Allura Ralston

Dr. Allura Ralston is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Millersville University, where she focuses on clinical psychology and marginalized communities. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Temple University, followed by an M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her pre-doctoral internship was completed at Yale University School of Medicine’s Pediatric Gender Program. Dr. Ralston’s research explores transgender and gender diverse communities’ experiences with marginalization stress, resilience, and affirming clinical/research spaces. She emphasizes mental health services for underserved populations, including LGBTQ+, rural, and LGB communities. Her teaching includes undergraduate clinical courses and mentoring research projects. She actively contributes to tele-mental health initiatives and has published extensively on gender-affirming care, sociopolitical impacts on mental health, and inclusive research practices.

Education:

• B.A. Psychology, Temple University
• M.A./Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Pre-doctoral Internship: Yale University School of Medicine

Research Interests:

• Gender Minority Stress
• Healthcare Access Equity
• Sociopolitical Contexts & Mental Health
• Inclusive Research Methodologies

Professional Contributions:

• Published 15+ peer-reviewed articles on transgender mental health and clinical practices
• Active in developing virtual reality support systems for gender expansive youth
• Advocacy for affirming psychosocial assessments in gender-affirming medical care