Roberto L. Abreu

My research explores ways in which marginalized communities resist systemic oppression and promote bienestar colectivo (collective well-being), with a particular focus on Latinx communities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) and gender nonbinary individuals, and the intersection of Latinx and LGBTQ and gender nonbinary individuals and communities. Specifically, my research seeks to answer the following three questions: (1) how does systemic oppression (e.g., restrictions to resources, sociopolitical events, laws and policies) impacts the well-being of marginalized communities; (2) how do Latinx communities use cultural values and beliefs to accept, affirm, and celebrate their LGBTQ and gender nonbinary individuals; (3) how do culturally-affirming interventions promote bienestar colectivo among Latinx and LGBTQ and gender nonbinary individuals and communities? At its core, my work is guided by counseling psychology values such as social justice, person-environment interactions, growth, resilience, and resistance. A significant portion of my research uses advanced qualitative methodologies to explore the experiences of marginalized communities for which existing measures do not accurately capture their experiences.