The Queer Thriving and Resilience Lab is dedicated to fostering the holistic well-being and thriving of LGBTQ+ individuals. Our research focuses on resilience, wellness, and the creation of meaningful lives within the LGBTQ+ communities. We aim to highlight the strengths and adaptive strategies that LGBTQ+ people use to navigate life's challenges, emphasizing the life cycle, family dynamics, and personal growth. Utilizing a diverse array of methodologies and theoretical frameworks, we seek to uncover the pathways to thriving and the construction of meaning in the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals.
This qualitative study utilizes consensual qualitative research design to explore the experiences of individuals who came out during a heteronormative marriage at midlife. Resources and types of support utilized will also be explored. The goal of this project is to provide a framework for counselors to offer care that is both affirming and facilitates the collective healing of LGBTQ+ individuals who come out after marriage.
This qualitative study utilizes grounded theory to explore the unique challenges and obstacles in creating a blended family for queer individuals. This will better inform counselors on how to help individuals that are in the process of forming queer blended families.
Dominguez, V. N., Wheatley, J., Listrom, O, Rosile, J. (2024, October). Coming out at midlife: A guide to advocacy and liberatory counseling. Education session submitted to the 2024 SAIGE 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, CO.
Wheatley, J., Dominguez, V. N., Listrom, O, Rosile, J. (2024, October). Blended under the rainbow: Framework and considerations for working with queer blended families. Education session submitted to the 2024 SAIGE 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, CO.
Rosile, J. (2024, October). Queerly defined boundaries: Navigating multiple relationship dilemmas as LGBTQ+ counselors. Poster session submitted to the 2024 SAIGE 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, CO.
The QTRL Lab is led by Vanessa N. Dominguez, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT and Jake Wheatley, Ph.D., NCC, LPC, CCLS. Below are the current QTRL Lab Research Assistants:
Olivia Listrom
Olivia Listrom is a graduate student in the Counseling@Northwestern program at Northwestern University working towards a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration on counseling children and adolescents. Currently, she works as an intern at a Level I Outpatient Treatment Facility for adults struggling with substance use. Some of her professional interests include family therapy and working with LGBTQ+ youth and juvenile offenders. Olivia received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a second major in Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She then gained research experience as a Lab Manager and Clinical/Social Research Assistant in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience investigating goal motivation and the intention-behavior gap as it relates to health behaviors and addiction. During this time, she also worked with faculty and staff to promote departmental DEI initiatives in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for people from underrepresented groups and those with minoritized identities.
Jillian Rosile
Jillian Rosile is a graduate student working toward a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Counseling@Northwestern. Jillian has an interest in supporting the unique needs of queer and transgender individuals, particularly youth, and is pursuing a specialization in counseling children and adolescents. Prior to changing career direction, they worked in the software engineering industry in a variety of individual engineering and leadership roles. Jillian holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.