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Dr. NaYeon Yang

Assistant Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Psychology

Email: NaYeon.Yang@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, University of Maryland, 2024
    Major: Psychology

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • PSYC 4020 - Psychology of Death and Dying, 1 course.
  • PSYC 4030 - Multicultural Psychology, 2 courses.
  • PSYC 4850 - Research in Psychology, 1 course.
  • PSYC 6820 - Practicum, 2 courses.
  • PSYC 6830 - Practicum, 2 courses.

Directed Student Learning

  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, Psychology. (December 9, 2025).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, "A Thematic Analysis on the Perceptions of Allyship for Transgender and Nonbinary Individuals," Psychology. (August 27, 2025).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "Fat Black Women and Their (Womanist) Attitudes: Examining the Roles of Body Appreciation, Sexual Autonomy, and Womanism on Sexual Risk among Fat Black Women," Psychology. (August 24, 2025).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "Body Image, Appearance, and the Self: The Experiences of Black Female Collegiate Athletes," Psychology. (August 13, 2025).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "Emotional Self-Control, Self-Compassion, Perceived Burdensomeness, Self-Stigma of Seeking Help, and Help-Seeking Intention Among Asian Americans," Psychology. (July 9, 2025).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, "Personal Histories of Suicide and Emotional Reactions toward Suicidal Clients: The Mediating Role of Suicide Stigma among Mental Health Trainees," Psychology. (August 30, 2024 - November 7, 2025).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book Chapter

  • Jankauskaite, G., Yang, N. (2023). Grief and trauma education and training for graduate students in psychology and social work programs. A Professional’s Guide to Understanding Trauma and Loss. Cambridge Scholars.
  • Lee, S.M., Yang, N. (2017). School-Based Counseling Policy, Policy Research, and Implications: Findings from South Korea. International Handbook for Policy Research on School-Based Counseling. 305-314. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58179-8_19

    • Journal Article

  • Yang, N., Khanna, G.J. (2025). AI and Technology in Grief Support: Clinical Implications and Ethical Considerations. The Counseling Psychologist. 53 (4) 579-604. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/00110000251352568
  • Jankauskaite, G., O’Brien, K.M., Yoo, S., Yang, N., Yoon, S., Bang, J. (2025). Improving Grief Counseling: Enhancing the Education and Confidence of Psychology Graduate Students. Journal of Loss and Trauma. 30 (4) 515-539. Informa UK Limited. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2024.2402393
  • Yang, N., Jankauskaite, G., Gerstenblith, J.A., Hillman, J.W., Wang, R.J., Le, T.P., Hill, C.E. (2023). Counseling psychology doctoral students’ experiences of authenticity: a collaborative autoethnography. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 36 (1) 89-111. Informa UK Limited. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2022.2063260
  • Keum, B.T., Kase, C.A., Sharma, R., Yee, S.E., O'Connor, S., Bansal, P., Yang, N. (2022). Collective program social justice identity and perceived norms on promoting student advocacy. The Counseling Psychologist. 50 (7) 1039-1068.
  • Ahn, L.H., Yang, N., An, M. (2022). COVID-19 Racism, Internalized Racism, and Psychological Outcomes Among East Asians/East Asian Americans. The Counseling Psychologist. 50 (3) 359-383. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/00110000211070597
  • Yang, N., Lee, S. (2022). The development and validation of the Meaning Making in Grief Scale. Death Studies. 46 (1) 178-188. Informa UK Limited. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2020.1725929
  • Jankauskaite, G., O’Brien, K.M., Yang, N. (2021). Assessing Knowledge and Predicting Grief Counseling Skills Among University Counseling Center Therapists. The Counseling Psychologist. 49 (3) 458-484. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000020983525
  • O’Brien, K.M., Yang, N., Jankauskaite, G. (2021). Women’s Experiences of Managing Work and End-of-Life Care: Challenges, Rewards and Recommendations for Vocational Psychologists. Journal of Career Assessment. 29 (1) 3-17. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072720933556
  • Kim, B., Kim, S.R., Yang, N., Yaung, H., Ha, G.Y., Yang, J.Y., Lee, B., Lee, S.M. (2018). Longitudinal Relationships Between Planned Happenstance Skills and Life Adjustment and the Moderating Role of Career Barriers. Journal of Career Development. 45 (3) 215-226. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845316681078
  • Kim, S.R., Kim, B., Yang, N., Yaung, H., Lee, S.M. (2017). Longitudinal Changes of Planned Happenstance Skills by Gender, Community Types, and Employment Status in a Sample of College Students in School‐to‐Work Transition. Journal of Employment Counseling. 54 (4) 183-191. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/joec.12066
  • Yang, N., Yaung, H., Noh, H., Jang, S.H., Lee, B. (2017). The change of planned happenstance skills and its association with career-related variables during school-to-work transition. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance. 17 (1) 19-38. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-016-9332-z

Presentations Given

    Invited Talk

  • Yang, N. (Presenter), Korean American Wellness Association (KAWA) 2025 Virtual Conference, Understanding Grief After Loss: Symptoms, Theories, and Cultural Perspectives, Korean American Wellness Association, Virtual, United States of America. (2025 - 2025).
  • Yang, N. (Presenter), National Summit for Korean American Mental Health Professionals, Collective trauma from sociopolitical crises: Impacts and community resilience, Mustard Seed Generation, Virtual, United States of America. (2025 - 2025).
  • Yang, N. (Presenter), Psi Chi International Honor Society of Psychology Speaker Event, When Grief Meets AI: Clinical Insights and Ethical Dilemmas in the Digital Age, Psi Chi International Honor Society of Psychology, UNT Chapter, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States of America. (2025 - 2025).
  • Yang, N. (Author & Presenter), Korean Counseling Psychological Association (KCPA) 2024 October Academic Conference, Embracing the Pain of Loss: A Therapeutic Approach to Grief, Korean Counseling Psychological Association (KCPA), Virtual / Seoul, South Korea, Korea, South. (2024 - 2024).

