Frederic Bemak

Ed.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Professor
Director, Diversity Research and Action Center

Contact Information

Send email to fbemak@gmu.edu

Phone: (703) 993-3941
Fax: (703) 993-2013

George Mason University, Fairfax Campus
Robinson Hall A 331
4400 University Dr.
MS 4B3
Fairfax, VA 22030

Profile

Prior coming to George Mason University, Dr. Bemak was a Professor and Section Head for Counselor Education, School Psychology, and Rehabilitation Services at Ohio State University and former Associate Professor and Chair of the Counseling and Development Program at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Bemak has published extensively in the fields of cross-cultural and multicultural psychology and counseling, working with at-risk youth, transforming school counseling, and immigrant and refugee mental health and adjustment. He is the author of several books, most recently co-editor with Dr. Robert Conyne of Journeys to Professional Excellence: Lessons from Leading Counselor Educators and Practitioners published by the American Counseling Association and Counseling Refugees: A Psychosocial Approach to Innovative Multicultural Interventions co-authored with Drs. Rita Chi-Ying Chung and Paul Pedersen and publised by Greenwood Publishing. He has authored over 80 journal articles and book chapters in these areas. Dr. Bemak regularly provides consultation and training and speaks throughout the United States and has worked in 30 countries. He is the former Fulbright Scholar, World Rehabilitation Fund International Exchange of Experts Fellow, and Kellogg Fellow in International Leadership and Development. He is currently writing a book with Dr. Rita Chi-Ying Chung entitled Social Justice and Multiculturalism: Application, Theory and Practice in Counseling and Psychotherapy which is expected to be published in 2008. The book challenges both training and practice of psychologists and counselors to redefine their role to include issues of social justice and human rights. Dr. Bemak continues to present and offer training nationally and internationally and is active in the American Counseling Association, the American Psychological Association and the International Association for Counsellors.

Research Interests

  • Youth and Families at-risk
  • Immigrants and Refugees Psychosocial Adjustment and Mental Health
  • Academic equity and achievement across cultures and socioeconomic class
  • Cross-Cultural Issues in Psychology and Counseling
  • International Psychology
  • Transforming School Counseling

Recent Publications

Books - Selected Sample

  • Conyne, R. & Bemak, F. (2005). Journeys to Professional Excellence: Lessons from Leading Counselor Educators and Practitioners. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
  • Bemak, F., Chung, R. C-Y., & Pedersen, P. B. (2003). Counseling refugees: A psychosocial approach to innovative multicultural interventions. Greenwood Publishing.
  • Bemak, F., & Keys, S. (2000). Violent and aggressive youth: Intervention and preventions strategies for changing times. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Recent Journal Articles - Selected Sample

  • Chung, R. C-Y., & Bemak, F., Ortiz, D., & Sandoval-Perez, P. (upcoming). Promoting the mental health of migrants: A multicultural-social justice perspective. Special upcoming issue of the Journal of Counseling and Development on "Multiculturalism as a Fourth Force in Counseling: Reviewing our Progress and Charting Our Future."
  • Chung, R. C-Y., Bemak, F. & Talleyrand, R. (2007). Mentoring within the field of counseling: A preliminary study of multicultural perspectives. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 29, 21-32.
  • Bemak, F. (2005). Reflections on multiculturalism, social justice, and empowerment groups for academic success. A critical discourse for contemporary schools. Professional School Counseling, 8, 401-406.
  • Bemak, F., Chung, R. C-Y., & Sirosky-Sabado, L. A. (2005). Empowerment groups for academic success (EGAS): An innovative approach to prevent high school failure for at-risk urban African American girls. Professional School Counseling, 8, 377-389.
  • Kaffenberger, C., Murphy, S., & Bemak, F. (2006). School counseling leadership team: A
    statewide collaborative model to transform school counseling. Professional School Counseling, 94, 288-294.
  • Bemak, F. (2005). Reflections on multiculturalism, social justice, and empowerment groups for academic success: A critical discourse for contemporary schools. Professional School Counseling, 8, 401-406.
  • Bemak, F. & Chung, R. C-Y. (2005). Advocacy as a critical role for urban school counselors: Working toward equity and social justice. Professional School Counseling, 8, 196-202.
  • Bemak, F. & Chung, R. C-Y. (2004). Teaching multicultural group counseling: Perspectives for a new era. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 29, 31-41.
  • Conyne, R. & Bemak, F. (2004). Teaching group work from an ecological perspective. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 29, 7-18.
  • Bemak, F. & Cornely, L. (2002). The SAFI model as a critical link between marginalized families and schools: A literature review and strategies for school counselors. Journal of Counseling and Development, 80, 322-331.
  • Chung, R. C-Y, & Bemak, F. (2002). The relationship of culture and empathy in cross-cultural counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 80, 154-159.
  • Bemak, F. (2000). Transforming the role of the counselor to provide leadership in educational reform through collaboration. Professional School Counseling, 3(5), 323-331.

