College of Education and Human Development

Family Social Science

Tai Mendenhall

  • Pronouns: he/him/his

  • Professor, Couple & Family Therapy Specialization

Tai Mendenhall

Areas of interest

Medical Family Therapy
Families and Chronic Illness
Trauma and Fieldwork
Citizen Health Care
Community-based Participatory Research

Degrees

PhD, Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Minnesota
MS, Marriage and Family Therapy, Kansas State University
BS, Family Social Science, University of Minnesota

Publications

See CV for complete list

  1. Mendenhall, T. (in-press). Navigating loss in healthcare teams: We are in this together. Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics, 14(2), 101-106. Read the full article
  2. Senaratne, P., & Mendenhall, T. (2024). Clinical work with female torture survivors: An exploration of service providers’ views. Contemporary Family Therapy. Advance online publication. Read the full article.
  3. Eghaneyan, G., Sanchez, K., Nakanishi, C.*, & Mendenhall, T. (in-press). Establishing an accountability benchmark for equity, diversity, and inclusion: A 10-year scoping review of Families, Systems, & Health. Advance online publication. Families, Systems, & Health. Read the full article.
  4. Khanpour, S.*, & Mendenhall, T. (in-press). Religion and sexuality: A qualitative study of young Muslim college students’ experiences. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 36 (3-4), 67-87. Read the full article.
  5. Doherty, W., & Mendenhall, T. (2024). Becoming a citizen therapist: Integrating community problem-solving into your work as a healer. American Psychological Association.  
  6. Mendenhall, T., Plowman, E., & Trump, L. (Eds.). (2025). Intimate relationships: Where have we been? Where are we going? (4th edition). Kendall Hunt Publishing. 
    3rd edition published in 2019  
    2nd edition published in 2016  
    1st edition published in 2014   
  7. Mendenhall, T., Lamson, A., Hodgson, J., & Baird, M. (Eds.). (2018). Clinical methods in medical family therapy. Springer.    
  8. Kazlauskaite, V., & Mendenhall, T. (2024). Providers working with parents who are diagnosed with cancer: Education and role perceptions regarding communication efforts between parents and children. Current Psychology, 43, 10762-10775. Read the full article.
  9. Fatiha, N.*, Mendenhall, T., & Berge, J. (2023). How to do research with Native communities: Lessons from students’ experiences and Elders’ wisdom. AlterNative, 19(2), 366-376. Read the full article.
  10. Rivera-Kloeppel, B.*, & Mendenhall, T. (2023). Examining the relationship between self-care and compassion fatigue in mental health professionals: A critical review. Traumatology, 29(2), 163-173. Read the full article.
  11. Mendenhall, T., McIntosh, D.*, & Hottinger, D. (2022). Walking-the-walk: Attending to the “spiritual” in Medical Family Therapy’s biopsychosocial/spiritual care. Contemporary Family Therapy, 44, 44-54. Read the full article.
  12. Simpson, J.*, & Mendenhall, T. (2022). Community-based participatory research with Indigenous youth: A critical review of literature. AlterNative, 18(1), 192-202. Read the full article.
  13. Braughton, J., Mendenhall, T., & Kazlauskaite, V. (2022). Identification of resiliency processes in dual-trauma couples: An exploration of self-reported relational strengths and weaknesses. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 14(S1), S109-S118. Read the full article.
  14. Lamson, A., Hodgson, J., Pratt, K., Mendenhall, T., Wong, A., Sesemann, E., Brown, B., Taylor, E., Williams-Reade, J., Blocker, D., Caspari, J., Zubatsky, M., & Martin, M. (2022). Couple and family interventions for high mortality health conditions: A strategic review (2010-2019). Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 48, 307-345.  Read the full article.
  15. Mendenhall, T. (2021). We are in this together: Maintaining our healthcare teams’ wellness during challenging times. Families, Systems, & Health, 39(3), 541-543. Read the full article.

Recent News

Teaching and Learning

FSoS 1101: Intimate Relationships

FSoS 3431: Counseling Skills Practicum II

FSoS 4107: Traumatic Stress & Resilience in Vulnerable Families across the Lifespan

FSoS 8047: Integrative Research Seminar

FSoS 8103: Qualitative Family Research Methods - I

FSoS: 8196 & 8296: Couple/Marriage & Family Therapy Practicum & C/MFT Internship

FSoS 8396: C/MFT Supervision of Supervision

FSoS 8560: Citizen Professional Work with Families

Supervisor, Doctoral MFT/MedFT Clinical Placement: Family Social Science

Supervisor, Undergraduate Clinical Internship: Family Social Science

Instructor, Disaster Behavioral Health (UMN Health Emergency Response Office)

Instructor, Psychological First Aid (UMN Health Emergency Response Office)

Honors and Awards

2023  Marty and Jack Rossman Faculty Development Award, University of Minnesota/College of Education and Human Development

2022, 2021, 2020, 2019  Certificate for Dedication to Student Learning, UMN College of Education and Human Development

2020  Families and Health Professional Clinical Practice Award, National Council on Family Relations

2017  Ramsey County Public Health Award (University of Minnesota + Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul / Department of Indian Work)

2016  Wingspread Award; Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA)

2016  Excellence in Academic Advising and Mentoring Award; University of Minnesota; College of Education and Human Development

2015  Community Outreach and Engagement Faculty Award; University of Minnesota; College of Education and Human Development

2010  Robert H. Beck Faculty Teaching Award; University of Minnesota; College of Education and Human Development

2005  Rising Star Award; University of Minnesota; College of Human Ecology

2004  Best Behavioral Medicine Presentation regarding Innovative Strategies of Providing Care to Over-serviced/Under-served Patients; University of Minnesota Medical School; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health

2003  Recognition of Excellence in Clinical Work and Patient Relations; Wake Forest University School of Medicine; Department of Psychiatry

2002  Recognition of Excellence in Teaching: Ramsey Family Physicians Clinic; Department of Family & Community Medicine