    • Oral Presentation

  • Kim, T. (Presenter), Yang, N. (Presenter), Kim, M. (Presenter), Lee, H. (Presenter), Lee, H. (Presenter), The American Psychological Association 2025 Convention, Collective trauma from sociopolitical crises: Impacts and community resilience, American Psychological Association, Denver, CO, United States of America. (2025 - 2025).
  • Jang, J. (Presenter), Yang, N. (Presenter), The Asian American Psychological Association 2025 Convention, Grieving in Han (한 恨), Rising in Heung (흥 興), and Rooting in Jeong (정 情): Language as decolonial praxis for collective emotion, resistance, and healing, Asian American Psychological Association, Denver, CO, United States of America. (2025 - 2025).

    • Poster

  • Jacqueline, B. (Author & Presenter), Stowe, M. (Author), Hammami, Z. (Author), Moussa Pasha, L. (Author), Wood, A. (Author), Sattar, E. (Author), Yang, N. (Author), The Texas Undergraduate Research Conference in the Social Sciences, Digital attachment figures: A preliminary scoping review of attachment in human-ai relationships, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States of America. (2025 - 2025).
  • Yang, N. (Author & Presenter), Hwang, H. (Author), Stowe, M. (Author), Moussa Pasha, L. (Author), Gipson-Washington, R. (Author), The American Psychological Association 2025 Convention, Exploring grief journeys: Qualitative insights into bereaved individuals’ experiences, American Psychological Association, Denver, CO, United States of America. (2025 - 2025).
  • Yang, N. (Presenter), Gipson-Washington, R. (Author), Moussa Pasha, L. (Author), Hwang, H. (Author), Stowe, M. (Author), The Association for Death Education and Counseling 2025 Annual Conference, Culture in grief research: A 25-year systematic review and content analysis, Association for Death Education and Counseling, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America. (2025 - 2025).
  • Yang, N. (Author & Presenter), Jankauskaite, G. (Author), The American Psychological Association 2024 Convention, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Grief Support: Implications for Counseling Psychologists, American Psychological Association, Seattle, WA, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Yang, N. (Author & Presenter), O'Brien, K.M. (Author), The American Psychological Association 2024 Convention, Psychological Adjustment in Grief: A Cross-Cultural Study between the United States and South Korea., American Psychological Association, Seattle, WA, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Yang, N. (Author & Presenter), The North American Society for Psychotherapy Research 2023 Conference, Identifying cross-cultural aspects of continuing bonds in grief: A factor analysis of bereaved individuals in the United States and Korea, Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR), Amherst, MA, United States of America. (2023 - 2023).
  • Yang, N. (Author & Presenter), O'Brien, K.M. (Author & Presenter), The American Psychological Association 2023 Convention, Predicting U.S. bereaved individuals’ psychological adjustment: A preliminary analysis, American Psychological Association, Washington DC, United States of America. (2023 - 2023).
  • Yang, N. (Author & Presenter), Jankauskaite, G. (Author), The American Psychological Association 2023 Convention, Recommendations for culturally responsive end-of-life (EOL) care and grief counseling, American Psychological Association, Washington DC, United States of America. (2023 - 2023).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Yang, N. (Principal), "Integrating AI to Enrich Research and Mentorship in Counseling Psychology," sponsored by Faculty Success (Office of the Provost), University of North Texas, University of North Texas, $1473 Funded. (2025 - 2026).
  • Yang, N. (Principal), "UNT Global Venture Fund: Collaborative Research/Creative Scholarly Projects Abroad," sponsored by University of North Texas, University of North Texas, $3000 Funded. (2025 - 2026).

Service

University Service

  • Committee Member, Clinic Routine Assessment Committee. (January 1, 2025 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Scholarship Committee. (January 1, 2025 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Counseling Psychology Program. (September 1, 2024 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Research Infrastructure Subcommittee. (September 25, 2025 - 2025).
  • Committee Member, Visiting Lecturer Search Committee. (January 1, 2025 - 2025).
  • Committee Member, Lecturer/Senior Lecturer Search Committee. (October 1, 2024 - 2025).

Professional Service

  • Editorial Review Board Member, Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion. (September 1, 2025 - Present).
  • Committee Chair, American Psychological Foundation (APF) Early Career Psychologist (ECP) Committee. (August 2025 - Present).
  • Committee Chair, APA Division 17 International Section (ICP) International Mentoring and Orientation Committee (IMOC). (August 2025 - Present).
  • Editorial Review Board Member, The Counseling Psychologist (TCP). (January 1, 2025 - Present).
  • Editorial Review Board Member, Journal of College Student Mental Health (JCSMH). (2024 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Grant Proposal, American Psychological Foundation (APF) The Springfield Research Fund Grants Committee. (2025 - 2025).
  • Reviewer, Grant Proposal, American Psychological Foundation (APF) Visionary Grant Review Committee. (2025 - 2025).
  • Reviewer, Grant Proposal, American Psychological Foundation (APF) Division 56 Cultivating Healing, Advocacy, Nonviolence, Growth, and Equity (CHANGE) Grant Review Committee. (October 2024 - December 2024).