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Chung, Rita Chi-Ying

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Dr. Rita Chi-Ying Chung
(she/her/hers)
PhD, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Professor Emerita of Education
Counseling
Diversity Research and Action Consortium

Contact Information

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Email: rchung (@gmu.edu)

George Mason University
Fairfax Campus
Krug Hall
4400 University Dr.
MS 1H1
Fairfax, VA 22030

Profile
Dr. Rita Chi-Ying Chung is a Professor Emerita at the Counseling Program, and a Honorary International Fellow at the Centre for Applied Cross-Cultural Research (Te Pae Ranganhau Tauhokai Ahurea), School of Psychology (Te Kura Matai Hinengaro), Victoria University of Wellington (Te Herenga Waka), New Zealand. Prior to coming to George Mason University, Dr. Chung was awarded the New Zealand Medical Research Council (MRC - now known as the Health Research Council [HRC]) Post-doctoral Overseas Fellow to study psychosocial adjustment of refugees and immigrants at UCLA. Afterwards, she was the Project Director for the National Research Center on Asian American Mental Health at UCLA, a consultant for the World Bank, an Assistant Professor at Ohio State University, as well as adjunct faculty for Johns Hopkins University and George Washington University. Before coming to the United States Dr. Chung lived and worked in the Brazil, Britain, Hong Kong, and New Zealand.
Dr. Chung has published extensively in the fields of cross-cultural and multicultural psychology and counseling and has over 90 publications in professional journals and book chapters in major psychology and counseling textbooks, as well as, three books, one on refugee trauma, adjustment and psychological well-being, and two on social justice multicutural psychology and counseling. She has been asked by the American Psychological Association to make three training DVD on counseling immigrants; psychotherapy with refugees; and therapy across cultures, and by Alexander Street Press to make four DVDs on her: social justice work; post-disaster counseling and training; and the unique focus on multicultural social justice counseling training at the Counseling Program at GMU.
Dr. Chung's research focuses on multicultural, cross-cultural, and social justice issues in psychology and counseling, cross cultural disaster counseling, child trafficking, the psychological impact of racism, immigrant and refugee trauma, psychological well-being, psychosocial adjustment and adaptation, and interethnic race relationships. Her work on trafficking of Asian girls into commercial sex work led to an invitation by the United Nations in New York to present on cultural perspectives on children trafficking, human rights and social justice. Dr. Chung is also a consultant for numerous national and International Nongovernmental Organizations (INGOs), e.g., Save the Children Alliance, UK where she consulted and provide training on child protection and child trafficking in Myanmar (Burma). She has also been retained as an Expert Witness on Asian Culture for the U.S. Armed Forces, and the Florida Office of the Federal Defenders, as well as for a civil suit. 
Dr. Chung is also involved with the Counselors Without Borders (http://counselorswithoutborders.org/.) and has co-led and co-supervised teams and groups of students working along the Mississippi Gulf coast after Hurricane Katrina, and on American Indian reservations and Latino migrant communities after the San Diego Wildfires. She has also done international post disaster consultation and training in Thailand after the Tsunami, in Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis, in Haiti three months after the major earthquake in 2010, and in Puerto Rico six month after the Hurricane Maria, 2018. She has worked throughout the United States as well as in the Asia, the Pacific Rim region, Africa, the U.K., Europe, the Carribean, and South America. Dr Chung has been the Chair of the American Counseling Association (ACA) International Committee, twice the Co-Chair of the ACA Human Rights Committee and was the President of Counselors for Social Justice (a division of ACA) in 2015. Dr. Chung has been acknowledged for her social justice and human rights work by being given numerous awards from both state and national organizations, e.g., the American Counseling Association (ACA) Kitty Cole Human Rights Award 2012, the ACA Gilbert and Kathleen Wrenn Award for a Humanitarian and Caring Person 2013, ACA Fellow 2015, two American Psychological Association (APA)  Fellow (Division 52 International Psychology 2013 and Division 45 Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race 2014), the Commonwealth of Virginia State Council for Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Outstanding Faculty Award 2013, the Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly Commendation Award 2013, the GMU Spirit of the King (Martin Luther King) Faculty Award, GMU ODIME in 2019, the 2019 GMU Presidential Medal for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion, and the 2023 APA Division 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology) International Award for the Advanncemennt of Counseling Psychology Values for the Counselors Without Borders. 
 
