Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
(PhD, University of Minnesota)

Research Interests

Contact Information

Fowler House, Room 202
Purdue University
1200 W. State Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2055

Phone: (765) 494-7859
Fax: (765) 494-0503

E-mail: thomasv@purdue.edu

Biography
Recent Publications
Education
Courses Recently Taught
Honors
External Grants
Professional Service

Biography

A native of Germany Dr. Thomas immigrate to the U.S. in 1982. In 1990 he received his Ph.D. in Family Social Science with a Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Thomas taught for 3 years in the College of Education at the University of Iowa before joining Purdue University in 1993. On the graduate level Dr. Thomas is associated with the nationally accredited Marriage and Family Program, on the undergraduate level he teaches courses in the area of Youth, Adult, and Family Services.

top of page

Recent Publications

Books
Rastogi, M., & Thomas, V. (Eds.). (in press). Therapy with Ethnic Minority Couples. New York: Sage.

Cierpka, M., Thomas, V., & Sprenkle, D. (Eds.).(2005). Family assessment: Integrating multiple clinical perspectives. Seattle, WA: Hogrefe.

Thomas, V., Karis, T., & Wetchler, J. (Eds.).(2003). Clinical Issues with Interracial couples: Theory and research. New York: Haworth Press.

Refereed Journal Articles
Christiansen, A., Thomas, V., Kafescioglu, N., Karakurt, G., Lowe, W., Smith, W., & Wittenborn, A. (in press). Multicultural supervision: Lessons learned about on ongoing struggle. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.

Bourdeau, E., Thomas, V., & Long J. (in press). Latino sexual styles: Developing a nuanced understanding of risk. The Journal of Sex Research.

Poulsen, S., & Thomas, V. (2007). Cultural issues in couples therapy. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 6(1/2), 141-152.

Thomas, V., & Ray, K. (2006). Counseling exceptional individuals and their families: A systems perspectives. Professional School Counseling, 10, 58-65.

Wittenborn, A.K., Faber, A.J., Harvey, A.M., & Thomas, V.K. (2006). Emotionally-Focused Family Therapy and play therapy techniques. American Journal of Family Therapy, 34, 1-10.

Natrajan, R., Rastogi, M., & Thomas, V. (2006). On becoming a profession: The growth of marriage and family therapy in India. Contemporary Family Therapy, 27, 453-471.

Dankoski, M.E., Keiley, M.K., Thomas, V., Choice, P., Lloyd, S.A., & Seery, B. (2006). Affect regulation and the cycle of violence against women: New directions for understanding the process. Journal of Family Violence, 21, 327-339.

Natrajan, R., Karuppaswamy, N., Thomas, V. & Ramadoss, K. (2005). Adaptation of two family therapy training instruments to culturally suit the Indian context. Contemporary Family Therapy, 27, 415-434.

Thomas, V., Karis, T.A., Wetchler, J.L. (2003). Introduction. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 2(2/3), 1-2.

Riehl-Emde, A., Thomas, V., Willi, J. (2003). Love: A neglected dimension in marital research and therapy. Family Process, 42, 253-267.

Moon, S., & Thomas, V. (2003). Family therapy with gifted and talented adolescents. Journal of Secondary Gifted Education, XIV, 107-113.

Bourdeau. E., & Thomas, V. (2003). Counseling gifted clients and their families: Comparing clients’ and counselors’ perspectives. Journal of Secondary Gifted Education, XIV, 114-126.

Natrajan, R., & Thomas, V. (2002). Need for family therapy for middle class families in India. Contemporary Family Therapy, 24, 483-503.

Hill, M., & Thomas, V. (2002). Racial and gender identity development for black and white Women in interracial partner relationships. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 1(4), 1-35.

Thomas, V., & Rausch, D. (2002). Evaluating psychosocial factors of and psychological reactions to infertility treatment. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 1(2), 33-49.

Thomas, V. (2002). Conducting research with community agencies: Meeting recruitment and collaboration challenges. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 28, 9-14.

Hsiung, P.C., & Thomas, V. (2001). Coping strategies of people with HIV/AIDS in negative health care experience. AIDS Care, 13, 749-762.

Prouty, A., Thomas, V., Johnson, S., & Long, J. (2001). Methods of feminist family therapy supervision. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 27, 85-97.

Thomas, V., & Deacon, S. (2000). Introduction to special section: A guided imagery to creativity in family therapy. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 19(3), 1-3.

Deacon, S., & Thomas, V. (2000). Discovering creativity in family therapy: A theoretical analysis. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 19(3), 4-16.

Hill, M., & Thomas, V. (2000). Strategies for racial identity development: Narratives of black and white women in interracial partner relationships. Family Relations, 49, 193-200.

Thomas, V., & Ozechowski, T. (2000). A test of the Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems using the Clinical Rating Scale. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 26, 523-534.

Johnson, L., & Thomas, V. (1999). The inclusion of children in family therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 25, 117-123.

