Ronald Asiimwe

Dr. A grew up in Uganda, Africa and moved to the US in 2016 to study Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). He has research and clinical experience practicing in both the U.S. and in his home country of Uganda. His research program integrates multicultural perspectives to understand how traumatic experiences such as gender-based violence, child abuse/neglect, among others affect various family processes including, parenting, marital/couple functioning, family relationships, overall mental and emotional health of individuals and families from culturally diverse communities. The goal of Dr. A’s research is to discover culturally responsive systemic interventions to mitigate/prevent the ripple effects of these traumatic experiences so to enable children and adults in underserved families and communities live healthy and fulfilled lives and relationships. Dr. A’s research also focuses on adapting measurement instruments for behavioral health science constructs to diverse cultural contexts. The aim is to develop and advance assessment tools that are culturally informed and appropriate. His other interests are in the development of systemic family therapy in Africa, cultural competence, and self-of-the-therapist in MFT practice. Given his passion for cross-cultural exchange of scientific knowledge in systemic family therapy practices, he has pioneered the training of the evidence-based emotionally focused therapy (EFT) in Uganda and Kenya and is currently conducting research to explore the cultural acceptability and applicability of the EFT model in both African settings.   

Dr. A is also a trained Couple/Marriage and Family Therapist and AAMFT Approved Supervisor in training. His therapeutic practices are rooted in attachment theory, with a particular emphasis on Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) and Attachment-Based Family Therapy. He also incorporates elements of narrative therapy, Bowenian multigenerational family therapy, multicultural perspectives, and trauma-informed approaches to psychotherapy. As an African systemic family therapist, Dr. A is deeply committed to research and clinical practice that seek to enhance the mental, emotional, and relational well-being of individuals, couples, and families from historically underrepresented backgrounds. He is also a firm advocate of the Ubuntu African philosophy, which emphasizes that "One’s humanity is made possible through the humanity of others." In his work with students in the classroom and clients in therapy, he strives to highlight values such as interconnectedness, shared humanity, unity of purpose, and collective consciousness.