College of Education and Human Development

Family Social Science

Ronald Asiimwe, PhD

  • Assistant Professor, Couple & Family Therapy Specialization

Ronald Asiimwe, assistant professor

Areas of interest

Trauma, mental, and relational well-being of African families (Africa & the diaspora) 
Culturally responsive systemic family therapy interventions 
Emotionally focused therapy and multiculturalism 
Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)

Degrees

BA, Community Psychology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
MS, Marriage and Family Therapy, Oklahoma Baptist University
PhD, Human Development and Family Studies with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy, Michigan State University

Biography

Dr. A grew up in Uganda, Africa and moved to the US in 2016 to study Couple and Family Therapy (CFT). He has research and clinical experience practicing in both the U.S. and in his home country of Uganda. His research integrates multicultural perspectives to understand and explore the mental and relational health needs of African families and communities, both in the US and in Africa, many of whom face challenges related to current and historical trauma. Through Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approaches and in collaboration with various community partners in the US and Africa, the goal of Dr. Asiimwe’s research is to discover culturally responsive, research-informed solutions to improve the mental and relational well-being of African families and communities. His work not only seeks to center the voices of this culturally diverse subgroup in the family therapy literature but also to inform the design/development of relational interventions tailored to the unique contexts of this population. His work is interdisciplinary and is guided by the principles of liberation psychology, community psychology, and cultural ecological frameworks.

Driven by his passion for cross-cultural exchange knowledge of evidence-based interventions, Dr. Asiimwe pioneered trainings in emotionally focused therapy (EFT) in Uganda and Kenya. He is currently conducting research to explore the cultural acceptability and applicability of the EFT model in these African settings. Additionally, he is actively engaged in research examining parenting practices and child health outcomes among African immigrants in Minnesota, USA, and in Uganda, Africa, alongside research examining stakeholders’ perspectives on addressing violence in intimate relationships in Uganda. Through these efforts, he hopes to enhance efforts to develop effective and sustainable culturally informed relational therapies to improve the relational wellbeing of African families.  

Dr. Asiimwe is also a trained Couple and Family Therapist and AAMFT Approved Supervisor in training. His clinical practice is trauma-informed and integrates attachment-focused family therapy approaches like EFT, intergenerational, and narrative therapy perspectives. Committed to enhancing mental, emotional, and relational well-being of his clients, Dr. Asiimwe’s clinical practice is collaborative and strengths-based and emphases meeting the goals of his clients. He is keen on promoting values and virtues of resilience, interconnectedness, unity, and collective purpose for individuals, couples, and families he works with in therapy. 

Publications

(See CV for full list)

Dwanyen, L., Luberenga, I., Asiimwe, R., Galukande, P., Blow, A., & Kasujja, R. (2024). Voices from the Ground: Ethnographic Perspectives on Strengthening the Ugandan National Mental Health System: An Ethnographic Needs Assessment.  PLOS Mental Health.

Asiimwe, R., Nuwagaba-K, R. D., Dwanyen, L., & Kasujja, R. (2023). Sociocultural considerations of mental health care and help-seeking in Uganda. Invited special issue, SSM-Mental Health, 100232. Read the full article.

Casaburo, G., Asiimwe, R., Yzaguirre, M. M., Fang, M., & Holtrop, K. (2023). Identifying Beneficial Training Elements: Clinician Perceptions of Learning the Evidence-Based Generation PMTO Intervention. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 1-16. Read the full article. 

Huerta, P., Edwards, C., Asiimwe, R., PettyJohn, M., White, J., Morgan, P., & Wittenborn, A. K. (2022). Exploratory analysis of pursue-withdraw patterns, attachment, and gender among couples in Emotionally Focused Therapy. The American Journal of Family Therapy. Read the full article.  

Asiimwe, R., Dwanyen, L., Subramanian, S. M., Kasujja, R., & Blow, A. J. (2022). Therapist training and cultural adaptation procedures: A systematic review of culturally adapted evidence-based parenting programs in Africa. Family Process. Read the full article. 

Asiimwe, R., Lesch, E., Karume, M. W., & Blow, A. J., (2021). Expanding our international reach: Trends in the development of systemic family therapy training and implementation in Africa. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 47, 815-830. Read the full article. 

Asiimwe, R., Tseng, C., Murray, S., Ojuka, J.C., Arima, E.G., & Familia-Lopez, I. (2022). Association of Pregnancy-related Stigma, Intimate Partner Violence with Psychological Distress among Teenagers in Rural Uganda. the Journal of Adolescence. Read the full article. 

