Kimberly Pentel, a graduate student in Clinical Psychology, is the recipient of a 2018 Baughman Dissertation Research Award.
The Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at UNC offers the Earl and Barbara Baughman Dissertation Research Award annually to two of the top researchers within the department. The purpose of this award is to promote and support innovative dissertation research in our department and to support award recipients in their completion of their dissertation projects.
Kim won for her dissertation titled “Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy for Same-Sex Female Couples: A Pilot Study.” Although effective psychotherapies exist to help couples with relationship distress, no therapies have been developed to address the issues most salient for sexual minority couples, despite many couples desiring culturally-tailored care. In her dissertation, Kim is developing and pilot testing a therapy designed specifically for same-sex female couples, called the Access Program.