Research Interests
  • Immigrants and Refugees Psychosocial Adjustment and Mental Health
  • Human/Child Trafficking
  • Cross-cultural Disaster Counseling
  • Interethnic Group Race Relations
  • Immigrant and Refugees Women and Women of Colour
  • Cross-Cultural Issues in Psychology and Counseling
  • International Psychology
Recent Publications

Books

  • Chung R. C-Y., & Bemak, F. (2023). Social Justice Multicultural Psychology and Counseling (2nd ed.) Oxford University Press. 
  • Chung, R. C-Y., & Bemak, F. (2012). Social Justice Counseling: The Next Steps Towards Multiculturalism. Sage Publications.
  • Bemak, F., Chung, R. C-Y., & Pedersen, P. (2003). Counseling refugees: A psychosocial cultural approach to innovative multicultural interventions. Greenwood Press.

Selected DVDs/Videos

  • Chung, R. C-Y., Bemak, F., Bryant-Davis, T., & Cervantes, J. (2021). Reflections on Race and Ethnicity in the Therapeutic Setting. American Psychological Association.

  • Chung, R. C-Y. (2019). Helping Counselors and Psychologists as Advocates and Activists: Strength, Solidarity, Strategy and Sustainability. Alexander Street. ProQuest Company.

  • Chung, R. C-Y., & Bemak, F. (2012). Training Social Justice Counselors - Walking the Talk. Mircotraining and Development/Alexander Street Press.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2012). Counselors Without Borders:  Making Change for a Better World. Microtraining and Development/Alexander Stress Press.
  • Chung, R. C-Y., (2011). Social justice counselors in action: Walking the talk. North Atlantic Region, Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors (NARACES) Conference 2010 Keynote Presentation (Invited). Mircotraining and Development/Alexander Street Press.
  • Chung, R. C-Y., (2008). Working with students from immigrant families. American Psychological Association

