Dr. Kristcha DeGuerre, Ph.D.

Speaker Information

Dr. Kristcha DeGuerre, Ph.D., LCSW, is a distinguished scholar and mental health professional, currently serving as an assistant professor at Galen University and the program coordinator of the Master of Social Work (MSW) program. In addition to her academic leadership, she is the mental health counselor at Galen University, where she provides essential support to individuals facing trauma and mental health challenges. Dr. DeGuerre also serves as the faculty chair for the first LGBTQ+ support group for students in Belize.

Dr. DeGuerre earned her doctoral degree from the prestigious University at Albany’s School of Social Welfare, with research focusing on gang-involved women and girls, mental health, and trauma. Her work employs qualitative methodologies and a feminist lens to highlight the experiences of marginalized populations in Belize including gang-involved girls. Her dissertation work was honored with the prestigious Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award. Where the innovative art-based life narrative methodology that she created is now being applied in both in clinical and research settings, earning recognition for its effectiveness in trauma processing and healing.

She has a forthcoming published chapter in Visual Methodologies and Methods for Caribbean Research and has conducted extensive policy analyses and published articles in the United States on the child welfare system, specifically examining childhood neglect and advocating for the integration of culturally relevant practices, as well as addressing the over-policing of marginalized populations.

As a clinician, Dr. DeGuerre specializes in gendered issues surrounding violence and discrimination, reinforcing her commitment to advancing mental health advocacy and social justice. Her interdisciplinary career reflects her dedication to effecting positive change, both in academia and in the lives of those navigating mental health challenges and societal inequities.