Yzaguirre, M. M., PettyJohn, M. E., Tseng, C.F., Asiimwe, R., Fang, M. & Blow, A. J. (2022). Marriage and family therapy masters’ students' diversity course experiences. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy. Read the full article. 

Book Chapters

Asiimwe, R., Karume, M., & Kasujja, R (2023). "Systemic Family Therapy in Africa: Past, Present, and Future Trends," in The Routledge International Handbook of Couple and Family Therapy (pp. 155-187). Routledge.

Presentations

(See CV for full list)

Asiimwe, R. (2024). "Building Strong Foundations: Advancing Couple Therapy Training in Uganda. In Current trends in systemic family therapy around the world: Voices from Korea, Bangladesh, Uganda, and China." Symposium presentation at the NCFR Conference, Seattle, WA.

Asiimwe, R., & Lesch, E. (2024). “In EFT, I found my own healing”: Experiences of Ugandan practitioners in learning EFCT." Presentation at the EFT World Summit, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 

Asiimwe, R., Karume, M., Kosgey, C., & Patricia, A. (2024). "Trailblazing New Grounds: The Evolution and Trends of Systemic Family Therapy in Kenya." A paper presentation at the Systemic Family Therapy Conference, Orlando, FL.

Asiimwe, R., & Mussa, K. (2024). Exploring the Impact of Father's Engagement in Parenting on Child Mental Health: Insights from a Survey of Ugandan Households. A poster presented at the CEHD Research & Innovation Day, Minneapolis.

Asiimwe, R. (2023). Expert Feedback and Cognitive Interviews in Establishing the Validity of Survey Items Measuring Parenting Practices in a Ugandan Context; a Qualitative Study. A poster presentation in the Family Therapy Section of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Conference, Orlando.

Galukande, P., Asiimwe, R., Lesch, E., de Bruin, K. (2023). Assessing the initial feasibility and acceptability of emotionally focused therapy’s Hold Me Tight couples’ workshop on a group of middle-class Ugandan couples A poster presentation at the Intervention Research in Systemic Family Therapy Annual Conference of the AAMFT, Salt Lake City.

Dwanyen, L., Blow, A., Luberenga, I., Asiimwe, R., & Kasujja, K. (2023). Perspectives on Traumatic Stress: An Ethnographic Assessment of National Mental Health Efforts in Uganda. A Paper Presentation at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Los Angeles.

Dwanyen, L., Kasujja, R., Asiimwe, R., Luberenga, I., & Blow, A. J. (2022). Mental Health in Uganda: An Ethnographic Assessment of the Mental Health System and Opportunities for Systemic Interventions. A presentation at the Intervention Research in Systemic Family Therapy Annual Conference, East Lansing, Michigan.

Asiimwe, R., Mugumya, F., Siu, G., & Bangirana, C. (2022). The state of Ugandan fathers: A scoping review. A presentation at the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: Intervention Research in Systemic Family Therapy Annual Conference, East Lansing, Michigan.

Miller, D. L., Asiimwe, R., Casaburo, G., Yzaguirre, M., Bayardo, J., Gray, L, & Holtrop, K. (2022). Advancing intervention reach through academic-community partner research strategies. A 2-hour workshop presentation at American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: Intervention Research in Systemic Family Therapy Annual Conference, East Lansing, Michigan.

Asiimwe, R., Dwanyen, L., & Blow, A. J. (2021). Barriers to Mental Health Treatment in Africa; Moving towards the Implementation of Systemic Family Therapy Practices. A presentation at the Systemic Family Therapy conference, Online.

Honors and Awards

2023- The John Douglas Award, The International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)
2023- New Writers Fellowship Award, Family Process Institute (FPI).
2022- Excellence in Graduate Teaching award, Office of the Provost for Faculty and Academic Staff Development, Michigan State University; https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2022/excellence-in-teaching-citations
2021- Third Place Team Award, National Student Ethics Competition of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)

Professional Associations and Memberships

2023- Present, Member, Minnesota Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (MNAMFT)
2022- Present, Member, National Council on Family Relations (NCFR)
2022-Present, Member, Uganda Counseling Association 
2016- Present, Professional member, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
2021- Present, Member, Intervention Research in Systemic Family Therapy (AAMFT)
2020-Present, Member, International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy- ICEEFT)

Service

2024- Present, Member, Board of Directors, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)

Recent News

"Emotionally focused healing in a relational context," Mentally Flexible podcast

"FSOS Professor Honored," Family Social Science News

"Introduction of emotionally-focused therapy in Uganda: The Why"

"Common Challenges Couples Face," Mary Hanson Show

"FSOS welcomes new CFT faculty," Family Social Science News