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Psychology

Gina M. Magyar-Russell, Ph.D.

Professor
Gina Magyar Russell headshot

Education

  • B.A. (Psychology & History, Phi Beta Kappa) - University of Michigan
  • M.A. (Clinical Psychology) - Bowling Green State University
  • Ph.D. (Clinical Psychology) - Bowling Green State University
  • Pre-doctoral Internship (Health Psychology track) - University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics
  • Post-doctoral Fellowship - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
  • Licensed Psychologist in Maryland

Courses Taught

  • PY 255/354 - Psychology of Religion
  • PY 622 - Advanced Techniques: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • PY 815 - Psychopathology Seminar
  • PY 833 - Research Methods and Data Analysis in Clinical Psychology
  • PY 920/930 - Clinical Placement I/Summer

Publications

  • Magyar-Russell, G., Pargament, K. I., Grubbs, J. B., Witt, J. A., & Exline, J. J. (2022). The experience of sacred moments and mental health benefits over time. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 14(2), 161-169. [doi]
  • Deal, P. J., & Magyar-Russell, G. (2022). A qualitative study of sanctification: How nature becomes sacred for nontheistic environmental activists. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 9(1), 40-54. [doi]
  • Magyar-Russell, G. (2020). Delivering psychological services to religious and spiritual clients. In J. Zimmerman, J. Barnett, & L. Campbell (Eds.), Bringing psychotherapy to the underserved: Challenges and strategies (pp. 145-162). Oxford University Press. [doi]
  • Deal, P. J., & Magyar-Russell, G. (2018). Sanctification theory: Is nontheistic sanctification nontheistic enough? Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 10(3), 244-253. [doi]
  • Ochu, A. C., Davis, E. B., Magyar-Russell, G., O'Grady, K. A., & Aten, J. D. (2018). Religious coping, dispositional forgiveness, and posttraumatic outcomes in adult survivors of the Liberian Civil War. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 5(2), 104-119. [doi]
  • Jangha, A. G., Magyar-Russell, G., & O'Grady, K. (2018). Power within the counselor identity development of African American women in pastoral counseling. Counseling and Values, 63(1), 76-90. [doi]
  • Griffith, J., & Magyar-Russell, G. (2018). Unhealthy and potentially harmful uses of religion. In J. R. Peteet, M. L. Dell, & W. L. A. Fung (Eds.), Ethical considerations at the intersection of psychiatry and religion (pp. 43-59). Oxford University Press.
  • Magyar-Russell, G., & Griffith, J. L. (2016). Addressing unhealthy and potentially harmful expressions of religiousness and spirituality in clinical practice. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 3(3), 159-162. [doi]

Areas of Specialization

I am a licensed psychologist in Maryland and specialize in psychological and spiritual adjustment following adverse life events, with emphasis on the treatment of anxiety, mood, and spiritual problems. I have served on the Executive Committee of APA’s Division 36, The Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, and have co-authored over 40 publications on religiousness, spirituality, and health, as well as depression and anxiety, in a variety of populations. I maintain an active program of research in the areas of religious and spiritual coping, sacred moments, and spiritual struggle, and I integrate religion and spirituality into my supervision of psychotherapy. I enjoy teaching courses on the treatment of psychopathology and cognitive behavior therapy, as well as serving as a doctoral dissertation mentor and supervisor for clinicians in training.

Current Funded Research Projects