M.S. in Couple and Family Therapy — University of Maryland
B.S. in Family Science — University of Maryland
Dr. Allen (he/him) completed his M.S. in Couple and Family Therapy and his Ph.D. in Family Science at the University of Maryland-College Park, from which he also received a graduate teaching certificate. Dr. Allen provides therapy that is client-centered and grounded in a commitment to social justice. He treats couples, non-romantic relationship dyads (e.g., sibling-sibling, parent-child, friend-friend) and individuals, employing techniques based in emotionally-focused, cognitive-behavioral and feminist family therapy models. He has a particular expertise in working with sexual and gender minorities, racial minorities, non-monogamous couples and couples with partners who are of different faiths, races and/or cultures.
Dr. Allen’s research broadly examines queer families of various permutations, racial minority families and the intersection of the two. His dissertation research employed both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to better understand the family environment of trans & nonbinary persons and its influence on their physical and mental health.
Currently, Dr. Allen is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Family Psychology and an executive board member of the Feminism & Family Studies Section of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Previously, he was the co-chair of the Qualitative Family Research Network of NCFR.
Dr. Allen is also a clinical fellow of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and an AAMFT-approved supervisor. He is licensed in both Illinois and Washington, DC.
Roy, K. R. & Allen, S. H. (2022). Men, families, and the reconceptualization of masculinities. Journal of Family Theory & Review. DOI:10.1111/jftr.12441
Allen, S. H. & Leslie, L. A. (2020). Considering queer heterogeneity: Do immigrant Latinx sexual & gender minorities have poorer health outcomes than their U.S.-born counterparts? Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 32(4), 479-501.
Allen, S. H. & Mendez, S. N. (2018). Hegemonic Heteronormativity: Toward a new era of queer family theory. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 10(1), 70-86.