Recent Book Chapters - Selected Sample

  • Bemak, F. (in press). Utilizing empowerment groups in educational settings. In M. Constantine (Ed.), Social Justice and Empowerment Initiatives in Psychology and Education.
  • Bemak, F. & Chung, R. C-Y. (2008). Counseling disaster survivors: Implications for cross- cultural counseling. In P. B. Pedersen, J. Draguns, W., Lonner, & J. Trimble (Eds.), Counseling across cultures (6th Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Bemak, F. (in press). Cross-cultural counseling: Anthony Marsella. In Leong, F. T. L. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Counseling, Volume Four. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Bemak, F. (in press). Cross-cultural counseling: Bias. In Leong, F. T. L. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Counseling, Volume Four. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Bemak, F. & Chung, R. C-Y. (2008). Counseling refugees and migrants. In P. B. Pedersen, J. Draguns, W., Lonner, & J. Trimble (Eds.), Counseling across cultures (6th Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Chung, R. C-Y., & Bemak, F. (2007). Multicultural guidelines to immigrant and refugee populations in the United States. In M.G. Constantine (Ed). Clinical practice with people of color: A guide to becoming culturally competent. New York, N.Y.: Teachers College Press.
  • Bemak, F. & Chung, R. C-Y. (2007). Training counselors as social justice counselors. In C. C. Lee (Ed.), Counseling for social justice. (Second Edition). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
  • Chung, R. C-Y., & Bemak, F. (2007). Asian Immigrants and refugees. In F. Leong, A.G., Inman, A. Ebreo, L. Yang, L.M. Kinoshita, & M. Fu. (Eds.). Handbook of Asian American Psychology (2nd Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Bemak, F. (2006). Refugees: A critical multicultural issue for modern day psychology. In Y. Jackson (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology. Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Publications.
  • Talleyrand, R., Chung, R. C-Y., & Bemak, F. (2006). Infusing social justice in graduate training programs: A case study example. In Torbeck, R., Fouad, N. A., Israel, T., Gerstein, L. H., & Roysircar-Sodowsky, G. (Eds.). Handbook of social justice in counseling psychology: Leadership, vision, and action. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Chung, R. C-Y., & Bemak, F.(2006). Counseling Southeast Asians: The impact of the refugee experience. In C. C. Lee, (Ed.), Multicultural issues in counseling: New approaches to diversity. (Third Edition). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2004). Culturally oriented psychotherapy with refugees. In U. Gielen, J. Fish , & J. Draguns (Eds.), Culture, therapy and healing. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawerence Erlbaum Associates.
  • Bemak, F., Murphy, S. & Kaffenberger, C. (2004). Community-focused consultation: New Directions and Practice. In C. Sink (Ed.), Contemporary school counseling: Theory, Research, and Practice. Boston, Houghton-Mifflin.
  • Bemak, F., Chung, R. C-Y, & Murphy, C. S. (2003). New perspectives in counseling at-risk youth. In B. Erford, (Ed.), Transforming the School Counseling Profession, Columbus, OH: Merrill Prentice Hall.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2003). Multicultural counseling with immigrant students in schools. In P. B. Pedersen & J. Carey, (Eds.), Multicultural counseling in schools. (2nd ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2002). Refugees and terrorism: Cultural innovations in clinical practice. In C. Stout (Ed.), The psychology of terrorism. Greenwood Publishing Group.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2002). Counseling and psychotherapy with refugees. In P. B. Pedersen, J. Draguns, W. Lonner, & J. Trimble, (Eds.). Counseling across cultures. (Fifth Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.