I am a Professor Emeritus of Counseling Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. After more than a quarter century as a faculty member, I retired from academia in 2025. The vast majority of my scholarship focused on LGBTQ psychology, especially interventions to support the wellbeing of sexual and gender minorities. Bisexuality was also a specialization in my teaching, research, and advocacy. Following the 2016 election, I also started making research accessible to help the public navigate the challenges of political division. Post-retirement, I continue to disseminate knowledge regarding LGBTQ psychology, bisexuality, and navigating differences via public speaking and writing. You can access my cv here, and many of my publications are available on ResearchGate and open access via the University of California escholarship. Citations and links to a few key works in my areas of expertise are below.
Career Narratives
Israel, T. (2025). Praxis makes perfect: Reflections on a quarter century of LGBTQ psychology research and advocacy. American Psychologist, 80(9), 1448–1459. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001651.
Israel, T. (2020). Navigating autonomy: A mid-career reflection on life in academia. Women and Therapy, 43, 1-2, 170-181. DOI: 10.1080/02703149.2019.1684673
Israel, T. (2004). Conversations, not categories: The intersection of biracial and bisexual identities. Women and Therapy, 27, 173-84. doi: 10.1300/J015v27n01_12
Bisexuality
Israel, T. (2018). Bisexuality: From margin to center. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 5 (2), 233-242. DOI:10.1037/sgd0000294
Israel, T. (2018). Envisioning bisexuality as inclusive, celebratory, and liberatory. In J. Swan & S. Habibi (Eds.) Bisexuality: Theories, Research, and Recommendations for the Invisible Sexuality (pp. 189-193). New York: Springer.
Vencill, J. A., & Israel, T. (Eds.) (2018). Shining a light into the darkness: Bisexuality and relationships. Special issue of Sexual and Relationship Therapy.
Israel, T. (Ed.) (2010). Special issue on bisexuality and youth. Journal of Bisexuality.
Israel, T., & Mohr, J. J. (2004). Attitudes toward bisexual women and men – current research, future directions. Journal of Bisexuality, 4, 117-134. doi: 10.1300/J159v04n01_09
LGBTQ Interventions
Oaks, L., Israel, T., Conover, K. J., Cogger, A., & Avellar, T. R. (2019). CBPR within invisible, geographically-dispersed communities: Partnering with LGBTQ communities on the California Central Coast. Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, 11 (1), 14-32. https://doi.org/10.33043/JSACP.11.1.14-32
Lin, Y. J., Israel, T., & Ryan, W. S. (2019). Releasing internalized stigma for empowerment: Development of theory-driven interventions for sexual and gender minorities. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 13(4), 276-292. https://doi.org/10.1080/15538605.2019.1662358
Budge, S. L., Israel, T., & Merrill, C. R. S. (2017). Improving the lives of sexual and gender minorities: The promise of psychotherapy research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 64(4), 376-384. doi: 10.1037/cou0000215
Israel, T., Willging, C. E., & Ley, D. (2016). Development and evaluation of training for rural LGBTQ mental health peer advocates. Journal of Rural Mental Health, 40 (1), 40-62. doi: 10.1037/rmh0000046
Israel, T., Harkness, A., Delucio, K., Ledbetter, J. N., & Avellar, T. R. (2014). Evaluation of police training on LGBTQ issues: Knowledge, interpersonal apprehension, and self-efficacy. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 29(2), 57-67. doi: 10.1007/s11896-013-9132-z
Israel, T., Gorcheva, R., Burnes, T. R., & Walther, W. A. (2008). Helpful and unhelpful therapy experiences of LGBT clients. Psychotherapy Research, 18 (3), 294-305. doi: 10.1080/10503300701506920
Israel, T., Ketz, K., Detrie, P. M., Burke, M. C., & Shulman, J. L. (2003). Identifying counselor competencies for working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Psychotherapy, 7 (4), 3-22. doi: 10.1300/J236v07n04_02
Navigating Political Division
Israel, T. (2024). Facing the Fracture: How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation. Greenleaf Book Group.
Israel, T. (2020). Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide, Skills and Strategies for Conversations that Work. American Psychological Association.