Leitch, L., & Thomas, V. (1999). The AAMFT-Head Start Training Partnership Project: Enhancing MFT capacities beyond the family system. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 25, 169-178.

Thomas, V. (1999). David and the family bane: Therapy with a gifted child and his family. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 10, 15-24.

Thomas, V., & Lewis, R. (1999). Observational couple assessment: A cross-model comparison. Journal of Family Therapy, 21, 78-95.

Thomas, V., McCollum, E. E., & Snyder, W. (1999). Beyond the clinic: In-home therapy with Head Start families. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 25, 179-191.

Fontes, L., Piercy, F., Thomas, V., & Sprenkle, D. (1998). The self of the trainer in marriage and family therapy education. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 24, 371-386.

Piercy, F., & Thomas, V. (1998). Participatory evaluation research: An introduction for family therapists. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 24, 165-176.

Thomas, V., & Piercy, F. (1997). The use of stories in marriage and family therapy. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 7(3), 1-13.

Thomas, V., Striegel, P., Dudley, D., Wilkins, J., & Gibson, D. (1997). Parental grief of a Perinatal loss: An integration of individual and couple variables. Journal of Personal and Interpersonal Loss, 2, 167-187.

Thomas, V. (1996). Becoming Hansel again: Safety and hope in family stories. The Family Journal, 4, 264-267.

Lyness, K., & Thomas, V. (1995). Fitting a square peg in a square hole: Using metaphor in narrative therapy. Contemporary Family Therapy, 17, 127-142.

Thomas, V. (1995a). The Clinical Report: A case example of integrating family assessment instruments into family counseling practice. The Family Journal, 3, 284-297.

Thomas, V. (1995b). Of thorns and roses: The use of the "Brier Rose" fairy tale in therapy with families of gifted children. Contemporary Family Therapy, 17, 83-91.

Thomas, V., & Striegel, P. (1995). Stress and grief of perinatal loss: Integrating qualitative and quantitative methods. OMEGA: Journal of Death and Dying, 30, 299-311.

Thomas, V. (1994). Value analysis: A model of personal and professional ethics in marriage and family counseling. Counseling and Values, 38, 193-204.

Thomas, V., & Olson, D. H. (1994). Circumplex Model: Curvilinearity using Clinical Rating Scale (CRS) and FACES III. The Family Journal 2, 36-44.

Thomas, V., & Olson, D. H. (1993). Problem families and the Circumplex Model: Observational assessment using the Clinical Rating Scale (CRS). Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 19, 159-175.

Cierpka, M., & Thomas, V. (1991). Family assessment: Group versus individual scores. Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, Medizinische Psychologie: Ppmp-Disk Journal, 2, 458-459.

Book Chapters
Thomas, V., & Rastogi, M. (in press), Introduction: Developing cultural competence. In M. Rastogi &V. Thomas (Eds.), Couple Therapy with Ethnic Minorities. New York: Sage.

Addison, S., & Thomas, V. (in press). Power, privilege, and oppression: White therapists working with minority couples. In M. Rastogi & V. Thomas (Eds.), Couple Therapy with Ethnic Minorities. New York: Sage.

Poulsen, S., & Thomas, V. (2007). Awareness of culture: Clinical applications for couple therapy. In J. Wetchler (Ed.). Handbook of clinical issues in couple therapy (pp.141-152). New York: Haworth Press.

Poulsen, S., & Thomas, V. (2007). Cultural issues in couples therapy. In J. Wetchler (Ed.), Handbook of clinical issues in couple therapy (pp.141-152). New York: Haworth Press.

 Thomas, V., & Ray, K. (2006). A systems approach to counseling gifted individuals and their families. In S. Mendaglio & J.S. Peterson, J. S. (Eds.), Models for counseling the gifted (pp. 212-226). Waco, TX: Prufrock Press.

Thomas, V. (2005). Initial interview with a family. In M. Cierpka, V. Thomas, & D. Sprenkle (Eds.), Family assessment: Integrating multiple clinical perspectives (pp. 156-174). Seattle, WA: Hogrefe.

Thomas, V. (2003). Experiential approaches to family therapy. In L.L. Hecker & J.L. Wetchler (Eds.), An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy (pp. 173-201). New York: Haworth Press.

Thomas, V. (2002). Existential-experiential approaches to child and family psychotherapy. In F. Kaslow (Ed.), Comprehensive handbook of psychotherapy, R.F. Massey & S.D. Massey (Eds.), Vol III: Interpersonal, humanistic, existential (pp. 83-107) New York: Wiley.

Thomas, V. (2002). Sentenced to life or united in death: A case study of a family facing multiple deaths. In D. Baptiste (Ed.), Critical incidents in marital and family therapy: A practitioner’s case book (pp. 145-158). New York: Haworth Press.

Thomas, V. (1998a). Creating safe space in therapy. In T. Nelson & T. Trepper (Eds.), 101 more interventions in family therapy (pp. 406-410). New York: Haworth Press.

