Associate Professor
Areas of Interest
Psychosocial adjustment of individuals and their families following traumatic injury, including internal and external factors that may drive psychological distress and posttraumatic growth following traumatic brain injury
Biography
Stephanie Agtarap, Ph.D. has developed a unique career as an experimental (research, non-clinical) psychologist in medical settings investigating psychological processes of recovery among individuals and their family members following traumatic injury. In particular, Dr. Agtarap seeks to understand the extent to which social, environmental and systemic issues can facilitate (or prevent) an individual’s capacity for psychosocial adjustment and positive identity development – including available and accessible ways for community reintegration and participation.
She received her Ph.D. in Behavioral Science from University of North Texas and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at University of California San Diego before working at Craig Hospital as a Research Scientist. Her systematic program of research uses mixed methods to understand the personal and social determinants of psychosocial adjustment among individuals and their loved ones following brain and spinal cord injury.
In 2023, Dr. Agtarap was awarded a NIDILRR Switzer Fellowship to evaluate and screen for caregiver readiness among family members of loved ones after brain injury. She also recently received Department of Defense funding to study psychosocial factors that drive posttraumatic growth (or, the positive outcomes as a result of traumatic events) after injury. She has served as Research Investigator on several seed-funded pilot studies headed by clinicians, including behavior management, PRN psychological medications, and recreational therapy studies which focus on the psychosocial outcomes of patients during inpatient rehabilitation. Recent interests have extended to the role of recreational therapy activities to enhance social participation and community reintegration for survivors of brain injury.
Dr. Agtarap is a proud Filipino American woman, who enjoys the outdoors, playing the violin, and advocating for underrepresented individuals living with neurodisability in all forms.
Education & Training
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California San Diego
Ph.D., University of North Texas
MS, University of North Texas
BA, Department of Psychology, Southwestern University