Dr. Naveen Jonathan

Dr. Jonathan received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Marital & Family Therapy from Loma Linda University. He also received a B.S. degree in Counseling Psychology from Washington Adventist University. He began teaching as an adjunct instructor at Chapman in 2009 while completing his dissertation and began full-time employment at Chapman in 2010. He is currently a Clinical Associate Professor in the Marriage & Family Therapy at Chapman University. Dr. Jonathan has served as the Director of the Frances Smith Center for Individual & Family Therapy from 2011-2016. Dr. Jonathan is currently the Department Chair of Marriage & Family Therapy and has served in this role since 2016.

Dr. Jonathan is a Nationally Approved Supervisor through the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT). He also is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of California. He has a private practice in Santa Ana, CA - Santa Ana Community Counseling, where he has worked in therapy with families, couples, and individuals. Dr. Jonathan is passionate about working with issues pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion in his clinical work.

Dr. Jonathan is very actively involved in service on both the national and state levels of the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT). He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Association for Marital & Family Therapy, California Division (AAMFT-CA) in the roles of Treasurer (2010-2011), President-Elect (2012-2013), President (2014-2015) and Past President (2016). Dr. Jonathan has also served on the Elections Council on the national level for the American Association for Marital & Family Therapy (AAMFT) from 2011-2013 and 2015-2017. He has also served on the national Board of Directors on the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy from 2006-2007 and is serving again on the Board from 2021-Present.

Courses Taught:

PSY 326 Child Psychology
PSY 328 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 340 Human Sexuality
MFT 541 Systems of Psychotherapy for MFTs
MFT 556 Family Systems & Studies
MFT 570 Advanced Psychopathology & Diagnosis
MFT 582 Assessment & Treatment of Sexual Dysfunctions
MFT 588 Assessment & Treatment of Substance Abuse MFT
618 Multicultural Issues in Therapy
MFT 689 Practicum II
MFT 690 Independent Internship
MFT 694 Practicum I
MFT 696 Practicum Collaborations
MFT 699 Independent Study

 
Research and Scholarship:
Dr. Jonathan's research interests and publications cover topics pertaining to working with elders and their caregivers, children and adolescents, couples issues pertaining to gender equality, power and attunement and issues of immigration/acculturation stress. Dr. Jonathan has served as a Thesis Committee Chair in the Marriage & Family Therapy Program at Chapman. He also has actively served on dissertation and thesis committees for students in several masters and doctoral programs in California.
 
Peer-Reviewed Conference Presentations:

Jonathan, N. & Seshadri, G. (2021) The Intersection of Arranged Marriages, Immigration and Gender. Presented at the American Family Therapy Academy Conference.

Ramos, A., Moors, A., Dours, N. & Jonathan N. (2021). Inclusivity of Diverse Expressions of Intimate and Family Relationships in AAMFT Therapy Topics. Presented at the American Family Therapy Academy Conference.

Santos, J., Williams, D., McCauley, C., Grant-Beuttler, M. & Jonathan, N. (2021). Assessing Functional Outcomes in Children with Disabilities through a Community Dance Program. Presented at the Combined Sections Meeting.

Jonathan, N. & Seshadri, G. (2021) The Effects of Immigration on Arranged Marriages. Presented at the International Family Therapy Association Conference.

Burke, J., & Jonathan, N, (2021). Best Practices in the Transition to Remote MFT Supervision. Presented at the International Family Therapy Association Conference.

Seshadri, G., Jonathan, N. (2019). How do Arranged Marriages Influence Couple Systems in South Asian Communities? Presented at the National Council for Family Relations in November 2019, in Ft. Worth, TX.

Quek, K., Morgan, M., Jonathan, N., (2019). Applying Social Locations to Teaching, Clinical Work and Supervision.” Presented at the American Family Therapy Academy Conference in June 2019 in Oakland, CA.

Willis, M., Jonathan, N., Seshadri, G. (2019). Legacy Narratives to Promote Familial Healing in Clients Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Presented at the American Family Therapy Academy Conference in June 2019 in Oakland, CA.

Willis, M., Jonathan, N., Seshadri, G. (2019). Minority Professionals’ Healing Through Social Attunement. Presented at the American Family Therapy Academy Conference in June 2019 in Oakland, CA.

Hubisch, T., Nguyen, M., Asher, J., Rubenstein, E., Weber, C., Jonathan, N., Grant-Beuttler, M. (2019). Improving Health Outcomes for Children with Cerebral Palsy and their Families Through an Inter-Professional Community Program. Presented at the World Congress for Physical Therapy in May 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland.

McKenzie, A., Ito, C., Jonathan, N. (2019). Stroke Boot Camp: An Integrated Clinical Education (ICE) Model for Intensive Chronic Stroke Rehabilitation. Presented at the World Congress for Physical Therapy in May 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Cowdery, R., Jonathan, N., Seshadri, G., Louis, M. (2018). LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care and Issues around Ambiguous Loss and Relational Connections. Presented at the National Council for Family Relations Conference in November 2018 in San Diego, CA.

