Varinder Kaur

Varinder Kaur serves as an Assistant Professor and Director of the Addiction Studies Program at the University of Detroit Mercy within the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences and Department of Counseling and Addiction Studies. She joined as a full-time faculty member in January 2022.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision, University of Toledo
• MA in Counseling, Punjab University, India
• BA, Punjab University, India

Dr. Kaur's research spans addiction studies, holistic wellness, mindfulness-based interventions, multicultural counseling, and integrated healthcare. She advocates for wellness-focused approaches in substance use treatment and emphasizes professional self-care to prevent counselor impairment.

Her publications (2021-2025) demonstrate consistent focus on integrated healthcare models for substance use disorders, trauma-substance use intersections (particularly among Black women), and pandemic-related mental health challenges. Key trends include interdisciplinary collaboration, social determinants of health, and culturally responsive treatment frameworks.

Dr. Kaur actively contributes to professional service as chair of the Multicultural Addiction Counseling Committee for the International Association of Addictions and Offenders Counselors. She is a licensed professional counselor with extensive clinical experience across outpatient/inpatient settings treating diverse populations including children, adolescents, adults, couples, and older adults with comorbid mental health and substance use disorders.