of Traumatic Stress, 29,
325-31.
Asnaani, A.,
Alpert, E., McLean, C.P., & Foa, E.B. (2015). Resilient but addicted: The impact
of resilience on the relationship between smoking withdrawal and PTSD.
Journal of Psychiatric Research, 65,
146-153.
Asnaani, A
., Aderka, I.M., Marques, L., Simon, N., Robinaugh, D.J., & Hofmann, S.G. (2015).
The structure of feared social situations among race-ethnic minorities and Whites
with social anxiety disorder in the United States.
Transcultural Psychiatry, 52,
791-807.
Asnaani, A.,
Reddy, M.K., & Shea, M.T. (2014). The impact of PTSD symptoms on physical and mental
health functioning in returning veterans.
Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 28,
310-317.
Asnaani, A.,
Rinck, M., Becker, E., & Hofmann, S.G. (2014). The effects of approach-avoidance
modification on social anxiety disorder: A pilot study.
Cognitive Therapy and Research, 38,
226-238.
Asnaani, A.,
Sawyer, A.T., Aderka, I.M., & Hofmann, S.G. (2013). Effect of suppression, reappraisal,
and acceptance of emotional pictures on acoustic eye-blink startle magnitude.
Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 4,
182-193.
Asnaani, A.,
& Hofmann, S.G. (2012). Collaboration in culturally responsive therapy: Establishing
a strong therapeutic alliance across cultural lines.
Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, 68,
187-197.
Chou, T.,
Asnaani, A.,
& Hofmann, S.G. (2012). Perception of racial discrimination and psychopathology across
three U.S. ethnic minority groups.
Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 18,
74-81.
McLean, C.,
Asnaani, A.
, Litz, B., & Hofmann, S.G. (2011). DSM-IV anxiety disorders across gender: Results
from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Studies.
Journal of Psychiatric Research, 45,
1027-1035.
Asnaani, A.,
Richey, J.A., Dimaite, R., Hinton, D.E., & Hofmann, S.G. (2010). A cross-ethnic comparison
of lifetime prevalence rates of anxiety disorders.
Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 198,
551-555.
Hofmann, S.G.,
Asnaani, A.,
& Hinton, D.E. (2010). Cultural aspects in social anxiety and social anxiety disorder.
Depression and Anxiety, 27,
1117-1127.
Asnaani, A
., Gutner, C.A., Hinton, D.E., & Hofmann, S.G. (2009). Panic Disorder, panic attacks,
and panic attack symptoms across race-ethnic groups: Results of the Collaborative
Psychiatric Epidemiology Studies.
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, 15,
249-254.