Selected Publications in Refereed Journals

  • Chung, R. C-Y., Bemak, F. & Sánchez, R. O. (2022). Latinx adolescent migrant challenges in reuniting with family members, International Review of Psychiatry, 1-10. DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2022.2072192
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2021). Contemporary refugees: Challenges and a culturally responsive intervention model for effective practice. The Counseling Psychologist, (Special Issue), 49(2), 305-324. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000020972182
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2018). Race dialogues in group psychotherapy: Key issues in training and practice. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 69(2), 172-191.  https://doi.org/10.1080/00207284.2018.1498743
  • Chung, R. C-Y., Bemak, F., Talleyrand, R. M. & Williams, J. (2018).  Challenges in promoting race dialogues in psychology training: Race and gender perspectives. The Counseling Psychologist, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000018758262
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2014). Critical Issues in International Group Counseling. Journal for Specialist in Group Work (special issue on international group work), 40(1), 6-21.        
  •  Chung, R. C-Y., & Bemak, F. (2013). Use of ethnographic fiction in social justice graduate counseling training. Counselor Education and Supervision, 52, 56-68. 
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2011) Applications in social justice counselor training: Classroom Without Walls. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education, and  Development, 50(2), 204-219.
  • Chung, R. C-Y., Bemak, F., & Kudo Grabosky, T. (2011). Multicultural-social justice leadership strategies: Counseling and advocacy with immigrants. Journal of Social Action in Psychology and Counseling, 3(1), 86-102.
  • Bemak, F., Chung, R. C-Y., Talleyrand, R. M., Jones, H., & Daquin J. (2011).  Implementing multicultural social justice strategies in counselor education training programs. Journal of Social Action in Psychology and Counseling, 3(1), 29-43.
    Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2011). Post-disaster social justice group work and group supervision. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 36(1), 3-21.
  • Chung, R. C-Y. (2009). Reflections of an Asian woman human rights and social action warrior. Journal of Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, Invited Special Section on Personal Narratives on Activism for Social Justice and Systems Transformation, 2(1), 36-43.
  • Chung, R. C-Y. (2009). Cultural perspectives on child trafficking, human rights and social justice: A model for psychologists. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, Special Issue: Models of Mental Health and Human Rights in Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights for All, 22(1), 85-96.
  • Chung, R. C-Y., Bemak, F., Ortiz, D. P., Sandoval-Perez, P.A. (2008). Promoting the mental health of migrants: A multicultural-social justice perspective. Journal of Counseling and Development, Multicultural and Diversity Issues in Counseling, Special Issues, 38, 310-317.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung R. C-Y. (2008). New professional roles and advocacy strategies for school counselors: A multicultural social justice perspective to move beyond the nice counselor syndrome. Journal of Counseling and Development,Multicultural and Diversity Issues in Counseling, Special Issues, 38, 372-381.
  • 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..
  • Hinton, D. E., Sinclair, J., Chung, R. C-Y., & Pollack, M. H. (2007). The SF-36 among Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees: An examination of psychometric properties. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 29(1), 38-45.
  • Chung, R. C-Y. (2005). Women, humans rights and counseling: Crossing international boundaries. Journal of Counseling and Development (Special Issue on women and counseling), 83, 262-268.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y., & Siroskey-Sabdo (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. 377-389.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2005). Advocacy as a critical role for school counselors: Working towards equity and social justice. Professional School Counseling, 196-202.
  • Bemak, F. & Chung, R. C-Y. (2004). Teaching multicultural group counseling: Perspectives for a new era. Journal for the Specialist in Group Work (Special Issue), 31-42.
  • Chung, R. C-Y. & Bemak, F. (2002). The relationship between culture and empathy in cross- cultural counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 80, 154-159.
  • Chung, R. C-Y. & Bemak. F. (2002). Revisiting the California Southeast Asian mental health needs assessment data: An examination of refugee ethnic and gender differences. Journal of Counseling and Development, 80(1), 111-119.
  • Chung, R. C-Y. (2001). Psychosocial adjustment of Cambodian refugee women: Implications for mental health counseling. Journal of Mental Health Counseling,23(2), 115-126.
  • Chung, R. C-Y., Bemak, F., & Wong, S. (2000). Vietnamese students level of distress, social support and acculturation: Implications for mental health counseling. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 22(2), 150-161.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (1999). Vietnamese Amerasians: The relationship between American fathers and psychological distress and self destructive behavior. Journal of Community Psychology, 27(4), 443-456.
  • Hanna, F. J., Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (1999). Wisdom, culture and context: Toward a new paradigm for multicultural counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 77, 125-134.

