Erika Grafsky

The goal of my research is to improve the psychosocial health of sexual and gender minority individuals and their families.  I use qualitative and mixed-methods analytic strategies to understand the processes through which individuals and their families experience non-heterosexual sexualities and diverse gender identities, with a focus on sexual orientation disclosure decision making and well-being.  I engage traditional and critical theories to emphasize relational processes informed by human development and embedded within larger contexts.  My clinical scholarship centers on LGBTQ+ affirmative family therapy practices.  I regularly teach Traditional MFT Theories, Qualitative Methods, and HDFS Theories: Family & Systems at the graduate level. I enjoy involving undergraduate and graduate students as part of my research team: SGM Thriving Lives.

Kaestle, C. E., Allen, K. R., Wesche, R., & Grafsky, E. L. (2021). Adolescent sexual development: A family perspective. The Journal of Sex Research, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.1924605

Nedela, M., Hartwell, E., & Grafsky, E. L. (2021). What female bisexual couples want therapists to know: An exploratory investigation using thematic analysis. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2021.1920532 

Tankersley, A. P., Grafsky, E. L., Dike, J., & Jones, R. T. (2021). Risk and resilience factors for mental health among transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) Youth: A systematic review. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 24, 183-206. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-021-00344-6

Grafsky, E. L. (2018). Deciding to come out to family: Towards a model of sexual orientation disclosure decisions. Family Process, 57(3), 783-799. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12313

Grafsky, E. L., & Gary, E. A. (2018). What LGBT youth want in a program to assist with disclosing to their family. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 30(2), 172-191. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538720.2018.1444526

Grafsky, E. L., Hickey, K. A., Nguyen, H., & Wall, J. (2018). Youth disclosure of sexual orientation to siblings and extended family. Family Relations, 67(1), 147-160. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12299

Lavender-Stott, E. S., Grafsky, E. L., Nguyen, H. N., Haugen, E., & Steelman, S. M. (2018). Challenges and strategies of sexual minority research in Southwest Virginia. Journal of Homosexuality, 65(6), 691-704. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2017.1364104

Nguyen, H. N., Grafsky, E. L., & Piercy, F. P. (2016). MFT program policies on referral of LGBTQ clients. Contemporary Family Therapy, 38(3), 307-317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-016-9389-3

Grafsky, E. L. (2014). Becoming the parent of a GLB son or daughter. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 10(1-2), 36-57. https://doi.org/10.1080/1550428X.2014.857240