Thomas, V. (1998b). Re-connecting through touch. In T. Nelson & T. Trepper (Eds.), 101 more interventions in family therapy (pp. 449-456). New York: Haworth Press.

Benninghoven, D., Cierpka, M., & Thomas, V. (1996). Die Familiendiagnostischen Fragebogen-Inventare. In M. Cierpka (Ed.), Handbuch der Familiendignostik (pp. 431-452). Heidelberg: Springer

Fontes, L., & Thomas, V. (1996). Gender and multicultural issues in family therapy. In F. Piercy, D. Sprenkle, & J. Wetchler (Eds.), Source book in family therapy (2nd ed., pp. 256-282). New York: Sage.

Thomas, V. (1996). Prozeßmodelle und Ratingskalen. In M. Cierpka (Ed.), Handbuch der Familiendiagnostik (pp. 413-429). Heidelberg: Springer.

Thomas, V., & Striegel, P. (1994). Family-of-origin work for the family counselor. In C. H. Huber (Ed.), Transitioning from individual to family counseling (pp. 21-30). Alexandria, VA: ACA Press.

Thomas, V. (1988). Das Circumplex Model und der FACES. In M. Cierpka (Ed.), Familiendiagnostik (pp. 256-281). Heidelberg: Springer.

top of page

Education

• Ph.D., 1990, Family Social Science, Marriage and Family Therapy Specialty (AAMFT accredited) University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
• M.S.W., 1979, Social Work, Counseling Psychology, University of Kassel, West Germany.
• B.A. Sc., 1972, National Economics, University of Göttingen, West Germany.

top of page

Courses Recently Taught

2005

CDFS 666 Supervision in Family Therapy
CDFS 667 Practicum in Marriage Counseling
CDFS 669 Practicum in Family Therapy
CDFS 443 Assessment and Intervention for Family Specialists
CDFS 685C Seminar in Child and Adolescent Intervention Research

2006

CDFS 666 Supervision in Family Therapy
CDFS 667 Practicum in Marriage Counseling
CDFS 669 Practicum in Family Therapy

2007

CDFS 661 Special Issues: Children in Family Therapy
CDFS 667 Practicum in Marriage Counseling
CDFS 443 Assessment and Intervention for Family Specialists
CDFS 301 Families in a Multicultural Perspective (Study Abroad India)
CDFS 685C Seminar in Child and Adolescent Intervention Research
CDFS 431 Skills for Helping Professionals
CDFS 443 Assessment and Intervention for Family Specialists

top of page

Honors

2007 Mary T. Matthews Undergraduate Teaching Award. College of Consumer and Family Sciences, Purdue University.

2006 Nominee for Purdue University Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentor, College of Consumer and Family Sciences (CFS), Purdue University.

2005 Training Award of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).

top of page

External Grants

2007-2008 Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust: The Effectiveness of Filial Therapy with African American Grandparents and Their Grandchildren. Co-sponsored by Martin-Luther-King Center, Indianapolis, IN, $20,000. Principal Investigator.

2004-2005 Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust: ACT (Adults and Children Together) Against Violence Pilot Project, $25,000. Principal Investigator.

1996-1998 Gifted Education Services Grant: Provided by the Indiana Department of Education, $7,263. Principal Investigator.

AAMFT-Head Start Training Partnership Grant: Test and implementation of marriage and family therapy with Head Start families, $11,500. Principal Investigator.

top of page

Professional Service

Memberships in Professional Organizations
1996 Member, International Family Therapy Association (IFTA).
1994 Member, American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA).
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, State of Indiana. 1993 Approved Supervisor, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
1993 Member, Indiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (IAMFT).
1992 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, State of Iowa.
1989 Clinical Member, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
1989 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, State of Minnesota.
1988 Member, National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), Family Therapy Section.

National Offices Held in Professional Organizations:
Chair, Standards Review Committee (SRC) of the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).
2004-2006 Chair, Family Therapy Section, National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Chair-Elect, Family Therapy Section, National Council on Family Relations (NCFR).
2003-2005 Secretary, American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA). Editor-in-Chief AFTA Newsletter (publication of the American Family Therapy Academy) Commissioner of the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
Memberships on Editorial Boards
2002-present Board Member: Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapies.
1999-present Ad Hoc Reviewer: Journal of Family and Economic Issues.
1999-present Ad Hoc Editor: Family Relations.
1998-2002 Editor-in-Chief: AFTA Newsletter (publication of the American Family Therapy Academy).
1997-present Board Member: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.
1995-present Ad Hoc Editor: Journal of Family Psychology.
1994-1999 Editor of the Bridgebuilder/MFT News: newsletter of the Indiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (IAMFT).
1993-1998 Board Member: Counseling and Values.
1993-2005 Board Member: The Family Journal.
Book Review Editor: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.
Ad Hoc Editor: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy

top of page