Jonathan, N. (2018). Standing Out in Academia. Presented at the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy Leadership Symposium in March 2018 in Seattle, WA.

Jonathan, N. and Seshadri G. (2017). The Influences of Immigration on Arranged Marriages in the South Asian Community. Presented at the South Asian Mental Health Consortium Conference in November 2017 in Fremont, CA.

Kuchenbecker, S. Y., Everett, B., Celniker, J., Jonathan, N., Sumida, K., Slavich, G., and Pressman, S. (2016). When the going gets tough ~ Acute and Academic Stress: Natural oxytocin’s association with negative emotion buffering, visual monitoring & cognitive accuracy. Presented at the 124thAnnual Conference of the American Psychological Association (APA), August 4-7thin Denver Colorado.''

Chaudhry F. and Jonathan N. (2016). Cultural and Ethnic Disparities in the Treatment of Postpartum Depression. Presented at the American Family Therapy Academy Conference in June 2016 in Denver, CO.

The “Sandwich Generation”: Intergenerational Dynamics Between Older, April 2016. Adults and Caretakers. Kona, HI, International Family Therapy Conference.

The Challenges of Transition a New Home for the Elder,  June 2015.  American Family Therapy Academy Conference.  Vancouver, WA.

Resilience and Well-Being of LGBT Foster Care Youth, June 2014.  American Family Therapy Academy Conference.  Athens, GA.

Rekindling Hope: A Solution Focused Process, February 2014.  Solution Focused Expo.  Orlando, FL

Preparing for Academia: What you did not learn in graduate school, November 2013.  National Council for Family Relations Conference.  San Antonio, TX.

Creating Emotional Connection Through Gender Equality, October 2012.  American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy Conference.  Charlotte, NC.

Strategies for Achieving Relational Attunement and Gender Equality in Heterosexual Couple Relationships, May 2012.  American Family Therapy Academy Conference.               San Francisco, CA.

A Narrative Approach to Grief With Elder Women, March 2012.  International Family Therapy Association Conference.  Vancouver, Canada.

Attunement & Relational Responsibility in Same-Sex Couple Relationships, June 2011.  American Family Therapy Academy Conference.  Baltimore, MD.

When Gender Doesn’t Organize Process: Studying Same-Sex Couples, November 2009.  National Council for Family Relations Conference. San Francisco, CA.

Is it the Blues?: Recognizing Signs of Suicidal Behavior in Youth, April 2009.  National Catholic Educators Association Conference.  Anaheim, CA.

Invited Panelist/Discussant:

Invited Presentation – Competency Model: Leveraging Accreditation for Innovation, August 2019. COAMFTE Meeting – AAMFT Conference. Austin, TX

Invited Speaker – Hello?! Can You Hear Me?: Strengthening the Therapist-Client Relationship Through Cultural Humility, December 2018. Orange County Chapter of the California Association for Marriage & Family Therapists. Costa Mesa, CA. 

Invited Speaker - Psychotherapy with the LGBTQ Community: Understanding

Contexts, Issues, Trends and the Self-of-the-Therapist to Provide Affirmative Work

Fleet & Family Support of the US Navy. September 2018. Naples, Italy

Invited Speaker – Incorporating Holiday Rituals, Customs and Traditions into Clinical Practice. December 2017 – Orange County Chapter of the California Association for Marriage & Family Therapists. Costa, Mesa, CA.

Invited Panel Presentation – Fostering Connections For the Future, June 2015.  American Family Therapy Academy Conference.  Vancouver, WA.

Invited Discussant – Working With Transgender Clients, June 2015.  American Family Therapy Academy Conference.  Vancouver, WA.

Invited Discussant – The Effects of Gender Roles in Therapy, May 2015.  Counseling & Family Sciences Conference.  Loma Linda, CA.

Invited Panel Presentation – Mentoring Upcoming Professionals, May 2015.  Counseling & Family Sciences Conference. Loma Linda, CA.

Invited Panel Presentation – To Treat or Refer LGBT Clients, October 2014.  American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy Conference.  Milwaukee, WI.

Invited Discussant – Attunement in Couples Therapy, June 2014.  American Family Therapy Academy Conference, Athens, GA.
 
Professional Service:
Director, American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy, 2021 – Present
Past President, American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy, California Division, 2016
President, American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy, California Division, 2014-2015
President-Elect, American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy, California Division, 2012-2013
Treasurer, American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy, California Division, 2009-2011
Elections Council, American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy 2010-2013, 2015-2017
Board Member, American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy 2006-2007
 
Professional Membership:
2001   American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy                  Clinical Member
2001   California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists                Member
2001   National Council on Family Relations                                        Member
2005   International Family Therapy Association                                  Member
2008   American Family Therapy Academy                                          Member
2017 Collaborative Family Healthcare Association Member