Selected Invited Book Chapters

  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2021). A culturally responsive intervention model for modern day refugee: A multiphase model of psychotherapy, social justice, and human rights. In J.D. Aten & J. Hwang (Eds.). Refugee mental health (pp.103-136). Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2021). Race, culture and group psychotherapy. In R. Moodley & E. Lee (Eds.). Handbook on race, culture and mental health (pp. 103-114). New York, NY: Routledge International.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2017). Psychological impact of terrorism on refugees. In C. Stout (Ed).  Terrorism, political violence, and extremism: New psychology to understand, face, and defuse the threat (pp. 260-284). Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.  
  • Bemak, F. & Chung, R.C. (2016). Critical issues in international group counseling. In Puig, A., Skudrzyk, B., Monteiro-Leitner, J., & Hutchins, A.M. (Eds.), International Perspectives on Group Work: Leadership, Practice, Research, and Teaching, Vol 1, (pp. 1-16). New York: Taylor & Francis.
  • Bemak, F. & Chung, R. C-Y. (2008). Counseling disaster survivors: Implications for cross-cultural mental health. In P.B. Pedersen, J.G. Draguns, W.J. Lonner & J.E. Trimble (Eds.), Counseling across cultures (6th ed., pp. 325-340). Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage Publications
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2008). Counseling refugees and migrants. In P.B. Pedersen, J.G. Draguns, W.J. Lonner & J.E. Trimble (Eds.), Counseling across cultures
    (6th ed, pp. 307-324.).     Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage Publications
  • Chung, R. C-Y., & Bemak, F. (2007). Immigrant and refugee populations. In M.G. Constantine (Ed.). Clinical practice with people of color: A guide to becoming culturally competent (pp.125-142). New York, NY: Teachers College, Columbia University.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2007). Training social justice counselors. In C. Lee (Ed.). Counseling for social justice (pp.239-258). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
  • Chung, R. C-Y., & Bemak, F. (2007). Asian Immigrants and refugees. In Leong, F., Inman, A.G., Ebreo, A. Yang, L., Kinoshita, L. M., & Fu. M. (Eds.). Handbook of Asian American psychology (pp. 227-244, 2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Chung, R. C-Y. (2006). Southeast Asian Americans. In Y. Jackson (Eds.). Encyclopedia of multicultural psychology (pp.437-443). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Talleyrand, R., Chung, R. C-Y., & Bemak, F. (2006). Infusing social justice in graduating training programs: A case study example. In R. Toporek, L. Gerstein, N. Fouad, G. Roysircar & N. Israel (Eds.). Handbook for social justice in counseling psychology: Leadership, vision, and action (pp. 44-58). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Chung, R. C-Y., & Bemak, F. (2006). Counseling Americans of Southeast Asian descent: The impact of the refugee experience. In C. C. Lee (Ed.) Multicultural issues in counseling: New approaches to diversity (pp. 151-170, 3rd ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Association for Counseling and Development.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2004). Culturally oriented psychotherapy with refugees In U. Gielen, J. Draguns, & J. Fish (Eds.), Culture, therapy, and healing. (pp.121-132). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
  • Chung, R. C-Y. (2004). Group counseling with Asians. In J.L. DeLucia-Waack, D. Gerrity, C. Kalodner & M. Riva (Eds.). Handbook for group counseling and psychotherapy (pp.200-212). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publication.
  • Bemak, F., Chung, R. C-Y., & Murphy, C.S. (2003) A new perspective in counseling at-risk youth. In B. T. Erford (Ed.), Professional School Counseling (pp. 285-296). New York: 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, pp. 84-101). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
  • Bemak, F. & Chung, R. C-Y. (2002). Refugees and terrorism: Cultural considerations in clinical interventions. In C. Stout (Ed.). The psychology of terrorism (Vol. 2, pp. 1-26): Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers/Greenwood Publishing Group.
  • Kagawa-Singer, M., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2002). Towards a new paradigm: A cultural systems approach. In K. Kurasaki, S. Okazaki & S. Sue (Eds.), Asian American mental health: Assessment theories and methods (pp. 47-66). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
  • Chung, R. C-Y. (2002). Combatting racism: Speaking up and speaking out. In J. Kottler (Ed.). Finding your way as a counselor (pp. 105-108, 2nd Edition). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
  • Chung, R. C-Y., Bemak, F., & Kilinc, A. (2002). Culture and empathy: Case studies in cross- cultural counseling. In P. Breggin, L. Wolowitz & F. Bemak (Eds.), Empathic turning points in therapy (pp. 119-1128). New York, NY: Springer Publishers.
  • Bemak, F., & Chung, R. C-Y. (2000). Psychological interventions with immigrants and refugees. In J.A. Aponte and J. Wohl (Eds.), Psychological interventions and cultural diversity (2nd ed. pp. 200-213). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Social Justice Counseling: The Next Steps Beyond Multiculturalism
Campus Affiliations
Other Courses Taught